Broadway to Dim Its Lights Dec. 1 to Commemorate World AIDS Day; Sarandon, Jackson, White Appear

By Andrew Gans
and Kenneth Jones
30 Nov 2009

The marquees of Broadway's theatres will be dimmed at 8 PM on Dec. 1 for one minute to commemorate World AIDS Day.

In addition to the Broadway theatres, participating venues across the city include the Brooklyn Bridge, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, the Chrysler Building, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and the Washington Square Park Memorial Arch.

The New York anchor event will begin at 6 PM in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. At 6:15 PM the lights on the Washington Square Park Memorial Arch will be turned off and then re-illuminated "as the speakers talk about the importance of human rights when confronting the AIDS pandemic." Tony Award winner Lillias White will perform. Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson and Susan Sarandon will also appear.

Lights will be turned off, according to a press release, "to remember those lost to AIDS and turned back on to emphasize human rights for those living with HIV/AIDS around the world."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and actress and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Naomi Watts will also kick off the global Light for Rights campaign Dec. 1.