Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Malinda5000
Stand-by Joined: 6/19/16
#1Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 10:43am
Just saying… I love the fact that Mr. James Earl Jones is getting the Cort Theatre renamed in his honor. Well deserved. He’s an Icon. But what about the Iconic amazing women of musical theatre and beyond?
Sure… we have The Helen Hayes and The Lunt-Fontanne which by the way Ms. Lynn is sharing with Alfred.
But…
The Carol Channing Theatre has a nice ring to it.
The Mary Martin Theatre
The Pearl Bailey Theatre
Please share your thoughts.
#2Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 10:47am
Definitely can see the St. James be renamed for Carol Channing as that's where she blew audiences away with her performance in Hello, Dolly!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
BWayBabe
Swing Joined: 2/19/22
#3Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 10:54am
My thoughts are:
Whenever any black people get any kind of recognition white women will always step in and say but that's not fair. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST. Because we are such an oppressed minority. Entitlement much? -_-
Let Mr. James Earl Jones get his flowers while he is still alive.
#4Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:03am
Malinda5000 said: "Sure… we have The Helen Hayes and The Lunt-Fontanne which by the way Ms. Lynn is sharing with Alfred."
Let's not forget the Ethel Barrymore and Vivian Beaumont!
Malinda5000
Stand-by Joined: 6/19/16
#5Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:08am
BWayBabe said: "My thoughts are:
Whenever any black people get any kind of recognition white women will always step in and say but that's not fair. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST. Because we are such an oppressed minority. Entitlement much? -_-
Let Mr. James Earl Jones get his flowers while he is still alive.
To respond to your post… I AM A PROUD BLACK WOMAN myself and my post was not meant to take ANYTHING away from The GREAT ICON JAMES EARL JONES.
He deserves this honor and it’s about time.
But as a woman period … regardless of color… I still feel that renaming a theatre after a woman for a change would be nice … that’s all … my opinion is my opinion. And yes… you are entirely entitled to yours as well.
Thank You.
"
Malinda5000
Stand-by Joined: 6/19/16
#6Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:11am
KingOfTheMine said: "Malinda5000 said: "Sure… we have The Helen Hayes and The Lunt-Fontanne which by the way Ms. Lynn is sharing with Alfred."
Let's not forget the Ethel Barrymore and Vivian Beaumont!"
Yes…Thank you for reminding me.
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#7Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:19am
Cicely Tyson should be next.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#8Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:28am
pmensky said: "Cicely Tyson should be next."
While it would not be undeserving, I would think that people like Pearl Bailey and Ruby Dee would be ahead of her for naming purposes. Tyson's impact has been more on TV and film.
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#9Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:36am
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "pmensky said: "Cicely Tyson should be next."
While it would not be undeserving, I would think that people like Pearl Bailey and Ruby Dee would be ahead of her for naming purposes. Tyson's impact has been more on TV and film."
Cicely Tyson has more Broadway credits and theatre awards than either Pearl Bailey or Ruby Dee including being in the Theatre Hall of Fame.
#10Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:51am
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "pmensky said: "Cicely Tyson should be next."
While it would not be undeserving, I would think that people like Pearl Bailey and Ruby Dee would be ahead of her for naming purposes. Tyson's impact has been more on TV and film."
I would also add Audra McDonald to the list before the legendary Ms Tyson. While I agree Cicely Tyson was/is a legend, its her impact on the film and TV industries that made her a legend. Bailey, Dee, and McDonald's work truly impacted the American theater industry. Specifically talking about McDonald, the conversation should not be if she will receive the honor of having a Broadway theater named in her honor, but when. In truth if 2nd Stage were ever successful in their attempt to sell the re-naming rights to the Helen Hayes, I think the only acceptable replacement for the former first lady of American theater, is the current first lady of American theater, Audra McDonald. I do have to wonder though when a theater is eventually named/renamed for Audra McDonald, will its shortened name be "The McDonald" or "The Audra"?
#11Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:52am
It WAY too early, but Audra McDonald having won a Tony Award in BOTH Acting categories for Plays and Musicals is a no-brainer
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#12Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:58am
Audra McDonald is a no-brainer, but she may also be superstitious of having a Broadway house named for her at only age 51...in some ways it could feel like "your career is all downhill from here." To me, that conversation kind of feels like a non-starter for another 15-25 years. She feels like the type who would, at this point in her life, say "that's a nice offer but what about X people who came before me and paved the way?"
#13Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 11:59am
fashionguru_23 said: "It WAY too early, but Audra McDonald having won a Tony Award in BOTH Acting categories for Plays and Musicals is a no-brainer"
Yes, but when it does eventually happen, will it be "The Audra" or "The McDonald" for short?
#14Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 12:07pm
Okay, but truly, an Audra McDonald Theatre feels (deservedly) inevitable. I wonder which theatre it would be if/when it happens. I always associate her most with what is now the Lyric, but that's probably just because that's the theater where I personally first saw her. Oh, Ragtime.
#15Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 12:37pm
bdn223 said: "fashionguru_23 said: "It WAY too early, but Audra McDonald having won a Tony Award in BOTH Acting categories for Plays and Musicals is a no-brainer"
Yes, but when it does eventually happen, will it be "The Audra" or "The McDonald" for short?"
Why does it have to be shortened? I always refer to her as "The Audra" but would love to see her full name on a theater if it happens.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
stlrod
Featured Actor Joined: 2/4/11
#16Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 1:03pm
Why just actors? The Stroman, The Paulus, The Nottage...the list goes on and on! We need more theatres!
#17Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 1:07pm
uncageg said: "Why does it have to be shortened? I always refer to her as "The Audra" but would love to see her full name on a theater if it happens."
Similar to the discussion in the other thread - it's inevitable that people will casually shorten the names of theatres in conversation. I don't think they were suggesting that the theatre shouldn't bear her full name.
But anyway, as others have said, I think it's a bit too early for Audra, but I see why people mention it; she's already achieved more greatness in the 1st half of her career than many of the people with theatres named after them ever did.
Some have suggested the Hansbury - that has a nice ring to it, and feels fitting. True she only wrote one famous play, but it was a doozy.
#18Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 12:14am
I'd love to see a new musical in the Chita Rivera Theatre one day.
"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#19Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 12:26am
There are a good bit named for women! And love the idea of an Audra theater. She's the most Tony-winner-ed right? Makes sense.
We def need more theaters.
#20Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 7:50am
bdn223 said: "fashionguru_23 said: "It WAY too early, but Audra McDonald having won a Tony Award in BOTH Acting categories for Plays and Musicals is a no-brainer"
Yes, but when it does eventually happen, will it be "The Audra" or "The McDonald" for short?"
I'll just call it McDonald's Theater
#21Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 9:09am
I do think we go overboard thinking renaming a theatre js the only way to honor a person’s legacy, and when they aren’t it’s the ultimate snub. I do think we’re eventually going to see stages renamed instead of theatres a la Minelli Stage at the Palace Theatre.
#22Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 9:30am
Angela Lansbury should have a theater named after her.
Updated On: 3/3/22 at 09:30 AM
#23Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 10:44am
Top of my list would be the Lorraine Hansberry.
UncleCharlie
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/26/16
#24Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 5:32pm
I won't get into the merits of the dozens of people who are always suggested when this question comes up but I will say for actors, a key criteria should be that the performer worked regularly on Broadway throughout their career. Some of the names mentioned worked in a bunch of productions in supporting roles early in their career before they became famous and then returned much later in their career to do a few roles as stars. That to me does not merit a naming. Someone who's returned to the theater decade after decade regardless of how famous they got or how much they worked in films or on TV has to be a deciding factor. James Earl Jones passes that test with flying colors doing multiple Broadway shows every single decade of his career with the single exception of the 90's. Many of the other names mentioned do not.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#25Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?
Posted: 3/3/22 at 6:12pm
Well, we do have the Lucille Lortel, the Ethel Barrymore, the Helen Hayes, the Vivian Beaumont, the Daryl Roth, the Mitzi Newhouse, the Claire Tow, the Laura Pels, the Linda Gross and St. Ann's herself.
Lillian Hellman, Lynn Nottage, Chita Rivera and Phylicia Rashad would be good choices for others.
Videos