The Broadway community and the Committee of Theatre Owners will honor the memory of Tony-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick—who passed away June 23, 2023, at the age of 99—by dimming the lights of all Broadway theatres November 9 at 6:45 PM ET for one minute.
“Sheldon Harnick was one of Broadway’s most profound lyricists, and his songs are part of Broadway tradition,” says Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League. “His work on Fiddler on the Roof created immediate and beloved classics. Songs such as 'Tradition'; 'Sunrise, Sunset'; and 'If I Were a Rich Man' helped make the show one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals in history at the time. Generations of audiences continue to be inspired by his lyrics which evoke so much emotion and brilliantly bring powerful stories to life.”
Mr. Harnick was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning three for the productions of Fiorello! (1960) and Fiddler on the Roof (1965). In 2016, he received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, the Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre, and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award from The Outer Critics Circle.
In addition, he won a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammy Awards, two New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, three gold records, and a platinum record.
Read the complete Playbill obituary for Mr. Harnick by clicking here.
The Broadway League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry representing more than 700 members from nearly 200 national and international markets, including theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers as well as suppliers of goods and services to the commercial theatre industry.
