The Broadway League’s committee of theater owners has announced a change to the previously announced marquee-light dimmings in recognition of the legacies of Tony Award winner Gavin Creel and Broadway veteran Adrian Bailey. The lights of all Broadway houses will dim for exactly one minute on Oct. 17 at 6:45 p.m. for Adrian Bailey, while a date will be selected, in conjunction with his family, for Creel.
Previously, the lights of only select Main Stem houses (one venue from each Broadway theater owner) were set to darken for Bailey, who died on Sept. 22 at the age of 67, and Creel, who passed away on Sept. 30 at the age of 48. Various petitions encouraging all theaters to go dark circulated the Internet and across social media platforms. A similar reversal occurred in March when the committee decided to dim all theater lights in honor of Tony winner Hinton Battle, after initially announcing select venues would dim.
Newly announced is the dimming of the marquee lights for Tony winner Maggie Smith. Smith, who passed away on Sept. 27 at the age of 89, won a Tony for her leading turn in 1990’s “Lettice and Lovage.” Smith received additional nominations in 1980 for “Night and Day” and 1975 for “Private Lives.” She won two Academy Awards for adaptations of stage plays, first in 1969 for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” and again in 1978 for “California Suite.” Additionally, Smith’s television work garnered four Emmy Awards, three for “Downton Abbey” and one for “My House in Umbria.” The date and time of the dimming in Smith’s honor will be announced.
The committee is reviewing the policies and procedures for light dimmings, an honor that dates back to the 1950s.
Update as of Nov. 1: The dimming for Maggie Smith will take place on Nov. 7 at 6:45 p.m.
