www.chicagolandmusicaltheatre.com: Today, Broadway In Chicago’s newly named JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE lit its marquee for the first time. The theatre, located at 24 W. Randolph, honors the late James M. Nederlander, the legendary Broadway theatre owner and producer, founder of Broadway In Chicago and champion of Chicago’s Downtown Theatre District. His family lit the marquee in remembrance of him and his work.
3 comments:
I have so many mixed opinions on the name change of the Oriental to the James M. Nerlander Theater. I understand that he was a great patron to theater and changed the game for Chicago, but it’s also sad to see the loss of a historic name. It reminds me of when the Chinese Grauman’s Theater in Los Angeles changed to the TCL Theater. The building was known as the Chinese Theater and had many iconic moments with that name. Simply put, it was a landmark. And while yes, the theater is still there, it doesn’t have the same historical value as it once did. However, I do agree that it was appropriate to name a theater after Nerlander, after all, he did put Chicago on the map as a Broadway house city. He amassed a huge network of theaters, all incredible landmarks (with their original names). The man truly did build an empire and this is only adding to his legacy.
Oh wow this is quite the change, but I'm only wondering why it took this long for this change to happen. Were people wondering why, in the twenty first century, a theater would be named after a literal slur against Asian people and it would continue to be running AND popular for a long time since- it only shows how much the theater industry is aware of the micro aggressions it makes against people of color. I have to also disagree with the previous comment, I think that often times history hasn't always been on the right side of things especially in terms of race relations, and this marquee change is only a call to action for members of the industry to start attempting to do better and correct mistakes made in the past. I do think that they could have been more creative, calling it the Nederlander Theater is just way too Broadway for Chicago, the city itself is vibrant with theater, and I wouldn't credit it to New York.
Chicagoans do not do well with name change. We still have the Sears Tower, Marshall Fields, and to South-Siders, Comiskey Park even none have them been officially named that for a long time. I will never not call it that, that is where I saw some of the most life changing musicals ever, it is where classics like the Producers first premiered and without the Oriental it would have never become the “King of New York.” I honestly don’t have a huge beef with the change , but they better change the marquee because it is an iconic part of chicago, but as long as they just change name on the vertical marquee I will be just fine. Besides I never realized what Mr. Nederlander did for the Chicago theatre scene. I was more shocked to see that I am older then the official formation of Broadway in Chicago. I certainly would not be here without Broadway in Chicago, glittering on Randolph St like a little Heaven in the loop.
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