Theater Hall of Fame annouces eight new members for 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 11:13AM (Sept. 26, 2011) — The Theater Hall of Fame today announced that the eight inductees in its 2011 class are (alphabetically) Tyne Daly, Woodie King Jr., Elliot Martin, Ann Roth, Paul Sills, Daniel Sullivan, Ben Vereen and George White. The 41st induction ceremonies will take place Jan. 30, 2012 at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre, where the names of more than 400 previous Hall members adorn the walls in gold.
Founded in 1971, the Hall annually honors those who have made noteworthy lifetime contributions to the American theater. Eligibility requires a substantial body of outstanding work (five major credits minimum) over a career of at least 25 years. The electorate is the membership of the Hall and of ATCA. Using the usual theater categories, the 2011 class includes two actors, two producers, three directors and a designer, but several inductees really deny categorization.
Tyne Daly (1946- ) made her Broadway debut in 1967 and won a Tony in Gypsy (1990). Recent highlights of her stage career have included Rabbit Hole (2006), Albee’s Me, Myself & I (McCarter Theatre), Love, Loss and What I Wore (2009) and a much-heralded revival of Master Class (2011, Manhatten Theatre Club).
Woodie King Jr. (1924- ) can be called the paterfamilias of black theater in New York as founder and artistic director of the New Federal Theatre, now in its 40th year (special Obie, 1997). Many of the great black playwrights and actor made their entry into New York under his care. He has also acted, directed and produced on Broadway.
Elliot Martin (1924- ) has been involved in some 50 Broadway productions since 1949, first as an actor, then stage manager but mainly producer. He won a special Tony for Moon for the Misbegotten (1973). His nine Tony nominated shows have included American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and Shadowlands.
Ann Roth (1931- ) is a costume designer of some 76 Broadway shows since Small War on Murray Hill (1957), including The Book of Mormon and House of Blue Leaves (two of her five Tony nominations), Biloxi Blues, Best Little Whorehouse, The Odd Couple, Purlie Victorious, etc.
Paul Sills (1927-2009) was a director, teacher and co-founder of Chicago’s Compass Players, Second City and Body Politic, who developed Game Theater and Story Theater.
Daniel Sullivan (1940- ) won a Tony for directing Proof and Tony nominations for Rabbit Hole, Sisters Rosensweig, Conversations with My Father, Morning’s at Seven (revival) and Heidi Chronicles. He made his name as artistic director of Seattle Repertory Theater (1981-97).
Ben Vereen (1946- ) won a lead actor Tony for Pippin and a nomination for Jesus Christ Superstar. Other shows have included (as a replacement) Hair, Wicked, Jelly’s Last Jam and Fosse, and he has toured notably in Chicago and Sweet Charity.
George White (1930?- ) is the founder (1964) and President of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn., which hosts the National Playwrights Conference, where many a play and playwright has been nurtured, along with the National Critics Institute, National Music Theater Conference, National Puppetry Conference and Cabaret Symposium, and also administers Monte Cristo Cottage (O’Neill’s family home). Among nmuch else, he co-chaired the Yale Theater Management Program (1978-92).
For a full list of Hall membership (now at 502), consult the Hall’s website (www.theaterhalloffame.org). The Hall of Fame is administered by Terry Hodge Taylor. For information about the induction ceremony or any of its other programs, contact him c/o Hodge Taylor Productions, 250 West 50th Street, Suite 17R, New York, N.Y. 10019.
ATCA members on the Hall executive committee are Christopher Rawson and Jeffrey Eric Jenkins who, with Julius Novick, serve also as a nominating committee. Rawson prepares the annual ballot.