The Stage

Broadway dims lights for Richardson

Published Thursday 19 March 2009 at 16:05 by Judd Hollander

The lights of all Broadway theatre marquees will be dimmed for one minute at 8pm tonight (Thursday) in memory of actress Natasha Richardson, who died last night following a skiing accident in Montreal.

In a statement, Charlotte St Martin, executive director of the Broadway League, the national trade organisation for the Broadway industry, said, “The Broadway community is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our finest young actresses, Natasha Richardson. Her theatrical lineage is legendary, but her own singular talent shined memorably on any stage she appeared. On Broadway, her brilliant performances demonstrated a pinnacle of excellence - both emotionally and intellectually - that electrified those fortunate enough to be sitting in the theatre and experiencing her magic. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and audiences - we will miss her.”

Richardson made her Broadway debut in a 1993 revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, earning a Tony Award nomination and a Theater World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut. It was also where she met her future husband, actor Liam Neeson, who co-starred with her in the production. In 1998 she won a Tony for Best Actress for her performances as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her other Broadway appearances included Closer (1999) and A Streetcar Named Desire (2005).

In January Richardson and her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, co-starred in a New York staged reading of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.