The Broadway in Memoriam Committee has announced that Broadway industry members Robert Fox, David Gersten, Allan Gruet, Jennifer Harmon, John Herrera, Mary Beth Hurt, Jeffrey Lane and Sondra Lee will be honored with a simultaneous marquee dimming on June 9, at 6:45 p.m. This quarter’s ceremony will recognize these late individuals for their lasting contributions across multiple facets of the theater community, including producing, public relations, writing and performance.
Among the honorees from the leadership and promotional side of the industry is Robert Fox, a prolific film and stage producer behind numerous Broadway and West End productions, including the original staging and current revival of “Chess.” Fox received two Tony Awards — Best Play in 2009 for “God of Carnage” and Best Revival of a Play in 2015 for “Skylight” — alongside ten additional nominations throughout his career. He is being honored alongside David Gersten, a veteran theatrical publicist, founder of David Gersten and Associates and producer of Off-Broadway and regional theater.
The ceremony will also celebrate several stage actors and writers. Allan Gruet appeared as a replacement in the original cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” and originated the role of Kalman Rothschild in “The Rothschilds.” Jennifer Harmon made her Broadway debut as Essie in the 1965 revival of “You Can’t Take It with You,” beginning a Broadway career that spanned decades and extended through 2011, when she understudied in the original production of “Other Desert Cities.” John Herrera, who began as an understudy in the original Broadway production of “Grease,” earned a Tony nomination in 1986 for his performance in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
Hurt was a celebrated three-time Tony-nominated actor recognized for her work in “Trelawny of the ‘Wells’” in 1976, “Crimes of the Heart” in 1982 and “Benefactors” in 1986. Lane was a talented writer who penned the books for the musicals “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” the latter of which earned him a Tony nomination. Lee was a memorable performer who originated two iconic Broadway roles: Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan” and Minnie Fay in “Hello, Dolly!”
Broadway in Memoriam marquee dimmings are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of September, December, March and June to honor late members of the Broadway community and celebrate their industry legacy.
