Pat Halloran Honored With Orpheum Star

Pat Halloran, who this summer put Memphis' name in lights on Broadway and for 30 years has added luster to one of Memphis brightest jewels, The Orpheum Theatre, was honored with a star on The Orpheum's Sidewalk of Stars.

The star was presented to him Saturday night (November 20) during a ceremony that took place during The Orpheum Theater's 32nd Annual Auction.

Adding to the celebration, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Bobby White representing City Mayor AC Wharton presented proclamations to Halloran, recognizing his 30 years of leadership. Pat Halloran's focus and direction has resulted in the most successful period in the history of the Theatre.

The selection of stars for The Orpheum's Sidewalk of Stars is made by the Memphis Development Foundation's Board of Directors.

"Pat usually leads the selection process, but this time the board made the decision to honor him without his knowledge - and the hardest part of this whole process has been keeping it a secret from him," said Donna Darwin, Chief of Staff and VP of Administration at the Orpheum. "There was no question; this was greatly deserved."

For the past three decades Halloran has served as President and CEO of the Memphis Development Foundation, which operates The Orpheum Theatre. During this period, The Orpheum has been restored to its full architectural splendor while also becoming the city's foremost site for live entertainment.

Appropriately, the star will be placed in a portion of the sidewalk close The Orpheum Box Office and will be flanked by such luminaries as Bill Cosby, Robert Goulet, Ray Charles, Gregory Peck, Isaac Hayes and Cary Grant.

"The star actually will be closest to Cary Grant and Robert Goulet, two of his favorite performers," said Darwin.

In order to receive a star on The Orpheum's Sidewalk of Stars, the person must have performed on stage. In Halloran's case, this would be his thousands of curtain speeches before shows. The honoree must also be held in high regard by the entertainment industry and have achieved a high level of success.

During the span of his impressive career, Halloran has been the winner of three Tony Awards. As a producer of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Pat received a personal Tony Award in 2003 and another in 2005 for "Spamalot." Pat received his third personal Tony Award in 2010, when "Memphis" won for Best Musical.

Under Halloran's leadership The Orpheum has had two major renovations totaling $20 million, the first in 1983 and again in 1997.

"Pat's 30 year run is an accomplishment that Broadway should be jealous of", said Suzanne Landers, Chairman of the Memphis Development Foundation Board of Directors. "As I've told him before, it took the right person, at the right time, with the right vision, and buckets of energy to make something like The Orpheum happen. Memphis and Broadway should be so thankful that Pat Halloran was that person."

This summer at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Halloran was presented with a Tony Award for his role as producer of the musical "Memphis." Halloran was not only instrumental in the promotion and marketing of the show, but he also played a key role in raising $14 million to stage the show in New York.

"Memphis" also topped the 2010 Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Music, and Best Orchestrations. Halloran was also honored at the 60th annual Outer Critics Circle Awards where "Memphis" earned seven nominations, winning in four categories including one for Outstanding New Broadway Musical.

Halloran and his team currently are preparing to launch "Memphis" on an international tour, set to begin at The Orpheum in October, 2011.

Halloran, a native Nebraskan, graduated from the University of Nebraska, Omaha and received his Master's degree from the University of Miami in Florida. He was Assistant Dean of Men at the University of Miami and moved to Memphis in 1969.

He served four years on the Memphis City Council from 1975-1980 and was a candidate for mayor in 1980. He served on the Board of Governors of the Broadway League for eight years, and for four years on the Broadway League's Executive Committee, which governs the Broadway Theatre industry in North America.

In 1999, the Broadway League presented Halloran with "The Outstanding Broadway Executive Award." He is currently President of the Independent Presenters Network, a consortium of more than 100 theaters across North America and Japan which present touring Broadway productions and concerts in their communities.

Halloran is the author of The Orpheum: Where Broadway Meets Beale, the history of The Orpheum Circuit and The Orpheum in Memphis.

Pat and his wife Anne have four children, Patrick, Kat, Steve and David.

About The Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum Theatre is operated by the Memphis Development Foundation, a non-profit organization which depends on the financial support of the community to carry out its mission to foster the enjoyment and understanding of the Arts in Memphis, as well as the economic prosperity of Downtown and surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-7800. The Orpheum is located at 203 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103.

 

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