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." The first group of inductees to be elected, 23 in all, were announced in October 1972.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The 2014 inductees were 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 was held on May 4, 2015, at the Gershwin Theatre, hosted by Pia Lindstrom. The originally scheduled ceremony, on January 26, 2015, was postponed due to a blizzard.

The 2015 inductees were Tony Kushner, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Julie Taymor, Robert Falls, Stacy Keach, Ken Billington, Broadway publicist Merle Debuskey and, posthumously, Roger Rees. The Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony were held on November 16, 2015 at the Gershwin Theatre, hosted by Estelle Parsons.

Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon

A Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon has been held annually since 2004. The luncheon "salutes a member of the Theater Hall of Fame who continues to work on Broadway and also presents grants to emerging theatre artists." The 9th Annual Luncheon, which was held on June 15, 2012 at the New York Friars Club, honored Joel Grey.

Inductees

Original Inductees (those added to the Hall of Fame upon its opening in 1972), for the complete list see:

• George Abbott (director, producer, playwright)
• Judith Anderson (actress)
• Fred Astaire (actor, singer, choreographer)
• Tallulah Bankhead (actress)
• Ethel Barrymore (actress)
• John Barrymore (actor)
• Lionel Barrymore (actor)
• Norman Bel Geddes (designer)
• Leonard Bernstein (composer)
• Edwin Booth (actor)
• Katharine Cornell (actress)
• Noël Coward (playwright)
• Lynn Fontanne (actress)
• Eva Le Gallienne (actress, producer, director)
• George Gershwin (composer)
• Ira Gershwin (lyricist)
• Dorothy Gish (actress)
• Lillian Gish (actress)
• Oscar Hammerstein II (librettist, producer, director)
• Moss Hart (playwright, director)
• Helen Hayes (actress)
• Frank Loesser (lyricist)
• Alfred Lunt (director, actor)
• Ethel Merman (actress, singer)
• George Jean Nathan (critic, editor)
• Gertrude Lawrence (actress)
• Eugene O'Neill (playwright)
• Richard Rodgers (composer)
• Laurette Taylor (actress)

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.

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

• Gans, Andrew."Hamlisch, Lane, Birch, Tunick and Azenberg Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" playbill.com, October 10, 2008

External links

• Official web site
• Complete List of Theater Hall of Fame Members
• Playbill.com Article, January 28, 2008, "Fierstein, Ivey, O'Brien and More Inducted Into Theater Hall of Fame Jan. 28; Tune Hosts"