A Triumphant/Tragic Night On Broadway

Forty oneyears ago, on August 25, 1980, "42nd Street" opened in New York.  

After an epic, rapturous, premiere performance producer David Merrick took center stage to announce to the audience and company that the show’s director, Gower Champion, had died that afternoon. 
So as not to threaten that night's opening performance, his death was kept a secret from the cast, who reacted with horror and grief at the news. This sensational musical went on to win the Tony Award as Best Musical and ran 3,486 performances. It was later revived on Broadway to acclaim once again and is considered a classic.
Here is rare footage from the poignant scene on opening night after the curtain came down.

David Merrick says, "It's a tragic moment... I am sorry to have to report Gower Champion died," and the rest is made inaudible due to the audience reaction. Jerry Orbach then had the reflexes to call, in character, for the curtain to be closed on the shocked performers on stage.