Joan Rivers: How Broadway Will Honor the Late Icon
— -- Broadway hadn't planned to fully honor the late Joan Rivers -- that is until the outpouring of love and affection for the late comedian compelled the powers that be to change their minds.
Even "Kinky Boots" writer and co-creator Harvey Fierstein spoke up and tweeted: "Hey Broadway! Time to dim the lights for Joan Rivers queen of comedy. She loved Broadway and we loved her #joanrivers."
Before Tuesday, only 10 of the 40 theaters had announced they would dim their lights -- an honor reserved for Broadway legends.
Read: How Melissa Rivers Asked Howard Stern to Eulogize Joan Rivers
The executive director of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, said today, "Joan Rivers loved Broadway and we loved her. Due to the outpouring of love and respect for Joan Rivers from our community and from her friends and fans worldwide, the marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, at exactly 6:45pm for one minute.”
Rivers, a Tony Award nominee, died last Thursday at age 81 after spending a week in a New York City hospital.
In her time on the New York City stage, Rivers appeared in shows like "Fun City" and "Sally Marr ... and her escorts."
