CP30206163
FILE - In this March 10, 2005 file photo, Geoffrey Holder poses at the French Institute Alliance Francaise\' "La Nuit des Etoiles" dinner in New York, honoring French actress Catherine Deneuve. Holder, a Tony Award-winning director, actor, painter and choreographer who during an eclectic show business career led the groundbreaking show "The Wiz" to Broadway, pitched 7-Up soda on TV and played a scary villain in the James Bond film "Live and Let Die," died Sunday of complications of pneumonia at Mount Sinai St. Luke\' s Hospital in New York. He was 84. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)

Broadway marquees to dim their lights to honour Geoffrey Holder, Tony Award-winning director

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Broadway theatres plan to dim their marquee lights Friday night in memory of Geoffrey Holder, a Tony Award-winning director who led the groundbreaking show “The Wiz” to Broadway.

The Broadway League says the lights will be dimmed for one minute at 7:45 p.m. Holder died Sunday of complications of pneumonia at age 84.

The 6-foot-6, Trinidad-born Holder won Tonys in 1975 for directing and designing the costumes for his all-black retelling of “The Wizard of Oz.” In 1978, he directed and choreographed the lavish Broadway musical “Timbuktu!” starring Eartha Kitt and earned another Tony nomination for best costumes.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles