How Broadway will honor Joan Rivers

Five Broadway theaters will dim their marquee lights Tuesday night in honor of Joan Rivers.

The move comes after the Broadway League, which represents theater owners and producers, decided not to dim New York's theater lights in the late comedian's honor.

Rivers appeared on Broadway three times (in 1972, 1988 and 1994) and was nominated for a Tony Award for best actress in a play for her role in 1994's "Sally Marr...and Her Escorts."

The Broadway League told the New York Times that it concluded that Rivers did not meet the criteria for dimming the lights on theater marquees in the traditional industry honor for celebrities who have performed on Broadway.

Charlotte St. Martin of the Broadway League said the group dims lights for deceased people who have "very active recently" on the Great White Way.

"We love Joan -- she was very supportive of Broadway and came to a lot of show openings -- but she hasn't acted on Broadway in 20 years," St. Martin told the Times.

Still, Jordan Roth, owner of Jujamcyn Theaters, which runs five theaters in New York, announced Monday that his venues will pay tribute:

Jujamcyn Theaters is home to "Kinky Boots," The Book of Mormon" and "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder."

Disney Theatrical Productions will also dim the New Amsterdam Theatre marquee's lights.

Rivers died last Thursday at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital at the age of 81, a week after going into cardiac arrest during a routine vocal cord procedure at an out-patient clinic. A funeral was held for her Sunday in Manhattan.

Broadway dimmed its lights last month in honor of Robin Williams.