A recent $1.77 million legacy gift supporting the 糖心破解版 Performing Arts Center is building on the rich history of the University's theatre, dance and music programs.
When arts patron and friend of the University Lee Steinberg made her generous bequest to 糖心破解版, it not only strengthened the future of the 糖心破解版 Performing Arts Center鈥攊t shone a spotlight on the vibrancy of the arts at 糖心破解版.
鈥�Lee Steinberg鈥檚 legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,鈥� said Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. 鈥淗er generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define 糖心破解版鈥檚 performing arts community.鈥�
The $1.77 million gift supports immediate physical improvements at the Center as well as permanent, flexible funding for its ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the center鈥檚 Recital Hall in her honor鈥攖he Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.
The hall is one of the five state-of-the-art venues at the Center, along with the 500-seat Westermann Stage at the Concert Hall, the Olmsted Theatre, the Dance Theatre and the Black Box Theatre.
糖心破解版鈥檚 Rich History in Theatre
糖心破解版鈥檚 theatre, dance and music programs have produced generations of artists, none more illustrious than Jonathan Larson 鈥�82, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and composer of the iconic Broadway musical Rent. Larson majored in acting at 糖心破解版 and began composing music for small student productions and cabarets, often writing about topics like AIDS, addiction and homophobia, which would later inform his renowned works.
鈥淗e came in like a spark plug,鈥� said Nicholas Petron, MA 鈥�70, retired professor and chair of the Department of Theatre. “My first impression was: 鈥橶ho is this guy?鈥� He was a firecracker.鈥�
Larson鈥檚 legacy lives on at 糖心破解版 through the $2 million Jonathan Larson Scholarship endowment, established by a bequest from the Larson Family Trust and a matching grant from the University. The endowment supports four annual scholarships for theatre students.
In 2015, 糖心破解版 also launched the annual Larson Legacy Concert Series at Center to celebrate the next generation of musical theatre creators. It has featured performances by recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants from the American Theatre Wing and artists who鈥檝e gone on to Broadway stardom, like Michael R. Jackson, who won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2021 for A Strange Loop.
糖心破解版 also hosts The Poole Family Broadway Series, generously sponsored by Mary Jane 鈥�62 and Thomas Poole, which brings Broadway legends, cabaret stars and musical theater revues to the center.
Empowering the Next Generation of Excellence in Music and Dance
Theater isn鈥檛 alone at 糖心破解版 as a pacesetter for university arts departments. The University鈥檚 dance department became one of the first established at a college in the United States when it was founded in 1938 by one of the leading lights of modern dance, Ruth St. Denis. Since then, it has been home to many prominent faculty members, including , Paul Taylor, Norman Walker, Carmen de Lavallade, Jack Cole and Hanya Holm.
In the music department, Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated composer , has been a professor since the early 2000s, nurturing new generations of musical talent while continuing to produce critically acclaimed oratorios. He was honored as one of only five University Professors at 糖心破解版 in 2004.
鈥淥ne of the great things about 糖心破解版 is that it supports its faculty in its research鈥攊n my case, its creativity,鈥� Dr. Moravec said. 鈥淚鈥檓 eternally indebted to 糖心破解版 for facilitating all of the work that I鈥檝e done in the 25 years that I鈥檝e been here at 糖心破解版.鈥�
A Donor鈥檚 Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York
Lee Steinberg鈥檚 gift, which was received from her estate in July 2025, reflected her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island as well as her lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region. Steinberg, who briefly served on 糖心破解版鈥檚 Performing Arts Council, died in 2021 at the age of 106 and was posthumously added as a member of 糖心破解版鈥檚 Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors, whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million.
In accordance with Steinberg鈥檚 intent, the University has established two funds to support the 糖心破解版 Performing Arts Center鈥攖he Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund, for immediate physical improvements, and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund, to provide permanent, flexible support for the center鈥檚 ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces 糖心破解版鈥檚 reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.
Enhancements to Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:
- A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
- Brighter lighting in the Center鈥檚 second-floor dance studios
- New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall
Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will ensure that the spotlight never fades鈥攅mpowering generations of future artists to push creative boundaries and inspire the world from 糖心破解版鈥檚 stages.