American Theatre Wing Celebrates Anniversary Of Stage Door Canteen

March 2 marks the 69th Anniversary of the opening of the American Theatre Wing's popular World War II nightclub, the Stage Door Canteen. Started in March 1942 in the basement of the 44th Street Theatre (between 7th and 8th Avenues) in New York by the American Theatre Wing and staffed by a cadre of Broadway performers volunteering their time, the Stage Door Canteen was a place where military personnel came to dance, eat, and hobnob with the stars of Broadway and Hollywood; admission and refreshments were free for anyone in military uniform. Among the many stalwarts of the Canteen were: Lauren Bacall, who volunteered on Monday nights; actress Helen Hayes who served sandwiches; and actors Alfred Lunt and Sam Jaffe, who worked as busboys.

By the time the Canteens closed in 1945 shortly after the end of the war, they had been operating in eight U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., Philadelphia and San Francisco and overseas in Paris and London. In the three and a half years of their operation, the Stage Door Canteens had an enormous influence on popular culture, inspiring a weekly radio show on the Columbia Network and a 1943 motion picture, both called "Stage Door Canteen" and produced in association with the American Theatre Wing. These, along with Irving Berlin's hugely popular war song "I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen," help the Canteen's legacy live on today.

Stage grand dame and 40s-era Wing board member Katharine Cornell, the central character in A.R. Gurney's play The Grand Manner, debuting at Lincoln Center Theatre later this year, was a Canteen stalwart, volunteering extensively and making her only screen appearance in the film Stage Door Canteen in order to support the real-life canteens and The Wing.

Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing commented: "While we have come a long way since our founding as ‘The American Theatre Wing of the British War Relief Society,' our Stage Door Canteens hold a special place in the collective memory of World War II veterans. We are proud to recognize the canteens' impact on both military and popular culture, as well as their place as a legendary example of the boundless commitment and generosity of the theatre community, which continues to this day."

On November 6, 2009 the National World War II Museum (New Orleans, LA) opened a recreation of the popular nightclub, where patrons are able to hear the old songs, laugh at the jokes and grab a bite, a soft drink or a cocktail while discovering the sights and sounds of the era.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. The Wing operates a variety of programs, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre. These programs include "Downstage Center," a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the leading artists and professionals working on stage today; "Working in the Theatre," a weekly television program on CUNY TV which gathers panels of theater artists to discuss their crafts; "In the Wings," a new web series that spotlights theatre's behind-the-scenes talents; a National Theatre company grants program that will support 10 emerging theatres across the country in 2010; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC; and the Jonathan Larson® Grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers. All ATW media is available on americantheatrewing.org and on iTunes.

For additional information about all American Theatre Wing programs, go to americantheatrewing.org. You can also find the American Theatre Wing on Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheWing) and on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatreWing).