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Plymouth and Royale Theatres Undergo Name Changes May 9

By: May. 09, 2005
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Written by Maya Cantu

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On May 9th at 7:30, two Broadway theatres will exchange their present names for those of two prominent men involved in the Shubert Organization. The Plymouth Theatre will become the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre while the Royale Theatre will now be known as the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Schoenfeld has been the chairman of the Shubert Organization since 1976, while Bernard B. Jacobs served as the president of the group of producers from 1972 until his death in 1996.

The 45th Street unveiling of the new marquees will be a dedication ceremony with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Hugh Jackman, Dame Edna and the cast of Avenue Q standing by. Others expected to be in attendance are New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, the Board of Directors of the Shubert Organization and an additional 600 guests. Michael I. Sovern is scheduled to speak on behalf of the Shubert Board.

Traffic will be closed along West 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue during the event.

The Shubert Organization has been producing theatre for over 30 years, and has owned theatres for even longer. Notable Broadway productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park With George, Dreamgirls, The Grapes of Wrath, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Song and Dance, Lettice and Lovage, Dancin', Amadeus, The Gin Game, An Inspector Calls, Passion, Indiscretions, Closer, Amy's View, The Blue Room, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, Dirty Blonde, Dance of Death and Amour. The group currently owns and/or operates theatres in such other major cities as Boston, Philadephia and Washington D.C, and recently opened its first off-Broadway theatre--the Little Shubert (at which Shockheaded Peter most recently played). The Shubert Organization also helped in the formation of the TKTS booth in Duffy Square.

The Plymouth and Royale theatres both have illustrious theatrical pasts. The Plymouth, built in 1917, was the home of such hits as What Price Glory?, Pride and Prejudice, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Caine Mutiny, The Odd Couple, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Equus, Passion and Taboo. The Royale, built in 1927, played host to Diamond Lil, The Magnificent Yankee, The Corn is Green, The Glass Menagerie, The Front Page, DuBarry Was a Lady, The Entertainer, Grease, Lend Me a Tenor and Anna in the Tropics.

John Kluge, Gerald Schoenfeld, Lee J. Seidler, Philip J. Smith, Michael I. Sovern, Stuart Subotnick and Irving M. Wall comprise the Board members of the Shubert Organization.

The Shubert Organization has stated that, "Mr. Schoenfeld and Mr. Jacobs committed themselves and the organization to a vigorous participation in community and civic affairs in a continuing effort to renew the theatre district and the surrounding area of Times Square. They have been organizers and catalysts in the effort to effect the changes required to reverse the trend of deterioration of the midtown area. For more than 25 years, Mr. Schoenfeld has served as Chairman of the Mayor's Midtown Citizens Committee."

 The Plymouth is at 236 W. 45th Street, and is currently the home of the musical Brooklyn. The Royale is located at 242 W. 45th Street; the revival of Glengarry Glen Ross is the theatre's current show.




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