Hooray For James Earl Jones But When Are Theatre’s Named For Amazing Women Going To Be A Thing?- Page 2

[The Other One]

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.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/3/22 at 7:28pm

pmensky said: "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."

I loved Cicely Tyson, but why should a Broadway theatre be named after her.  She really didn't appear on Broadway with any regularity.  I do think that frequency of appearances in multiple, i.e., many projects should be a prerequisite, and I don't believe that she would pass that test, regardless of what an overall acting Icon she is.  Similarly, I enjoyed Carol Channing, but how many successful shows was she in besides Dolly and the original Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  Certainly not Three (Four?) in a Garden or The Vamp or that horrible re-imagining of Blondes.  

I would welcome a theatre being named after Lansbury, who was in a lot more Broadway productions, many of them big successes.  I will welcome the day when a theatre is named after MacDonald, but I doubt that I will be alive to see it.  

Bottom line: IMO the portfolio needs to be significant, and built based on a long-term commitment to appearing on or writing / directing / producing for Broadway.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 3/3/22 at 8:59pm

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.


It should also be noted that the highest honor in the theatre was named after a woman (Antoinette 'Tony' Perry).

With that said, we're well overdue for the Chita Rivera theatre. A 70-year career on Broadway ought to count for something.





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