JAMES M. NEDERLANDER Remembered and Honored by Dimming of Marquee Lights This Wednesday 8/3 at 7:15pm

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

ALONG WITH THEATRES AROUND THE WORLD

TO DIM MARQUEE LIGHTS ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 

IN MEMORY OF LEGENDARY THEATRE OWNER AND PRODUCER

JAMES M. NEDERLANDER

Broadway In Chicago and the Broadway community mourn the loss of Chairman of the Nederlander Organization, theatre owner/operator, producer and presenter James M. Nederlander, who passed away on July 25 at age 94 by honoring the Broadway tradition of dimming the marquee lights. James M. Nederlander, “Jimmy,” was a visionary theatrical impresario who built one of the largest private live entertainment companies in the world that now encompasses venue ownership and management, theatrical producing and concert presentation, merchandising, concessions and patron services, including Broadway In Chicago.

Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago, said, “James Nederlander was a true titan of the theater industry, believing in Chicago, opening and operating theatres in the Loop since 1954.  He left his impact on our city through the creation of Broadway In Chicago as well as his commitment to making Chicago a long-run town.”

Theatres dimming their lights in honor of James M. Nederlander include Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph), Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph), The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe) and the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut).  In addition, the League of Chicago Theatres will be inviting all other theatres in Chicago to join with the Nederlander venues in Chicago, on Broadway, in the West End, and in cities across the country who will all be dimming their lights on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.  Lights will be dimmed for one minute prior to show time  - in Chicago at 7:15 PM CT, prior to The Book of Mormon and Disney's Newsies performances and appropriate to show times for all other theatres around the world.

“Jimmy Nederlander’s name has been synonymous with quality theatrical productions in New York City, Chicago and throughout the United States during his career, and in recent years his name has also come to symbolize excellence and achievement when “The Jimmy™ Award” is presented annually at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, a tribute to his passion for arts education, his legacy will help to inspire the next generation of performers and enthusiasts,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “Beloved by the industry, Jimmy was a loyal and trusted collaborator and a guiding mentor to so many. He was “one of a kind” and his indomitable spirit lives on throughout this country in the people he nurtured who are helping to make Broadway what it has become today. He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.” In Illinois, The Jimmy's regional competition is Broadway In Chicago's Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards.

During a career that spans 70 years, he has amassed a network of premier legitimate theatres including nine on Broadway: the Brooks Atkinson, Gershwin, Lunt-Fontanne, Marquis, Minskoff, Nederlander, Neil Simon, Richard Rodgers, and the world-renowned Palace; in Chicago: The PrivateBank Theatre, Broadway Playhouse, Cadillac Palace and Oriental Theatre; in Los Angeles, the magnificent Pantages Theatre; and in London, the Adelphi, Aldwych, and Dominion Theatres.

He has produced over one hundred of the most acclaimed Broadway musicals and plays including Annie, Applause, La Cage aux Folles, Me and My Girl, Nine, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies, Woman of the Year, and many more.

Mr. Nederlander’s name is forever linked to some of the world’s most distinguished performing companies whose work he produced and presented on Broadway including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed productions of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cyrano and Sherlock Holmes; Rudolf Nureyev and Friends, The Bolshoi Ballet, and the Virsky’s Ukranian State Dance Company.

He is credited with developing the outdoor amphitheatre concept as the developer of several premier venues including the New Jersey Garden State Arts Center, Pine Knob Music Theatre, the Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Pacific Amphitheatre, and as the decades-long operator of the Greek Theatre where he has presented headline artists including Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Jackie Mason, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and a legion of others.

In 1972, Mr. Nederlander and his pals Earl Blackwell, Gerard Oestricher and Arnold Weissberg founded the Theatre Hall of Fame, which is still housed in the lobby of the Gershwin Theatre. In 1973, he partnered with George Steinbrenner to purchase the New York Yankee Baseball Club.

