Broadway Theaters Will Dim Their Lights For Joan Rivers

    The tradition meant to mourn and honor the passing of significant theater professionals will not be performed for Rivers, according to the New York Times. Update: The League has reversed its initial decision.

    Julia Pugachevsky
    by Julia Pugachevsky

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The Broadway League has announced it will dim the lights tonight at 6:45 p.m.

    Charlotte St. Martin, the executive director of the Broadway League, said in a statement, "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 theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, at exactly 6:45pm for one minute.”

    On Monday, the New York Times reported that a committee of the Broadway League, which represents theater owners and producers, decided not to dim theater lights in Joan Rivers' honor.

    AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File

    The Broadway League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry and boasts over 700 members.

    According to Playbill, the tradition is meant to honor "a prominent theater professional" and should happen "in a show night just after the deceased has passed."

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    Twitter users started the hashtag #Dim4Joan to help point out Joan's theatrical achievements and patronage.

    Adam Hetrick @PlaybillAdamH

    As @Joan_Rivers said, "I'm a New York girl. I'm a theatre person. I always think in terms of theatre." Get it right Broadway. #Dim4Joan

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    Imogen Lloyd Webber @illoydwebber

    This isn't right. #JoanRivers was a huge supporter of B'way & a Tony nominee - they should dim the lights. http://t.co/bHuorMmbVz #dim4joan

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    Kevin Daly @kevinddaly

    Joan Rivers writes enthusiastically about the 2013 Tony Awards for The Beverly Hills Courier: http://t.co/tO1rb9KftV #Dim4Joan

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    Hollis @hollisst

    While I wasn't always a fan of her comedy, @Joan_Rivers was an amazing supporter of Bway. @TheBwayLeague needs to reconsider. #Dim4Joan

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    Joanna Carpenter @thejoannac

    Really, @TheBwayLeague? A TONY NOMINEE isn't good enough for you? #Dim4Joan

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    Rivers was nominated for a Tony Award in 1994 for her role in Sally Marr...And Her Escorts.

    Lucas Jackson / Reuters

    Rivers' other theater credits include 1959's Driftwood, in which she appeared alongside Barbra Streisand; Fun City in 1972; and the Tony-nominated Broadway Bound in 1988.

    The Broadway League did not immediately respond to request for comment.