The Nederlander Organization announced Thursday that it would rename Brooks Atkinson’s century-old theater after Lena Horne (legendary performer and activist for civil rights), who died in 2010.
This historic move marks the first Broadway theater to be named after a Black woman. The industry continues to struggle with a lack of racial diversity.
Black Theater United was founded by Billy Porter and Audra McDonald. Last year, they reached an agreement to name “at least one” of the theaters after Black artists. This is among many other actions to show their commitment to diversity, anti-racism, and to strengthen their collective commitment to diversity.
The agreement also saw the Cort Theatre, a 110-year-old theater on 48th Street, renamed by the Shubert Organization in March after James Earl Jones, another prominent theater owner.
Horne began her career in 1942 and was the first Black performer signed to a large contract with a major Hollywood studio. She was nominated for the Tony Award as best actress in a musical a few years later. Horne, 64, won a special Tony Award and two Grammys with her one-woman show “Lena Horne : The Lady and Her Music”.
Horne was also a strong advocate for civil rights. She teamed up with Eleanor Roosevelt, the first lady, to fight for anti-lynching legislation. She also sued businesses for racial disparity and paid her own expenses to entertain Black troops in World War II.
The Atkinson Theater can accommodate more than 1,000 people, and has hosted over 21,000 performances. Brooks Atkinson was the last to rename it in 1960. Brooks Atkinson is a theatre critic for The New York Times.
James L. Nederlander is the president of the Nederlander organisation. He stated in a press release that he was honored to have known Lena and that she had “become a part our family over the years.”
Nederlander stated, “It’s my honor, privilege, and duty to commemorate Lena for generations ahead.”
