Ambassador Theatre Lights Will Dim in Memory of Broadway Box Office Treasurer James P. Gatens

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Veteran Broadway Box Office Treasurer James P. Gatens, who passed away April 19, 2016 at age 71. The marquee of Broadway's Ambassador Theatre, 219 W 49th Street, will be dimmed in his memory on Monday, April 25 at approximately 7:45 pm prior to the evening performance of CHICAGO.

Mr. Gatens was a long-time box office treasurer and ticketing consultant for CHICAGO and the lights will be dimmed at the theatre so that the show's family, as well as Mr. Gatens' friends and family and other members of the Broadway community, may join in the tribute.

Said producer Barry Weissler, "Jimmy Gatens was a special man, a great human being, an impeccable professional, a natural charmer and most importantly a fervent New York Giants fan. I've been in the theatre business for 50 years but Jimmy Gatens was still able to teach me things about the craft of ticket selling; I never stopped learning from him. I will miss him terribly."

Jim Gatens was born and raised in Hell's Kitchen, the son of a stagehand and a theater usherette. He was a 50-year member of Local 751, Treasurers and Ticket Sellers, and took great pride in his 30-year tenure as Head Treasurer of Times Square's TKTS booth.

The funeral for Mr. Gatens will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, NJ 07450 on Monday, April 25 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Gatens' honor to Encore Community Services (239 West 49th Street; New York, NY 10019). http://encorecommunityservices.org/