The Wales-born actor lost his battle with cancer in July (15), and the Broadway community came out to pay tribute to the 71 year old during a ceremony at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York on Monday (21Sep15).

Early in the memorial, Dana Ivey, who was one of five actors that read letters from friends and colleagues who couldn't attend the event, revealed that Rees had been chosen by officials at the Theater Hall of Fame to receive the special recognition of Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater.

Also part of the class of 2015 are actor Stacy Keach, playwright Tony Kushner, songwriting partners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and directors Julie Taymor and Robert Falls, among others.

The honourees will be officially inducted at a ceremony at the Gershwin Theatre on 16 November (15).

Meanwhile at Rees' memorial, Bebe Neuwirth, Sherie Rene Scott and Chita Rivera were among the stars who performed songs from various shows Rees had either starred in or directed, while Christian Borle and Kate Burton joined Ivey in reading missives from the late actor's friends, including tributes from playwright Tom Stoppard, Sir Kenneth Branagh, and songwriter Ahrens.