Broadway Backdown: Lights to Dim for Joan Rivers Tonight

Less than one day after deciding that Joan Rivers' career didn't meet the criteria to be honored by dimming the lights on Gotham's theater marquees, it appears as though the organization that represents the majority of Broadway theater owners and producers has had a change of heart.

A memo released this afternoon by Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League reads:

"Joan Rivers loved Broadway and we loved her. Due to the outpouring of love and respect for Joan Rivers from our community and from her friends and fans worldwide, the marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, at exactly 6:45pm for one minute."

The decision follows an outcry from fans and theater professionals alike who were outraged at the Broadway League's decision Monday not to honor the recently deceased comedienne and actress.

As reported by The New York Times, a committee of the Broadway League, which represents the vast majority of theater owners and producers on Broadway, decided Monday that comedienne and actress Joan Rivers' career did not meet the criteria to dim the lights on Broadway - a traditional honor that pays tribute to recently deceased theater luminaries.

"Under our criteria people need to have been very active recently in the theater, or else be synonymous with Broadway - people who made their careers here, or kept it up," said Broadway League executive director Charlotte St. Martin in an interview on Monday.

"We love Joan - she was very supportive of Broadway and came to a lot of show openings - but she hasn't acted on Broadway in 20 years," St. Martin added. "When you say Joan Rivers, you don't think comedy, television and Broadway. You think comedy and television. It's certainly nothing against her."

As previously reported by EDGE , before today's reversal, a number of theaters who aren't part of the Broadway League including the historic New Amsterdam Theater, which is operated by Walt Disney Theatrical Productions and The Helen Hayes Theater, which is home to the long-running hit "Rock of Ages," had planned to honor Rivers by dimming their lights. Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters, which is part of the Broadway League, announced yesterday that all five of his organization's theaters would defy the League's snub of Rivers and dim the lights on their marquees in tribute to the beloved New Yorker.

The Associated Press reported that Theater producer Tom D'Angora had started an online petition asking the league to reverse its decision.

"I promise you, the majority of the community wants to thank and honor her," said D'Angora, who has produced the off-Broadway shows "NEWSical" and "Naked Boys Singing." `'She did so much. She was such an outspoken champion."

"I can't believe we can be denied the last chance to show respect and thank her. I also think if you watch her interviews and documentaries, this would hurt her feelings," he added. "Plus, how hard is it to hit a dimmer switch?"

On Broadway, Rivers was the writer and star of the 1971 flop "Fun City" and 1994 cult flop "Sally Marr... and Her Escorts," the latter of which earned her a Tony Award nomination for best actress in a play. In 1988, she appeared in Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound." Additionally, Rivers donated her talents at numerous benefit events for the Actors Fund, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and other theater related charities.

"If you don't go to Broadway, you're a fool." Rivers once said, continuing, "On Broadway, off Broadway, above Broadway, below Broadway, go! Don't tell me there isn't something wonderful playing. If I'm home in New York at night, I'm either at a Broadway or an Off Broadway show. We're in the theater capital of the world, and if you don't get it, you're an idiot."

The lights on Broadway dim tonight at 6:45 PM in honor of Rivers.