Broadway Lights Dimmed for Linney & Stewart, 1/19

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Romulus Linney and Ellen Stewart, who both recently died at the ages of 80 and 91 respectively. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in their memory on Wednesday, January 19th, at exactly 8:00pm for one minute.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, commented, "Our thoughts go out to Laura Linney and her family for their loss. Romulus Linney's words will continue to inspire audiences each time one of his 30 plays are performed on stage.  His Broadway credit, The Love Suicide at Schofield Barracks, ran on Broadway in 1972. Mercedes McCambridge was nominated for 1972 Tony Awardfor Best Featured Actress in a Play. He is considered by many to be a great teacher of theatre."

Linney was a playwright who refashioned classical works for modern times and adapted contemporary novels for the stage. A prolific playwright, his work ranged from stories set in Appalachia where he grew up to historical settings such as the Nuremberg trials and the Vietnam War. He also drew inspiration from the lives of public figures including the poet Lord Byron and Frederick II, a King of Prussia.

He was the author of over 30 plays that have been produced in the United States and Europe, mostly Off Broadway and regional theater. The Signature Theater Company in New York, which devotes full seasons to presenting the work of a single playwright, chose Mr. Linney to be the first writer it would spotlight. Linney spent many years teaching writing at numerous schools, including Columbia and Princeton Universities.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, commented on Stewart, "Much of what we see on stage was developed at La MaMa, creating theatre history. For that, we are grateful to Ellen Stewart's dedication and eye for talent, and her legacy will live on in our theatres."

Stewart's Broadway credits include Godspell and Torch Song Trilogy.

Ms. Stewart founded La MaMa, E.T.C. (Experimental Theatre Club) in 1961, and remained its tireless director until her death. In its early period, the company nurtured promising talents like playwrights Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson, and Harvey Fierstein, and performers such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel. Ms. Stewart was a familiar sight at the complex, often personally introducing each performance.

During Ms. Stewart's 49-year tenure, La MaMa presented about 3,000 productions, hosted artists from more than 70 countries, and earned countless cultural awards.

In addition to receiving a 2006 Tony Award^âTony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, Ms. Stewart was the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" in 1985. In 1993, she was inducted into the "Broadway Theatre Hall of Fame," the first Off-Off-Broadway producer to be so honored.

She received the Human Rights Award of the Philippines from President Corazon Aquino and awards from the Emperor of Japan and from France. In the late 1980s, Ms. Stewart established La MaMa Umbria International, an artist residence in Spoleto, Italy.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski