The Broadway League has announced that all Broadway theatres are set to dim their marquee lights for 60 seconds at 6:45 PM this coming March 12 in honor of three-time Tony-winning dancer and actor Hinton Battle's passing last Jan. 30 at 67 years old.
This update directly amends the initial plan announced last March 1 that would've seen only a few select theatres dim their marquees in respect of Battle's career, a choice that stirred up confusion, and later, clamoring on social media.
Hinton Battle speaks at the 2014 International Jazz Day Educational Programs at Osaka School of Music on April 30, 2014 in Osaka, Japan.
The Broadway League and the Hinton Battle Decision Backlash
"After further consultation among the Committee of Theatre Owners and reflecting on the impact of Hinton Battle, the Committee has shared with his family that all Broadway theatres will dim their lights in his honor on March 12, 2024, at 6:45 PM for one minute," said the League's Interim President Jason Laks in a public release last Saturday, March 2.
"As we continue to remember Mr. Battle's remarkable talent and array of roles, the decision was made to dim all lights as the most appropriate way to recognize his legacy on Broadway and within our community," he continued.
Before the update, the ceremony only planned for a handful of marquees to dim their lights, namely the Shubert, Marquis, St. James, New Amsterdam, Samuel J. Friedman, Circle in the Square, Hayes, Vivian Beaumont, and Todd Haimes theatres.
Laks' initial statement on the matter reads: "The passing of Hinton Battle has had a profound impact within the Broadway community as we mourn the loss of a true theatrical legend."
"Hinton Battle will be remembered for his incredible array of roles on Broadway. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans," it continued.
After news of the limited dimming had spread, which came out of left field after the Broadway League first shared about it around the start of March, collective requests from fans and notable Main Stem names to overturn the choice flooded social media.
Especially, after an announcement for the same kind of ceremony did not follow the one made for three-time Tony-winning actress Chita Rivera's own light-dimming ceremony, despite the two Broadway legends passing away on the same day.
For Rivera, the Marquee lights of all Broadway theatres were dimmed last Feb. 17.
The standard procedure for enacting a marquee dimming ceremony usually involves all Broadway theatres, with help in organizing from the Broadway League.
However, in some cases, theatres could initiate their own ceremonies in scenarios where the League fails to secure the green signal from all theatre owners.
Such was the initial plan for some of the theatres owned by The Shubert Organization, The Nederlander Organization, and the Roundabout Theatre Company. Non-profit theatre companies Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theater, and Manhattan Theatre Club also planned to join the individual dimming.
You can see Battle's full Classicalite obituary here.
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