Decision Not to Dim Broadway's Lights for Rivers Has Many Seeing Red

To dim or not to dim? That was the question. The answer to which has many on the Great White Way seeing red.

The decision Monday by the executives with Broadway League to not dim the lights on theater marquees to pay tribute to the life of Joan Rivers is causing a rift in an industry that has long prided itself on being a community rather than a business.

As reported by The New York Times, a committee of the Broadway League, which represents the vast majority of theater owners and producers on Broadway, decided Monday that comedienne and actress Joan Rivers' career did not meet the criteria to dim the lights on Broadway - a traditional honor to pay tribute to recently deceased theater luminaries.

"Under our criteria people need to have been very active recently in the theater, or else be synonymous with Broadway - people who made their careers here, or kept it up," said Broadway League executive director Charlotte St. Martin in an interview on Monday.

"We love Joan - she was very supportive of Broadway and came to a lot of show openings - but she hasn't acted on Broadway in 20 years," St. Martin added. "When you say Joan Rivers, you don't think comedy, television and Broadway. You think comedy and television. It's certainly nothing against her."

But, as always, Rivers is getting the last laugh as seven theaters, in defiance of the Broadway League, will dim their marquee lights to honor the recently deceased star, Deadline.com reports.

"In memory of the legendary Joan Rivers, we will dim the lights of our Jujamcyn Theaters marquees, Tuesday at 6:45pm." tweeted Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters. Although the smallest of Broadway's three major landlords, Jujamcyn's houses are home to the blockbuster hits, "The Book of Mormon", "Jersey Boys", "Kinky Boots", "A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder" and the upcoming revival of "Side Show."

The tiny Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway's smallest house which is home to "Rock of Ages" and is not part of the Broadway League, will also dim their marquee lights on Tuesday.

The lights will also go dim on the marquee of the New Amsterdam Theater, home to 2014's mega-hit "Aladdin." The theater is operated by the Disney Theatrical Group, who are also not a part of the Broadway League.

"If you don't go to Broadway, you're a fool." Rivers once said, continuing, "On Broadway, off Broadway, above Broadway, below Broadway, go! Don't tell me there isn't something wonderful playing. If I'm home in New York at night, I'm either at a Broadway or an Off Broadway show. We're in the theater capital of the world, and if you don't get it, you're an idiot."

Rivers was the writer and star of the 1971 flop "Fun City" and 1994 cult flop "Sally Marr... and Her Escorts," the latter of which earned her a Tony Award nomination for best actress in a play. In 1988, she appeared in Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound." Additionally, Rivers donated her talents at numerous benefit events for the Actors Fund, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and other theater related charities.