The legacy of the late Tony Award-winning producer Ron Simons will be honored with a marquee-lights dimming. The lights of Broadway’s Music Box Theatre will go dark for one minute at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 28. Simons passed away in June 2024 at the age of 63.
The founder and CEO of SimonSays Entertainment, a production company dedicated to telling stories of historically marginalized groups, Simons is the winner of four Tony Awards, one in each of the four best show categories. Simons won Best Musical in 2014 for his work as a co-producer of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” and a 2013 Best Play prize for “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” Additionally, his work on the producing teams of 2012’s “Porgy and Bess” and 2017’s “Jitney” earned Simons Best Revival of a Musical and Best Revival of a Play trophies, respectively. Simons received additional nods for “Ain’t Too Proud,” “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” and “New York, New York.”
In addition to the lights dimming, Simons’ life and career will be acknowledged with a celebration, produced and directed by Zain Sheikh, at Joe’s Pub on Feb. 27.
In terms of timing, there is precedent in the extended interval between passing and the dimming of marquee lights. In 2023, Broadway marquee lights dimmed in November for Tony-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who had passed in June. Tony-winning producer Elizabeth McCann received the honor in March 2022 after having passed away in September 2021.
