Broadway lost a treasure as the light that was Kyle Jean-Baptiste dimmed far too soon. As we previously reported, Kyle succumbed to his injuries after an accidental fall off of his mother’s fourth floor fire escape in New York City. This devastating loss came just one day after Kyle completed his run as the youngest and the first Black Jean Valjean in the Broadway staple, Les Miserables.
The theatre community was stunned when the news broke. But the story quickly became viral, and Kyle’s name started trending nationally on Twitter. These weren’t just Les Miz fans and fellow actors who were mourning his loss. It was the entire country. It’s not hard to figure out why. Kyle’s story was incredibly moving.
Kyle Jean Baptiste, at age 21, was living his dream. But more than that, it was the American Dream. Cast in his first Broadway show the day after graduating college, Kyle was making the most of every day of his life. He began as an understudy to the lead character, Jean Valjean. But then, he got his shot. Kyle performed the lead role for several performances in July and August, wowing the crowd. Kyle was scheduled to leave Les Miz in less than two weeks so that he could join the Broadway production of The Color Purple. And then tragedy struck.
The news of Kyle’s untimely death touched so many that a tribute was held at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park yesterday. Approximately 200 people attended, bringing flowers and kind words for Kyle’s fellow Les Miz cast members and his family. Simultaneously, a movement began on social media to have Broadway formally recognize Kyle’s contribution to the theatre community and the void that will never be filled. Spurred by the hashtag #Dim4Kyle, hundreds implored the Broadway League to dim the lights of Broadway theatres in remembrance of Kyle Jean Baptiste. Unfortunately, the League chose only to dim the lights of the Imperial Theatre where Les Miz is performed, and not all of Broadway, despite the fact that all of Broadway and all of the country have been saddened by his death. It is not clear why the decision was made, but it is definitely disappointing.
One is left to wonder what the criteria are to have the Broadway lights dimmed in tribute. “Nationally mourned actor who broke both a race and an age barrier in a hugely popular Broadway production” is apparently not enough. We believe that honoring Kyle in this way would demonstrate that it is your impact to the art, and not merely your age or the length of your career, that is held in highest esteem. The Broadway League got this one wrong. If you agree, add your voice to the comments below. Seek them out on social media. It’s not too late to right this wrong.
Tell The Broadway League that all the theatres should #Dim4Kyle.
