The Broadway League's Failure to Honor Hinton Battle Is Unacceptable
On January 30th, the Broadway community was delivered a double gut punch with the loss of two of its legends - Chita Rivera and Hinton Battle. Both performers were icons of their era and won multiple Tony Awards.
A week after Rivera’s passing, The Broadway League announced that they would honor her by dimming Broadway theatre lights for one minute, which they did on February 17th.
“Chita Rivera was Broadway royalty, and we will miss her with all our hearts. For nearly seven decades she enthralled generations of audiences with her spellbinding performances and iconic roles. The triple threat actor, singer, and dancer leaves behind an incredible legacy of work for which she was honored with a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League.
Dimming the marquees of Broadway is a tradition of honoring the greats, the luminaries, the icons who have left an indelible mark on the world of theatre.
Yet, in a glaring oversight that has left many in the theater community reeling, The Broadway League has failed to announce when it plans to dim its lights in tribute to one of its most legendary figures: Hinton Battle.
Beyond his THREE Tony Awards, Battle was also a trailblazer, paving the way for future generations of artists of color, just as Chita Rivera was. At a time when opportunities for Black performers on Broadway were limited, Battle broke through barriers with his undeniable talent and charisma. His groundbreaking performances in shows like "The Wiz" and "Sophisticated Ladies" not only showcased his incredible abilities but also helped to shatter stereotypes and redefine what it means to be a leading man on Broadway.
The fact that it has been almost a month since his sudden passing, and not a word from The Broadway League is not just a disappointment, it's a disservice to his memory. Moreover, the decision not to dim the lights for Hinton Battle sends a troubling message about the values and priorities of the theater community. But considering Charlotte St Martin thought slavery “was a choice”, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.
The Broadway League’s failure to dim its lights in tribute to Hinton Battle is not just a mistake, it's a travesty. It's a failure to recognize one of Broadway’s legendary figures, a failure to honor his contributions to the world of theater, and a failure to inspire future generations of artists.
It's time for The Broadway League to right this wrong, to acknowledge the legacy of Hinton Battle, and to show the world that his memory will forever hold a special place in the heart of the Great White Way. Anything less is simply unacceptable.
UPDATE: Hours after this article was published, the Broadway League announced that it intends on honoring Hinton Battle by dimming theatre lights.