So...is Broadway not dimming its lights for Jan Maxwell? — Page 3

Call_me_jorge said: "The response I got from Charlotte....

”I truly appreciate your thoughts. Our committee continually struggles with these decisions. I must admit, I would dim for everyone but at the end of the day, a dimming a week would take away from the specialness of the dimming would be gone.

As I’ve attended many dimming.....some at one theatre and some at all theatres, I love the ones where the family and the community join at one theatre together. It’s the way we come together.

I’m sorry we disappointed you with the committee decision. KNow that we care.”

this is BS"

What a b i t c h

...

This is absolutely appalling. A truly terrible decision. I am speechless.

Anakela said: "https://twitter.com/aeapresident/status/964650366787837952

https://twitter.com/audraequalitymc/status/964653489120006144"

#dimforjan needs to start trending

"I just don't understand why they wouldn't - is it really inconvenient or costly or SOMETHING that makes it warranted not to dim the lights?"

It's a hassle to coordinate, but it doesn't cost a penny. Pal Joey nailed this one. It's a commercial thing now.

I am disgusted by this decision. Jan Maxwell is an icon of the stage and was nominated for 5 Tony Awards. If she doesn't deserve this honor than I'm not sure who does. The motivations behind this decision are obvious and gross. Shame on them.

Joan Rivers wrote and starred in TWO Broadway FLOPS! The first ran for 9 performance and the second ran for 50. She was a replacement in Broadway Bound. Those were her Broadway credits. Lights were dimmed for her. Good figure.

Dim For Jan!

I do remember the Rivers controversy. It was wrong to dim them for her; it's wrong to not dim them for Jan.

bwayboy22 said: "I think much of the reasoning behind dimming for Joan was not just her limited Broadway work, but her lifetime commitment to supporting the theater and being an advocate of the community. I think the honor was justified, although I do understand why people may disagree.

Jan Maxwell, however, unquestionably is deserving of the honor. I think it is a total disgrace that the Broadway League doesn't feel the same way. She was truly a Broadway star, and will be greatly missed. I hope, like Joan, that the public outcry will cause a reversal in their decision."

I didn’t care if they dimmed or didn’t dim for Joan. My issue is about the fact that if you’re going to dim for Joan Rivers, who hardly made her life in the theater, then you’d damn well better dim for Jan, a woman who devoted her life to the NY theater.

I do hope this scuttle will push the League to better define some perimeters on when it’s appropriate to dim the lights on Broadway. I understand the need to evaluate on a case by case basis, but truly most the celebrities mentioned in this thread- Joan Rivers, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds were not not Theatre luminaries. And I just don’t understand what perimeters they are using to disqualify a five time Tony nominee from the honor. They need some formal guidelines in place or the choices seem arbitrary and driven by the need for PR.

Updated On: 2/17/18 at 10:46 AM

I tend to agree with JBroadway's view (comment #45) on this.

Moving past all the anger expressed regarding this situation, I hope friends and family of Jan Maxwell will see and take solace in the very loving tribute that is being expressed far beyond the traditional dimming of the lights.

Because of the decision not to dim the lights, an even greater tribute has happened.

Theaters have consciously chosen to defy the decision, and to dim their lights of their own accord. So many strangers (and let's face it, few of us were/are personal acquaintances or colleagues of Ms. Maxwell, or her family) have made outstanding efforts to speak up, to take action, to recognize, and to honor Ms. Maxwell.

Speaking for myself, I cannot possibly fathom that when I am gone, I would/might be as publicly honored by so many people.

To my mind, the League's decision is the catalyst that has inadvertently proven how revered Ms. Maxwell, and her work in the theater is (not was, mind you). The League's decision is rendered moot.

The honor and recognition is occurring in spite of their input, and in ways that go far beyond the "traditional" dimming of the lights.

What greater honor could one receive?

Updated On: 2/17/18 at 11:43 AM