New York, March 3 (BUS): The Schubert Organization’s Kurt Theater on Broadway will be renamed after James Earl Jones, fulfilling a promise by the theater giant to honor a black artist in this way.
The renaming of the James Earl Jones Theater is “in recognition of Mr. Jones’ tremendous contributions to Broadway and the entire artistic community,” according to a statement from Shuberts, AP reports.
The move comes less than a year after a broad coalition on Broadway of theater owners, producers, union leaders, creators and directors hammered out a series of reforms and commitments to the theater industry to ensure equality, diversity, inclusion and access.
One of the requirements of the New Deal for Broadway is that the Shubert, Nederlander, and Jujamcyn chains have at least one of their theaters named after a black artist. (Jujamcyn already has an August Wilson Theatre.)
“For me in this particular building 64 years ago early in my Broadway career, it was inconceivable that my name would be on the building today,” Jones, 91, said in a statement. “Let my journey from then to now become an inspiration to all aspiring actors.”
Jones has appeared in 21 productions on Broadway, including two at the Court Theatre. He won an Emmy, Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, including Theater Awards for Best Actor for “The Great White Hope” and “Fences,” as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
The Court Theater – at 138 W 48th Street – 110 is years old and was built by John Court, general manager of the Northwestern Theatrical Society, who died in 1929. There are 41 theaters on Broadway – four of which are for women and now two for black artists.