Newsday from New York, New York • 6

Is Back In the Lights Of Broadway By Randy Banner Helen Hayes who has been known for decades as the "first lady of the American became the first actress in history yesterday to have had not one but two Broadway theaters' bear her name The first Helen Hayes Theater was tom down last year Yesterday her name was placed on the second A small but illustrious group of show busmesaJuminaries gatbi ered to mark that honor at what had been the The little Theatre at 240 44th St where the marquee now flashes the 82-year-old actress' name in bold fluorescent lights In 1955 the former Fulton Theater at 210 46th St was named for her That edifice with the adjacent Monaco Theater was tom down in March 1982 amid vehement protests from the theater community to make way for a high-rise Mariott Hotel' Yesterday standing outside the 499-seat house on West 44th which now houses the Tony Award-winning play Torch Song Tril- Hayes said that she had "never thought that anything like this would happen When the other theater was tom down I told myself that I said Hayes the first of the celebrities to arrive "And I made oth- -er people believe it too But I really was That theater was comfort because it made me feel that even though I be on the stage myself at least I would still be there on Broadway Now I have another theater A smaller theater One that will give playwrights who have something to say a place to say it in but in a quieter Those who attended the ceremony included actresses Colleen Dewhurst and Ellen Burstyn directors Joshua Logan Joseph Papp and Ellis Raab producer Alexander Cohen and Mayor Edward Koch Each praised Hayes for her theatrical achievements while some used the opportunity to speak in favor of designating all Broadway theaters as city landmaAa That matter is under consideration by the Land marks Preservation Commission Legendary actress Helen Hayes In front of The Uttle Theatre on West 44th SL -which was renamed Helen Hayes Theater yesterday "We stood otfe day and v- watched two theaters come Dewhurst said "And the name of one of those theaters bore the name of Helen Hayes which throughout the country and through- -out the world ana New York theater Our lady our queen has returned to where she should be and never again does one come Mawaday IMNfintar Tima Diana Ross braves the storm as she attempts to perform in Central Park Below' before the rains came a poster amid a sea of the fans Koch said of Hayes: "She is just someone who you get out of your mind when yoi think about New York and you think about New York theater She said Bhe wanted a small theater While ahe caw play in the largest of houses she always has a warmth about her that nke it seem as if she were in your living Logan called Hayes "a "If she lasts any he said before the ceremony going to have to find a theater small wnnmgh to awtimw the Visibly moved by the testimonials a tearful Hayes rose from her chair and proceeded to address the audience without microphones "I hope it will outlive she said referring to the theater "I want to have any more tragedies and I want to be reduced to bathroom weeping In the theater you learn that the only place you cry is on stage and in the bathroom Oh -to be a theater.