American Theater Hall of Fame

The American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City was founded in 1972. Earl Blackwell was the first head of the Executive Committee. In an announcement at a luncheon meeting on March 1972, he said that the new Theater Hall of Fame would be located in the Uris Theatre (then under construction, now the Gershwin). James M. Nederlander and Gerard Oestreicher, who leased the theatre, donated the space for the Hall of Fame; Arnold Weissberger was another founder. Blackwell noted that the first 90 members of the Hall of Fame had been chosen, with their names "to be embossed in bronze-gold lettering on the theater's entrance walls flanking its grand staircase and escalator."[1] The first group of inductees to be elected, 23 in all, were announced in October 1972.[2]

Eligible inductees come from disciplines including actors, playwrights, song writers, designers, directors and producers who have had a career on Broadway spanning at least twenty-five years with a minimum of five major theatrical credits.[3] Selections are made by approximately 400 voting members from the Theater Hall of Fame and the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA).

Induction takes place at a ceremony at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, where the plaques containing the names of the inductees are hung.[4]

Since 1998, the fullest accounts of the annual induction ceremonies, with quotes from both inductees and their presenters, have appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The best index to these articles is on the ATCA website.

Recent ceremonies

The 2009 inductees were Jim Dale, John McMartin, Roger Berlind, Theodore Mann, Stephen Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and posthumously, Lynn Redgrave and Charles Ludlam. The ceremony took place on January 25, 2010.[5]

The 2010 inductees were Brian Dennehy, Linda Lavin, Fritz Weaver, Michael Blakemore, Caryl Churchill, Paul Gemignani; James Lapine and, posthumously, Joseph Chaikin. The ceremony took place on January 24, 2011, hosted by Pia Lindstrom.[6]

The 2011 inductees were Tyne Daly, Ben Vereen, Ann Roth, Daniel Sullivan, producers George White, Elliot Martin and Woodie King Jr. and, posthumously, Paul Sills. The ceremony took place on January 20, 2012, hosted by Estelle Parsons.[7]

The 2012 inductees were Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston, Trevor Nunn, Michael Kahn, Andre Bishop, Paula Vogel, Christopher Durang and, posthumously, Martin Pakledinaz. The ceremony was held on January 28, 2013.[8]

The 2013 inductees were Ellen Burstyn, Lorraine Hansbury, David Hays, Cherry Jones, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Lynne Meadow, George C. Wolfe and Jerry Zaks.[9] The ceremony was held on January 27, 2014, with Joel Grey as host.

The 2014 inductees are: Susan Stroman, F. Murray Abraham, Alvin Epstein, Blythe Danner, Frank Rich, Chairman of the Shubert Organization Philip J. Smith, Alfred Uhry and director Marshall W. Mason. The Induction Ceremony will be held on May 4, 2015, at the Gershwin Theatre.[10]

Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon

A Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon has been held annually for the past 8 years. The luncheon "salutes a member of the Theater Hall of Fame who continues to work on Broadway, also presents grants to emerging theatre artists."[11] The 9th Annual Luncheon, which was held on June 15, 2012 at the New York Friars Club, honored Joel Grey.

Inductees

Inductees (This is a partial list, for a more complete list, see[3]):

Founders Award

There is also a special Theater Hall of Fame Founders Award, established in 1993 in honor of the 3 founders, and awarded for an individual's outstanding contribution to the theatre.[48]

Founders Award Awardees

  • 1993 James Nederlander
  • 1994 Kitty Carlisle Hart
  • 1995 Harvey Sabinson
  • 1996 Henry Hewes
  • 1997 Otis L. Guernsey, Jr.
  • 1998 Edward Colton
  • 1999 (No award)
  • 2000 Gerard Oestreicher
  • 2000 Arnold Weissberger
  • 2001 Tom Dillon
  • 2002 (No award)
  • 2003 Price Berkley
  • 2004 (No award)
  • 2005 Donald Seawell
  • 2007 Roy Somlyo

