Who's next to get a B'Way theater named after them?

[newintown]

Some truly weird names here, but one that makes me wonder most is - Marvin Hamlisch?

He wrote the music to 5 shows - one huge hit, one modest success, and three flops.

Before a record like that, you'd need to give some credit to Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Kander & Ebb, Stephen Schwartz, Bock & Harnick, Jerry Herman, Charles Strouse, Frank Loesser, Jule Styne, Comden & Green, Leonard Bernstein, and maybe Cy Coleman.

[tazber]

Stephen Schwartz really doesn't deserve to be in that list.

[themysteriousgrowl]

AFter Eight

Jim Colyer

[Mr Roxy]

Ethel Merman
Mary Martin
That hack Harold Prince

[FindMe12]

Nor would Steven probably allow them to name a theater named after him. He has done a lot for Musical theater though not as much as some but I would prefer a theater to be named after him then some of the people that have been mentioned. I could see the New Amsterdam being renamed the mackintosh seeing that its a Disney theater.

[CapnHook]

Tennessee Williams, Harold Prince and Arthur Miller, first and foremost.

Edward Albee and Ethel Merman, secondly.

Thomas Meehan, Jerry Herman and Stephen Schwartz, eventually.

If they ever name a theatre after Ethel Merman, it'd have to be a large house like the Broadway or Winter Garden. Naming a smaller house the Ethel Merman Theatre would be an insult.

[Phantom of London]

So many worthy names who are worthy of the honor of a Broadway theatre named after them, but not enough theatres?

Anyway people calling that the Broadway or Winter Garden should be named after x, need to think again, the Shubert organization don't name their theatres after Broadway celebrities.

[CapnHook]

It is insulting to use "celebrity" as the one and only adjective to describe a lot of those mentioned who deserve to have theatres named after them.

For instance, Tennessee Williams was a celebrity in his day. Now several years after his passing, his work continues to be heavily produced around the world, especially on Broadway. Yes, he was a celebrity, but he is also now a legend. He has a lasting and appreciated legacy. His work in theatre has heavily contributed to the success of theatre as an art form.

[OperaBwayLover]

I'd like to see Kander and Ebb have a theatre named after them, sometime in the future. The Kander-Ebb Theatre has a nice ring to it.

I do second Tennessee Williams receiving this honor. When I was younger I did not appreciate the brilliance of his works; now I'm going through his theatrical catalogue, reading his plays when possible (and his short stories are fantastic too.) This just proves the saying "with age comes wisdom." :-p

[Citygirl.grace]

I say Marvin Hamlisch or Hammerstein.

[Phantom of London]

"It is insulting to use "celebrity" as the one and only adjective to describe a lot of those mentioned who deserve to have theatres named after them.

For instance, Tennessee Williams was a celebrity in his day. Now several years after his passing, his work continues to be heavily produced around the world, especially on Broadway. Yes, he was a celebrity, but he is also now a legend. He has a lasting and appreciated legacy. His work in theatre has heavily contributed to the success of theatre as an art form."

I agree at the time of writing the post I thought 'theatre celebrity' was a badly worded term, but my mind run a blank at the time and I do think legends is a mre generous term.

However that doesn't get away from the point that The Shubert Organization doesn't name their theaters after legends.

[JoeKv99]

I hear they are announcing today the "Mitt Romney Theater." It will exclusively house shows that no one actually likes but stick around forever.

[Playbilly]

Mamma Mia!, Joe. That joke was Scandalous. And a little Wicked.

[amoni]

"I completly agree that eventually upon the X-anniversary of phantom the Majestic will be renamed the webber, but I also think it will only happen once he's dead, since the Broadway community hates his ego and they most certainly don't want to inflate it anymore. Phantom will likly outlive its creator, but if it doesn't I don't think the majestic will be renamed the Webber."

Who are you to speak for the Broadway Community? And I hope you're not talking about some anonymous theater board posters as anywhere near the theater community. Webber deserves The Majestic without question as he also kept the Winter Garden filled for twenty years. However, it's obvious The Shubert Organization is more interested in fluffing their own egos than honoring those who actually put asses in the seats.

[bobs3]

The Anneliese van der Pol Theatre!

[Wilmingtom]

Music Box = Irving Berlin

[sundayclothes2]

The Merrick

[zamedy]

According to what I've read, at one time (in the late 70s or early 80s) they (and I really don't remember who 'they' were) were close to naming a theatre after Merman. Apparently when she heard WHAT theatre it was, she was insulted because it was a very worn down piece of crap. Her assessment was spot on because it was demolished a short time later.

In my opinion, she is deserving of one based on the number of iconic Broadway hits alone she introduced. Opening night at 'The Merm' has a nice ring to it.

[Scarywarhol]

Webber is an insufferable idiot savant, appropriately disdained in the Broadway community, and he will never have a Broadway theatre named after him.

[jnb9872]

I'm surprised it hasn't mentioned yet, but to me the most likely next naming would the 25th Anniversary of Phantom, and the Majestic being re-named for Hal Prince. "The Prince Theatre" is pretty objectively the most natural sounding name of all the names mentioned, no?

[Playbilly]

Anybody for Bob Fosse?

Gower and Marge Champion? I like saying, "Headed off to the Gower this evening."

[amoni]

Well, we have the The Lunt-Fontanne, why not the Fosse-Verdon?

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Jerry Herman

[Dollypop]

The Swit

[TheGirlUpstairs]

Hammerstein already has a street named after him, so I think it's unlikely that he would get a theater as well.

[JohnyBroadway]

The Keenan-Bolgers