Maybe We Don't Dim the Lights Anymore

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

In the light of the justified outrage surrounding The Broadway League’s decision to only dim selected theatre marquees to honor Gaven Creel, a friend of mine posted a comment on social media that got me thinking - maybe we shouldn’t dim the lights for anyone, anymore?

That’s a bold take, especially considering the painful losses the theatre community has endured in the last couple of weeks. From the way-too-soon loss of Gavin Creel to the beloved Ken Page, and the gigantic loss of legends like James Earl Jones and Dame Maggie Smith, it’s felt like the switches of Broadway have been flipping way too much lately.

But the recent controversy over the decision to only dim selected theatres for Gavin Creel has reignited a debate I’ve heard in many circles - dim all the lights or don’t dim at all.

We saw this last year with the sad passing of three-time Tony winner Hinton Battle. Only a couple of theatres would dim their lights and it took universal outrage from the community to get them all turned off.

Sadly, with the passing of beloved and revered figures, such as Gavin Creel, we come back to this debate and anger over stupid decisions made by The Broadway League.

Now, please don’t mistake me; I love the gesture. It honors those who have contributed significantly to the world of theatre, signifying their lasting impact on the Broadway community. However, as heartfelt and reverent as this tradition is, it is marred by inconsistent application and unclear guidelines, which often raises questions about who is deemed “worthy” of such a tribute.

The sporadic nature of these decisions diminishes the significance of the tribute, leaving many I’ve spoken with to question whether the tradition still carries the weight it once did or if it is simply a selective, arbitrary practice.

And let’s be clear, the blame lies squarely with the Broadway League, the organization responsible for the decision, who have never made their selection process fully transparent. This has led to confusion and frustration when beloved figures are not recognized with a dimming all of the lights or dimming at all.

That said, there are many ways we can honor those who have passed that don’t fall on the decision-making of a committee. From candlelight vigils to tribute shows to the funding of scholarships(which I know Gavin would love), there are plenty of ways we can find ways to mourn, celebrate, and remember our loved ones who graced the Broadway stage.

So, while it may sound cruel, maybe we should stop dimming the lights. By doing so, the Broadway community could free itself from arbitrary decisions and focus on creating a more inclusive, consistent way of celebrating the lives of all those who contribute to the theater’s enduring legacy.