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Pat Halloran, man who restored the Orpheum and brought Broadway to Memphis, dies at 80

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By Joe Birch, Joyce Peterson and Lydian Coombs

Published: Feb. 8, 2024 at 4:32 PM CST|Updated: Feb. 9, 2024 at 7:49 AM CST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The man who revived the historic Orpheum Theater in Downtown Memphis and brought Broadway to the Bluff City has died. Pat Halloran, one of this city’s greatest cheerleaders, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 8. He was 80 years old.

Halloran’s father owned a movie theater in Omaha, Nebraska, where he grew up. His dad always booked musicals like “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Oklahoma.”

So how fitting that when he grew up, Pat operated a theater, too — one that specialized in making musical magic.

Halloran arrived in Memphis in 1969, spending 11 years leading the Memphis chapter of his fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha.

In 1974, Halloran ran for Memphis City Council and won. In 1979, he resigned from the fraternity to run for mayor and lost.

“The best thing to happen to me was losing the mayor’s race,” Halloran told Action News 5 during an interview in 2015. “I honestly believe that because I’ve been so happy for 35 years.”

When opportunity knocked and Pat was asked to lead the fundraising to save The Orpheum from the wrecking ball, he answered.

“We saved the theater. We cleaned it up,” he said proudly. The renovated Orpheum re-opened in 1984. Halloran brought more than 300 Broadway shows to the theater, including “Phantom of the Opera,” which required a $9 million stage expansion.

“We had to do it,” he said, “and seeing that opening scene in Phantom was another big time for me.”

Halloran won three Tony awards for producing Broadway shows including “Memphis: The Musical,” which debuted at The Orpheum. The theater also hosted hundreds of concerts and famous celebrities, many of whom have stars out front on the theater’s Sidewalk of Stars.

“Isaac Hayes, Tyler Perry, Bob Dylan’s been here three or four times,” said Halloran pointing out the gold stars in the pavement. “Cybil Sheppard. Robin Williams, he was here three times before he passed away.”

Halloran’s star shines among them.

Pat Halloran's star outside The Orpheum Theatre — Pat Halloran’s star outside The Orpheum Theatre(Action News 5)

And when he retired in 2015, the new Performing Arts and Education building next door to the Orpheum was named the Halloran Centre in his honor. More than 60,000 students attend events at the facility each year.

Even after he retired, Halloran uplifted the city.

He started “Positively Memphis,” a group that helped the less fortunate in our community.

“We’re not going to change the world,” Halloran said, “but if we change one out of every hundred kids with those big numbers, it’s going to make a huge impact.”

As word of Halloran’s death spread, Kevin Kane, President and CEO of Memphis Tourism, and a good friend of Halloran’s, told Action News 5:

“Memphis lost a community icon with the passing of Pat Halloran. He is the reason The Orpheum still stands today, where Broadway meets Beale. His philanthropic endeavors have forever changed and enriched our community.”Kevin Kane, President and CEO of Memphis Tourism,

Condolences poured in on social media.

“Rest in Peace Pat Holloran. Thank you for all you did for the City of Memphis and theater lovers like me,” Ken Nelson posted to Facebook.

“He was an amazing man. He will be missed. Downtown is a better place because of Pat,” wrote Shane Waldroup.

Action News 5's Joe Birch and Pat Halloran in a 2015 interview following his retirement from... — Action News 5’s Joe Birch and Pat Halloran in a 2015 interview following his retirement from The Orpheum Theatre.

Halloran may be gone, but his legacy stands tall on Main Street, with The Orpheum drawing 300,000 patrons a year to the theater in Memphis.

“It’s become an absolute jewel in the crown of our great city,” Halloran told Action News 5 in 2015.

Current Orpheum President and CEO Brett Batterson released a statement late Thursday:

“The Orpheum Theatre Group joins our Mid-South community and the global Broadway industry in mourning the loss of former Orpheum President Pat Halloran. His dedication to the arts and his heart for the City of Memphis were unparalleled. ⁠

⁠

“His legacy is profound. The decades of Broadway tours he brought to Memphis have shaped the memories of hundreds of thousands of theatregoers. By building the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education, now a haven for transformational arts education, he continues to shape future generations of empathic, thoughtful community members. Through his passion and steadfast preservation of the historic 95-year-old theatre, Downtown Memphis and live performance continue to thrive.⁠

⁠

“Words can never express the impact Pat had on the Orpheum Theatre. There would be no Orpheum without Pat Halloran.⁠

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“Our hearts go out to his wife Anne, his children, grandchildren, to Memphis and all that knew and loved him. We grieve with you.”Orpheum President and CEO Brett Batterson

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Memphis Mayor Paul Young released a statement on Pat Halloran’s passing on Friday:

Pat Halloran was a major force in our community. His passing is not only a loss for the arts and philanthropic communities, but for all of us who benefitted from the results of his work and his great spirit.Memphis Mayor Paul Young

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Pat Halloran, man who restored the Orpheum and brought Broadway to Memphis, dies at 80

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