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The Nederlander Organization announced today that the Brooks Atkinson Theatre will be renamed on Lena Horne Theatre on November 1st. Lena Horne was an iconic entertainer and civil rights activist, and this will be the first Broadway theatre in history to be named for a Black woman. As the first Black woman ever to be nominated for a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical, Horne also has a special history with the Nederlander family. James (Jimmy) L. Nederlander’s father, James M. Nederlander, was instrumental as one of the lead producers of Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music which played at the Nederlander Theatre in 1981.
Co-produced by Christina Selby and Jacquelyn Bell of the Nederlander Organization, a formal dedication ceremony will take place on 47th Street to celebrate this historic moment, including a DJ’d block party, red carpet, special performances, remarks, and an unveiling of the new marquee.