The Department of Theater strives to offer students the best possible experience, and we welcome gifts that help us in our efforts. In addition to contributing to our general Department of Theater Gift Fund, friends and alumni who are contemplating making a gift may donate to any one of our three more specialized funds.
THE RAND THEATER REFURBISHMENT FUND
The Department of Theater strives to give its students an opportunity to work on the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment possible, and in the best, safest facility we can offer them. That requires constant investment in our physical spaces, and we often rely on the generosity of donors to help us accomplish the upgrades and fixes the space needs. Upgrades made in recent years thanks to donors include the purchase of high tech sound equipment for theater production, as well as the transformation of the Upper Rand Lobby into the Upper Rand Studio, a new classroom and performance space.
THE
SUSAN M. AND LARRY G. BENEDICT SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF THEATER
The Susan M. and Larry G. Benedict Scholarship Endowment was created to provide undergraduate scholarship support for students within the Department of Theater who are studying theater design, production, and management. The Chair of the Department of Theater or designee, in consultation with key faculty and staff, will select each year's recipient(s). Special consideration will be given to sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated technical proficiency and a commitment of professionalism.
THE
FRANK PRENTICE RAND SCHOLARSHIP
IN DRAMA
The Frank Prentice Rand Scholarship in Drama, funded by the generous bequest of the late Margarita H. Rand, honors Professor Frank Prentice Rand, who taught dramatic literature at UMass in the English Department. Our Rand Theater is named for him because he and Mrs. Rand loved theater and promoted the founding of our department.
Nominees for the Frank Prentice Rand Scholarship in Drama should be undergraduate theater majors of exceptional scholarship and outstanding achievement in the areas of:
- Directing
- Producing
- Playwriting
- Dramaturgy
Making Gifts
Donations can be made to the Department of Theater general gift fund, are may be targeted to either of the above funds. When filling out the gift form (available at performances with your program or downloadable as a PDF in the side bar on this page), simply indicate which fund you would like to contribute to. If you choose not to specify, your gift will go to the general gift fund for the department.
Rob Corddry's video
Last year, as part of our successful campaign to raise money to upgrade the Upper Rand Lobby space and turn it into the Upper Rand Studio, we asked Rob Corddry to help us out with the campaign. He did so generously, and for the Play-In-A-Day festival we held in May 2010, he wrote a play and recorded this message for us:
(one NSFW word about halfway in):
Ways to Contribute
- If you'd like to make a contribution, download our gift form (in pdf), and mail it to the address on the form.
- Gift Form
- There are also other ways of helping students out, including support for tickets, internships, and professional development. Please contact Penny Remsen, Department Chair, at remsen@theater.umass.edu, for more information about all giving opportunities.
