Dimming the lights on broadway

[winston89]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:43pm

I have a couple of qustions about when they dim the lights on broadway to honor someone who has passed.

Is it like a moment of silence thing where they have them dimmed for a couple of minuets and then bring them back to full? Or, is it all night long?

And, why would they do it at 8PM when that is the time that all shows are starting and people wouldn't see them dimmed because they are inside the theatre.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:54pm

The lights of all Broadway marquees will dim for one minute at 8 PM ET. Hart passed away April 17.

[Dover]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:07pm

Yeah, they dim for one minute. Not sure why they choose 8:00, but I guess it's more symbolic than practical -- it's about doing it at "curtain time", not about how many people get to see it. When I've been working on shows I have stepped out onto the street for a minute to witness it for people that I felt especially connected to, and I have seen others do the same. It's a tradition that often goes unnoticed by most people, but I think it's nice that it's done.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:15pm

They do it at 8, to symbolize that the loss of this person is cause to delay the show for their rememberance...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 9:03pm

"They do it at 8, to symbolize that the loss of this person is cause to delay the show for their rememberance..."

It has nothing to do with delaying performances. ALL performances begin 5 minutes after the listed curtain time, so there is no delay.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 9:13pm

No, not ALL.