The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#1The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 6:46pm
The Wrap tweeted today:
"New York City's Cort Theatre is getting a name change. The Shubert Organization will rename the long-standing Broadway theatre for the legendary James Earl Jones later this year."
https://twitter.com/TheWrap/status/1498767038642274304?s=20&t=BOhpit6tgXlDqinPOgmdDA
The article the tweet linked too has since been deleted.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#2The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 6:49pm
I hate this only because I hate naming theaters after people. I love Court, The Palace, etc. Especially since it's engraved on the building.
#3The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 6:50pm
I’m just gonna call it The Mufasa.
#4The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 6:53pm
Hoping the Palace gets renamed upon reopening as well.
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#5The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 6:57pm
“I hate this only because I hate naming theaters after people. I love Court, The Palace, etc. Especially since it's engraved on the building.”
The Cort IS named after a person. John Cort was a theater owner known for The Cort Circuit at the turn of the 20th Century.
BWAY Baby2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/14
#6The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 7:25pm
Jones is a good choice for an influential actor who has been a BWAY force for many decades. Saw him in The Great White Hope in the sixties- and he is still active.
Liza Minnelli has also been in many musicals over the decades. Not a bad idea to name a theater after her. Saw her in Flora The Red Menace in 1965- I think it was- and have been a fan ever since.
#7The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 8:27pm
bwayboy22 said: "The Cort IS named after a person. John Cort was a theater owner known for The Cort Circuit at the turn of the 20th Century."
You beat me to it. I'm all for updating the names of theaters that are named after people already. I agree, leave names like The Palace and The New Amsterdam intact, but when a theater is names for somebody like John Cort, a name update is fine. In a few years, it'll be time to rename the Schoenfeld, Jacobs, and Atkinson too.
#8The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 8:28pm
Wondering if this is BS because the article's now been taken down. https://t.co/2xyBqIVA9d
I would love the idea though! James Earl Jones is an amazing actor and person who's made incredible contributions to theatre, the arts, and entertainment (also I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan)!
https://www.thewrap.com/james-earl-jones-gets-broadway-theater-renamed-for-him/
#9The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 9:15pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Hoping the Palace gets renamed upon reopening as well."
Palace should be renamed the Liza Minnelli theater.
#10The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 9:15pm
jkcohen626 said: "Wondering if this is BS because the article's now been taken down.https://t.co/2xyBqIVA9d"
More likely, the story is embargoed and perhaps an exclusive.
I too am pleased with this choice, which seems to be a rare consensus one.
#11The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 9:57pm
If there is ANYONE that deserves a theatre named after, it's Hal Prince!
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#12The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 10:16pm
The Carol Channing Theatre!!!!!
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#13The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 10:17pm
The Jones Cort Theater, has a nice ring to it.
Why erase one person for another?
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#14The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 10:21pm
He’s certainly deserving of the honor. I’m a fan of the change, if true.
#15The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 10:24pm
bjh2114 said: "bwayboy22 said: "The Cort IS named after a person. John Cort was a theater owner known for The Cort Circuit at the turn of the 20th Century."
You beat me to it. I'm all for updating the names of theaters that are named after people already. I agree, leave names like The Palace and The New Amsterdam intact, but when a theater is names for somebody like John Cort, a name update is fine. In a few years, it'll be time to rename the Schoenfeld, Jacobs, and Atkinson too."
Right, I think tons of theatre names that are christened after people have lost their significance, except maybe the Shubert and Nederlander Theatres. I think the Minskoff is one that could use a change. Surprised Schumacher hasn’t petitioned the Nederlanders to change it to the Walt Disney Theatre.
I think a nice idea would be nice for a theatre name to be “(theatre name) in memory of (so and so)”
like, the new Amsterdam theatre in memory of Jason Raize and Samuel E. Wright
or The Majestic Theatre in memory of Hal Prince
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#16The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/1/22 at 11:03pm
Some folks seem to be forgetting that the Shubert and Nederlander Orgs agreed to each name a theatre after a Black artist. So this is Shubert’s contribution to that cause.
I am fine with theatres being renamed periodically. Especially when the theatre is currently named after the producer who funded its construction (John Cort), who died in the 1920s and frankly did not have a *major*
impact on Broadway as we know it. If Broadway still exists in 100 years, it would be appropriate to rename the Jacobs & Schoenfeld.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#17The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 12:26am
Thank you all for clarifying, and honestly, that makes total sense. I think it's because they didn't use his full name so The Cort still sounds prestigious. In LA they renamed the arena TheCrypot.com arena and it's just... gross.
Why not "The Jones Theatre?" Is the full name thing just something new?
I just feel like it'll be weird with his name still engraved at the top, but James Earl Jones is a legend so I'm here for it.
Rainah
Broadway Star Joined: 11/24/16
#18The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 1:52am
"The Prince" has quite the ring to it I'd say.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#19The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 2:11am
Well the Sondheim still has Henry Miller's engraved on top.
If people (myself included) are constantly b*tching about the Helen Hayes being shortened to The Hayes, then I'm sure they'll have even more of a problem if the James Earl Jones Theatre name got shortened. The point of the renaming is to spotlight his name; calling something The Jones isn't the same as calling something The Spielberg or The Schwartzenegger or The Streep.
#20The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 6:52am
For me, there are some theatre names that have become legendary and very much a part of Broadway and would be gutted to lose: St. James, Palace, Majestic, and Winter Garden.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#21The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 7:09am
RippedMan said: "Thank you all for clarifying, and honestly, that makes total sense. I think it's because they didn't use his full name so The Cort still sounds prestigious. In LA they renamed the arena TheCrypot.com arena and it's just... gross.
Why not "The Jones Theatre?" Is the full name thing just something new?
I just feel like it'll be weird with his name still engraved at the top, but James Earl Jones is a legend so I'm here for it."
Why not The Jones Theater? Jones is simply too common a name, and doesn't speak to this particular man.
As someone else said, I doubt any of the engraved/molded names will be removed, nor will any new names be added in the same way.
OhHiii
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/16
#22The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 7:13am
A lot of these comments suggesting white artists instead of a prolific Black actor are….suspect.
#23The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 8:50am
OhHiii said: "A lot of these comments suggesting white artists instead of a prolific Black actor are….suspect."
Suspect of what? Giving their opinions? None of these people are saying No to James Earl Jones. Suspect would be someone saying Jones doesn't deserve it, and please think about the white people who have been "egregiously overlooked".
#24The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 9:12am
James Earl Jones deserves this recognition as he is a theater legend. And on everything that is good and sacred in this world please don't let them shorten the name to the Jones Theater! People may think it's named after Shirley Jones, and she doesn't deserve to have a theater named after her!
*just kidding*
OhHiii
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/16
#25The Cort to become The James Earl Jones Theatre?
Posted: 3/2/22 at 9:39am
fashionguru_23 said: "OhHiii said: "A lot of these comments suggesting white artists instead of a prolific Black actor are….suspect."
Suspect of what? Giving their opinions? None of these people are saying No to James Earl Jones. Suspect would be someone saying Jones doesn't deserve it, and please think about the white people who have been "egregiously overlooked"."
If you think bias only looks a certain way, you should probably check your own.
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