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Calta, Louis. "A Hall of Fame for the Theater To Honor Outstanding Figures", New York Times, March 7, 1972, ISSN 03624331, p. 45
  2. ↑ "Uris Hall of Fame Names First Group". New York Times. October 27, 1972.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hodges, Ben."The Theater Hall of Fame"Theatre World (2008-2009) (Vol. 65), Hal Leonard Corporation, 2009, ISBN 1-4234-7369-8, p.393-394
  4. ↑ "Hall of Fame: theater veterans get a night in limelight"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 30, 2008
  5. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Redgrave, Schwartz and Lloyd Webber Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" playbill.com, October 8, 2009
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Peter, Thomas."Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony, Honoring Linda Lavin, Brian Dennehy, Michael Blakemore, Presented Jan. 24" playbill.com, January 24, 2011
  7. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Gioia, Michael. "Tyne Daly, Ben Vereen, Ann Roth, Daniel Sullivan and More Inducted Into Theater Hall of Fame Jan. 30" playbill.com, January 30, 2012
  8. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Gioia, Michael. "EXCLUSIVE: Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston, Trevor Nunn, Christopher Durang, Andre Bishop Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" playbill.com, September 24, 2012
  9. ↑ "Cherry Jones, Ellen Burstyn, Cameron Mackintosh, and More Inducted Into Broadway's Theater Hall of Fame" theatermania.com, January 27, 2014
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "2014 Theater Hall of Fame Inductees Announced" playbill.com, September 30, 2014
  11. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Bernadette Peters, Bebe Neuwirth, Stephen Schwartz Will Salute Joel Grey at Theater Hall of Fame Luncheon" playbill.com, May 29, 2012
  12. ↑ "On Stage, and Off". New York Times. December 6, 1991.
  13. ↑ "Playbill Online's Brief Encounter with Jane Alexander". www.playbill.com.
  14. ↑ "Theater family comes together to celebrate Hall of Fame honorees". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  15. ↑ "Dame Julia Andrews". Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Fred Astaire inducted into Theater Hall of Fame."
  17. ↑ Notes for Eileen Atkins
  18. ↑ Lauren Bacall
  19. ↑ "Philip Bosco".
  20. ↑ "Broadway's Best". New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Morris Carnovsky". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  22. ↑ Playbill.com
  23. ↑ Hume Cronyn
  24. ↑ Notes for Fred Ebb
  25. ↑ Julie Harris
  26. ↑ Notes for John Kander
  27. ↑ "Gene Kelly Trivia". www.imdb.com.
  28. ↑ "Lane, Hamlisch among Theater Hall of Fame inductees". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  29. ↑ Angela Lansbury
  30. ↑ "Theater Hall of Fame Gets 10 New Members". New York Times. May 10, 1983.
  31. ↑ "On Stage: New class of theater hall of famers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Geraldine Page Biography".
  33. ↑ "Canada's Walk of Fame Celebrating Christopher Plummer". Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  34. ↑ Tony Randall
  35. ↑ "9 Stage Veterans Enter Theater Hall of Fame". New York Times.
  36. ↑ "Theater honors put women in the spotlight". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  37. ↑ Chita Rivera
  38. ↑ "Theater Hall of Fame Enshrines 51 Artists". New York Times.
  39. ↑ "Jerome Robbins's Awards & Honors".
  40. ↑ List of awards for Stephen Schwartz
  41. ↑ "Maggie Smith". Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  42. ↑ "La Mama » Ellen Stewart".
  43. ↑ "Theatre Hall of Fame 1996". www.playbill.com.
  44. ↑ Notes for Jessica Tandy
  45. ↑ "Tommy Tune".
  46. ↑ "26 Elected to the Theater Hall of Fame." The New York Times, March 3, 1981.
  47. ↑ "Theater Hall of Fame honors August Wilson, seven others". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  48. ↑ Willis, John."The Theater Hall of Fame Founders Award"Theater World 2001-2002, Volume 58, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004, ISBN 1-55783-625-6, p. 210

External links

Coordinates: 40°45′55″N 73°59′04″W / 40.765266°N 73.984450°W