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Meryl Streep, Stephen Sondheim: Find Them In The American Theater Hall of Fame

Kevin, July 29th, 2025

Have you seen this landmark of theater legends?

If you've ever wandered through the Gershwin Theatre in New York - you're probably there to see Wicked. However, have you seen the American Theater Hall of Fame?

High up in the theater's rotunda is a place often overlooked; it's not flashy, and there are no velvet ropes or guided tours. Just names - etched in gold, lining the walls as a quiet and glistening nod to theatre history. 

A Tribute To The Greats 


The American Theater Hall of Fame was founded in 1972 to honor the artists, directors, designers, and producers whose work has stood the test of time. To even be considered, you need at least 25 years in the business and five major Broadway credits.

Walk through the space and you'll see some names you know instantly:

Stephen Sondheim, the lyrical genius behind Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd.

August Wilson
, whose plays like Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom gave voice to Black America.

Meryl Streep
, who made even the briefest return to theater unforgettable.

Bob Fosse
, the visionary behind so many of the dance moves we still associate with Broadway today

But there are also those whose names you might not know - costume designers, stage managers, lighting innovators - people who've worked behind the curtain.

Who Created The American Theater Hall of Fame?


The Hall of Fame was co-founded by James M. Nederlander, one of the most influential Broadway producers of the 20th century. Over the years, the project has been kept alive by passionate theatre advocates, including historian and ATW co-founder Isabelle Stevenson and theater journalist Louis Botto of Playbill, who helped document and publicize the Hall's importance.

Today, inductions are overseen by a voting panel made up of members of the Theater Hall of Fame and the American Theater Critics Association. It's a tradition that carries real weight in the industry.

So, check it out when you next end up at the Gershwin Theater - and don't forget to book your Broadway tickets here!

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