Broadway Holiday Tree Lighting Set for December 11

Most holiday trees have a star on top, or maybe a few stars on their boughs, but one special tree will be ringed with stars of a different type for its lighting on Wednesday, December 11.

At 5:15pm on that day, stars from virtually every Broadway and Off Broadway show will gather at Duffy Square for the annual Broadway Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. The names of specific participants haven’t been released yet, but those on hand in past years have included Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Tony Randall, Rue McClanahan, “and all the Channings — Carol and Stockard,” according to Theatre Development Fund (TDF) spokesman David LeShay.

The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at Broadway and 46th Street, just down from the TKTS booth. The event is sponsored by TDF, the League of American Theatres and Producers, and the Times Square Business Improvement District (B.I.D.). As has become customary at these tree lighting events, TDF and the League will show their holiday spirit by presenting a $5,000 check to a charity headquartered in the theater district, yet to be named.