As a Tony Award nominee and constant theater supporter, she deserves to have this honor. I'm surprised and a little upset that there hasn't been an announcement about it yet.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
The fact that she was a Tony nominee is reason enough. Her support of Broadway is even more of a reason. She really helped The Great White Way.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
Keeping it classy, right Clyde? I'm expressing my opinion, just as everyone does...whether it's solicited or not.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
There's nothing like Broadway at night, and I try to go to Mamma Mia! if possible, because I like to watch 15,000 Japanese tourists in the audience trying to sing "Waterloo." If you don't go to Broadway, you're a fool. On Broadway, off Broadway, above Broadway, below Broadway, go! Don't tell me there isn't something wonderful playing. If I'm home in New York at night, I'm either at a Broadway or an Off Broadway show. We're in the theater capital of the world, and if you don't get it, you're an idiot.
Come in a wheelchair, and they'll put you in an aisle. I know how to get around New York! A wheelchair will always get you a good seat. And the cast will come out to you to say hello if you're in a wheelchair. You don't have to go backstage. If you need a wheelchair, I usually just push a handicapped person out of one. And I love to hang around the Broadway area, because I offer the cops 50 bucks. If you offer a policeman 50 bucks, he will stop and frisk you.
100% I'm 28 and Joan River was one of my favorite performers. I'm sad her show never got to Broadway - the one chronicled in her documentary. But I've seen that doc about 15 times. I lover her and would love to see this happen.
If they hadn't done one for Robin Williams I might be singin' a different tune. But if Robin gets it, Joan should get it too. If the doesn't it will be due to snobbery, pure and simple.
I would have said Joan deserved it more than Robin Williams. (loved them both and am deeply saddened at losing them-however, she was a far more active participant in the community as a performer and representative of the theater.)
My initial reaction was that the lights shouldn't be dimmed, but I did a little research, and I've changed my mind. The closest parallel I could find was Kitty Carlisle, who received this recognition in 2007, with the following comment: "Kitty Carlisle Hart was a tireless champion of the arts in New York state and nationally and a vital member of the Broadway family. This great woman of the theatre — tireless in her lifelong crusade for the advancement of the arts in the public sphere — touched so many lives through her work. We will miss her."
I think Joan easily meets this criteria.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
And if you look at her loving tribute to NY theater, you'll see even more reason to give her the honor of dimming the lights.
Also, this is a way for the public at large to pay respects in a way. She was a highly visible public figure (and a lovely, unpretentious lady at that). She'd have wanted this.
I doubt they do it for every single one. But, I think she just loved the theater so much and supported it every way she could it would seem highly remiss to not pay her this tribute. (The Tony nod works in her favor, too.)
She worked hard to bring an original show (Sally Marr) to Broadway. For that alone, they need to dim the lights.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.