Mr. Nederlander is the recipient of many distinguished honors including the United Nations Foundation Champion Award (2012), The Broadway League’s Schoenfeld Vision for Arts Education Award (2010), the New York Pop’s Man of the Year (2008), the Special Tony Award^® for Lifetime Achievement (2004), The Actors’ Fund Medal of Honor (2002), The Broadway League’s Distinguished Lifetime Service Award (2002), United Jewish Appeal-New York Federations’ Bernard B. Jacobs Excellence in the Theatre Award (1997) and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located outside the Pantages Theatre at 6233 Hollywood Blvd. In 2009, the National High School Musical Theatre Award was established and named the Jimmy^® to celebrate his career-long dedication to supporting young talent.

He received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts at the forty-third Commencement exercises at The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and Graduate School on Monday, May 12, 2014.

Mr. Nederlander is survived by his wife Charlene S. Nederlander, his son James L. Nederlander and daughter-in-law Margo M. Nederlander, his grandchildren James M. Nederlander II and Kathleen M. Nederlander, his stepdaughter Kristina Gustafson and her children Gunnar Gustafson and Krisanna Gustafson.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres.  Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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Lights To Dim Tonight at 8:45 On Broadway In Chicago Marquees to Honor Bernie Sahlins

IN HONOR OF BERNIE SAHLINS

 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 AT 8:45 PM

Bernie Sahlins’s Legacy in Theatre & Comedy and contribution to Chicago will be recognized by the dimming of the Broadway In Chicago theatre marquees.   He passed away two days ago at the age of 90 and will be greatly missed.

WHO:        Chicago native Bernie Sahlins (1922-2013), a true champion and icon for the Chicago theatre community, was a prolific Chicago producer.  Mr. Sahlins was Co-Founder of The Playwrights Theatre Club, The Second City, The University of Chicago's Off-Off Campus, the International Theatre Festival of Chicago and the Lithuanian International Theatre.

WHAT:      Broadway In Chicago will dim the marquee lights at its four theatres in downtown Chicago

WHY:       “In keeping with a long-standing Broadway tradition, Broadway In Chicago wanted to dim the marquee lights to provide Chicago with an appropriate moment to reflect on Bernie Sahlins’ lifetime in the theatre,” said Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago.  “Bernie Sahlins was a Chicago Treasure who contributed volumes to Chicago Theatre Artists for decades and he will be greatly missed.”

WHEN:       TONIGHT - Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 8:45PM

WHERE:     Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe), Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph), Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) and Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Biography for Bernard Sahlins:

Director, author and producer Bernard Sahlins is the founder of the world-renowned The Second City, where he also served as a longtime director and producer.  Sahlins also co-founded The International Theatre Festival of Chicago and The Lithuanian International Theater Festival, and has directed and/or produced various shows in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, London and Toronto. He is also the co-creator and producer of "SCTV." Sahlins' directing credits include his own adaptation of "The Mysteries" for the Court Theatre, "The Wasteland" for the Chicago Humanities Festival & The Arts Club, "The Cure at Troy" for Steppenwolf Theater, "The Shoemakers Holiday," "The Knight of the Burning Pestle" and "The Burial at Thebes" for the Chicago Shakespeare and multiple readings for the Poetry Foundation, among myriad other productions. He has written and directed several works, including "See the Light" for the Museum of Science & Industry, "The History of Comedy, Part 2" for the University of Chicago and "A Woman for All Seasons,” “Jane Addams,” and “Dylan Thomas” for the Chicago Humanities Festival. He has been a consultant for the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture and the Lithuanian National Theatre, The Disney Company, The Market Theatre: Johannesburg, The Museum Campus, USIS: Rumania, Lithuania, The University of Chicago arts programs and The British Council. He is the author of "Days and Nights at The Second City: A Memoir." Sahlins is the recipient of The Sergel prize for playwriting, The University of Chicago Professional Achievement Award, The Chicago Drama League's Professional Achievement Award, Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing and professional achievement, The Illinois Arts Alliance "Legend" award, and the Improv Festival Achievement Award.  He served on the Advisory Board of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Board of Directors for The Arts Club of Chicago, and the Board of Directors for the DePaul School of Drama.