Theatres on Broadway and in London’s West End will pay tribute to Dame Gillian Lynne, who died July 1 at the age of 92.
Broadway marquees will be dimmed July 2 at 6:45 PM for one minute, while London theatres will go dark at 7 PM GMT in memory of the Olivier Award-winning choreographer.
Among the theatres dimming their lights in the U.K. will be her namesake venue—the Gillian Lynne Theatre, which was renamed in her honor from the New London Theatre in June. The theatre, where Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock currently plays, was previously home to the premiere of Cats, which earned Lynne an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical and a subsequent Tony Award nomination.
Lynne also collaborated with Lloyd Webber through choreographing The Phantom of the Opera (receiving a second Tony nod) and Aspects of Love.“Dame Gillian Lynne’s contribution to theatre was inestimable. Her career, which spanned over seven decades, encompassed performance, choreography and directing,” said Society of London Theatre Chief Executive Julian Bird. “We are proud to celebrate her extraordinary legacy tonight in the West End.”
“Dame Gillian Lynne’s innovative choreography has dazzled generations of theatregoers and made an indelible mark on musical theatre around the world,” added Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin. “The productions she shaped will continue to move and enchant audiences for decades to come. We join her husband Peter and all of her family, friends and colleagues in mourning her passing and in celebrating her remarkable artistry.”
