The Cort Theatre on Broadway will be renamed after James Earl Jones
Key Takeaways:
- In New York City, the name of James Earl Jones will be inscribed on a historic Broadway theatre.
- Jones won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play for The Great White Hope in 1969 and Fences in 1987, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
The name of James Earl Jones will be inscribed on a historic Broadway theatre in New York City.
The Shubert Organization declared in a news release on Wednesday that the 110-year-old Cort Theatre will be renamed in honor of the legendary actor's lifetime contributions to Broadway and the entertainment industry.
In a statement, Robert E. Wankel, Shubert Organization CEO and board chair, said, "The Shubert Organization is so incredibly honored to put James — an icon in the theatre community, the Black community, and also the American community — forever in the lights of Broadway." "There is no doubt that James deserves to have his name immortalized on Broadway."
Jones, 91, made his Broadway debut in 1957 in the play Sunrise at Campobello at the Cort Theatre. He starred in 21 Broadway shows, won an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) award, and received the Kennedy Center Honor during his six-and-a-half-decade career.
With The Great White Hope in 1969 and Fences in 1987, Jones won two Tony Awards for the Best Actor in a Play and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
Jones has also received the National Medal of Arts and seven Drama Desk Awards during his illustrious career.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street) was under construction, and the work is hoped to be done this summer. A dedication ceremony will be held to honor Jones once the renovations are completed and the building reopens for production.
Jones expressed his gratitude for the honor, saying that having a theatre named after him would have been "inconceivable" when he started acting.
In a statement released by Shubert, he said, "For me standing in this very building sixty-four years ago at the beginning of my Broadway career; it would have been inconceivable that my name might be on the building today." "Let my experience from then to now serve as an example to all aspiring actors."