James P. Gatens, Veteran Broadway Box Office Treasurer, Dead at 71

The Broadway community is mourning the passing of veteran Main Stem box office treasurer James P. Gatens, who died on April 19 at the age of 71. The marquee of the Ambassador Theatre will be dimmed in his memory on April 25 at approximately 7:45 PM prior to the evening performance of Chicago.

Gatens was a long-time box office treasurer and ticketing consultant for Chicago and the lights will be dimmed at the theater so that the show’s family, as well as Gatens’ friends and family and other members of the Broadway community, may join in the tribute.

“Jimmy Gatens was a special man, a great human being, an impeccable professional, a natural charmer and most importantly a fervent New York Giants fan,” said producer Barry Weissler in a statement. “I’ve been in the theatre business for 50 years but Jimmy Gatens was still able to teach me things about the craft of ticket selling; I never stopped learning from him. I will miss him terribly.”

Born and raised in Hell's Kitchen, Gatens was the son of a stagehand and a theater usherette. A 50-year member of Local 751, Treasurers and Ticket Sellers, he took great pride in his 30-year tenure as head treasurer of Times Square’s TKTS booth.

Gatens’ funeral will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, NJ 07450 on April 25 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Gatens’ honor to Encore Community Services.