American Academy of Dramatic Arts to Celebrate 125th Anniversary With Special Empire State Building Lighting Tribute 10/2

By: Sep. 24, 2009
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

On Friday October 2, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts will be celebrating a milestone birthday with many alumni, friends and supporters. The Academy which many regard at the "cradle to the stars" will be celebrating 125 years. In honor of this special birthday, the Empire State Building will host a lighting tribute when the clocks strikes 12 noon, Alumna and legendary award winning actress, Lauren Bacall will throw the ceremonial switch illuminating the art deco landmark with the Academy's colors, blue, blue and white for three consecutive nights. Ms. Bacall will be joined by CBS meteorologist and AADA alumnus Lonnie Quinn as well as AADA President, Roger Croucher and other dignitaries.

Of the upcoming occasion President Croucher said: "We are thrilled to have New York join in us in this remarkable 125th Anniversary celebration at the Empire State Building and are most honored that Miss Bacall has agreed to represent our celebrated alumni."

To date, Alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts have garnered an astonishing 95 Oscar ®, 236 Emmy ® and 83 Tony® nominations. A short list of AADA alumni reads like a Who's Who if theater, film and television including, Cecil B. DeMille, Edward G. Robinson, William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Kirk Douglas, Rosalind Russell, Grace Kelly, Anne Bancroft, Gena Rowlands, Charles Durning, Lauren Bacall, Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, Don Rickles, Cleavon Little, Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, Kim Cattrall, Adrien Brody, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dennis Haysbert and Paul Rudd.


Founded in 1884, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is the oldest sustained acting conservatory in the English- speaking world. Housed in a landmark Stamford White building at 120 Madison Avenue in New York, The Academy opened a branch campus in California in 1974 which is now located at 1336 North La Brea Avenue (the site of the former Charles Chapin Studios) in Hollywood. Following the lighting ceremony, the Academy will be hosting a private luncheon.

For more information on the Academy of Dramatic Arts, please log on to www.aada.org.

Photo credit Walter McBride



Videos