Elaine Stritch lit up Broadway for half a century. Now, Broadway will dim its lights in the late legend’s honor.
The Broadway League announced on Thursday that the marquees of its theaters will dim for exactly one minute, at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, to mark Stritch’s passing. Stritch, 89, died in her home in Birmingham, Mich. this week.
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“Elaine Stritch‘s big personality was matched by her big talent. Collaborating with some of Broadway’s greatest playwrights and composers throughout her lengthy career, her signature numbers and singular style created a memorable legacy,” Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the Broadway League, said in a statement. “Elaine Stritch will always be remembered as an important part of Broadway’s rich history, and she will be missed by her many fans.”
Stritch, whose stage career began in the 1940s, is perhaps known for her association with Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, his musical “Company” and the song “Ladies Who Lunch” in particular. She was nominated for a Tony for the original 1970 production. Before that, she also nabbed Tony nominations for William Inge’s 1955 play “Bus Stop” and Noël Coward’s 1961 musical “Sail Away.” She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995.
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She was finally awarded a Tony for her one woman show, “Elaine Stritch at Liberty,” which netted her Best Special Theatrical Event, as well as a Drama Desk award.