Columbia College Spring 2014 TODAY The Show Goes On Contents Come back to something THE SHOW GOES ON new this summer. 18 Varsity Show Endears and Endures More than 50 In a world of planned obsolescence and the latest Internet meme, some things do last. BY THOMAS VINCIGUERRA ’85, ’86J, ’90 GSAS areas of study 20 Another Opening, Another Varsity Show to explore Since 1894, the theatrical tradition has satirized Columbia in song and dance. and endless BY NATHALIE ALONSO ’08 24 The Varsity Show Through the Years opportunities A look back at 120 years in pictures, programs and posters. to rediscover. 30 The Marriage of True Minds The Broadway team of Tom Kitt ’96 and Brian Yorkey ’93 delve into the reasons behind their successful collaboration. BY JAMIE KATZ ’72, ’80 BUSINESS 35 Orestes Brings Lit Hum to Life 36 Theater District Columbia’s many theater groups give students a chance to watch, and perform, everything from Shakespeare to opera to student-written plays. ce.columbia.edu/summercc BY SHIRA BOSS ’93, ’97J, ’98 SIPA COVER: POSTERS COURTESY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES; BACK COVER: EILEEN BARROSO ABOVE: CAST MEMBERS PERFORM DURING 1980’S FLY WITH ME. PHOTO: PETER KRUPENYE PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES MESSAGE FROM DEAN JAMES J. VALENTINI Building the Best Undergraduate Experience 15 48 80 e recently marked the end of The Columbia n this issue, you’ll read about some of the remarkable Colum- Campaign, a University-wide fundraising and bians who have achieved success in the performing arts, and Coach Brett Boretti (left) Susanna Daniel ’97 Jenji Kohan ’91 (right) alumni relations effort that raised more than Isome of the unique Columbia traditions that have influenced $6.1 billion, including $980 million for under- them on their path to greatness — in particular the Varsity Show, graduate education. We raised $401 million but also groups like Columbia University Players, King’s Crown DEPARTMENTS Wfor College financial aid, $25.5 million for student advising and Shakespeare Troupe and Columbia Musical Theatre Society, to WEB EXTRAS $134.4 million for the Columbia College Fund, which supports name a few. Columbia College students interested in theater and 3 Message from Dean James J. Valentini the Core Curriculum, summer internship film can take advantage of the School of the Building the best undergraduate experience. View photos from stipends, financial aid and student services. Arts and courses in Barnard’s Department the John Jay We also endowed 43 new professorships of Theatre. 4 Letters to the Editor Awards Dinner for faculty in the Arts and Sciences. And we Columbia University’s resources — in- did it with the help of you — the generous cluding our world-renowned faculty, 16 5 Within the Family by Editor Alex Sachare ’71 View photos from alumni, parents, students and friends of Co- graduate and professional schools, hundreds All the Columbia world’s a stage. the Dean’s Scholarship lumbia College. of extracurricular opportunities, and many Throughout the campaign, many of you institutes and centers across campus and Reception 6 Around the Quads gave time, energy and financial contribu- around the globe — are among the many Alumni Reunion Weekend and Dean’s Day 2014. tions to Columbia. You reconnected with things that make Columbia College special, Listen to an NPR your classmates, with your Columbia expe- and this is especially true for students in- 15 Roar, Lion, Roar interview with riences and with the institution, and helped terested in theater and the performing arts. Jenji Kohan ’91 Coach Brett Boretti builds upon the Lions’ baseball legacy. propel the University forward. You were These opportunities are enhanced by the leaders in The Columbia Campaign, and University’s location in the greatest city in 40 Columbia Forum: Dr. Arnold A. Hutschnecker in Paradise Watch a performance I thank you for helping make us the great- the world, where students can take advan- From a collection of five one-act plays. of the Varsity Show est college in the greatest university in the tage of countless arts internships, world- greatest city in the world. I especially thank class performances and unique cultural op- BY TONY KUSHNER ’78 college.columbia. the Undergraduate Campaign Council and portunities. Our Columbia Arts Experience edu/cct all the other College fund raising volunteers internship program, for example, provides who gave their time and resources to help us select students with a New York-based in- PHOTO: EILEEN BARROSO ALUMNI NEWS reach our goals. ternship in the arts and connects them with The momentum we have built from this special events and educational programming 46 Message from CCAA President Kyra Tirana Barry ’87 campaign will enable us to focus on key priorities that will designed to help them explore career possibilities. Our NYC Per- Columbia College Women connects female students with alumnae mentors. enhance Columbia College. We must continue to strengthen forming Arts Alternative Spring Break program gives students the College, build the greatest undergraduate experience for with a passion for performing arts the chance to attend theater, 47 Bookshelf our students and faculty, and provide for the next generation music and dance performances; participate in workshops on topics Featured: Sea Creatures by Susanna Daniel ’97. of Columbians. We need to sustain the Core, which unites such as audience development and careers in arts administration; Columbia College students and alumni; we need to support and reflect on their own work and the performing arts community 49 Obituaries our students, who are at the core of the College — through on campus during spring break. financial aid, summer internships, study abroad, research and Performing arts is just one example of the many professions 49 Arnold A. Saltzman ’36 Like Columbia College fellowship opportunities, and other programs and services — that College students embark on, and one of the many passions 51 Alumni on Facebook: Richard D. Heffner ’46, ’47 GSAS facebook.com/alumnicc and we need to support the faculty who teach our students, that we support through our programs and opportunities. But who are world-class researchers, outstanding teachers and none of these programs would be possible without the support 53 Class Notes thought-leaders in their fields. We need to be the best Colum- and guidance of former students, parents of students, and friends Alumni Profiles bia we can be so we can continue to attract the best students, of the College. So I thank you, once again, for all that you have Follow @Columbia_CCAA 80 Jenji Kohan ’91 regardless of their families’ abilities to pay, and ensure a di- done during The Columbia Campaign and all that you continue on Twitter verse community where students can learn as much from one to do for the College. Your commitment to Columbia is extraor- 87 David Johns ’04, ’06 TC another as they do from our faculty. Sustaining the College’s dinary, and I look forward to working together to sustain the 96 Last Look success will take a lot of work, and your participation is essen- College, build programs and opportunities, and support the next Join the Columbia Alumni tial. I hope you will remain engaged, continue to connect with generation of Columbians. Association Network the College and take advantage of programs and opportuni- on LinkedIn: alumni. ties that we offer. columbia.edu/linkedin SPRING 2014 3 Letters to the Editor WITHIN THE FAMILY BY EDITOR ALEX SACHARE ’71 A Football Alternative sadly lacking on campus, notwithstand- All the Columbia World’s a Stage Volume 41 Number 3 So the Lions were winless again this year — ing tremendous expenditures for facilities Spring 2014 more evidence that building a viable foot- five miles away. We request that CU commission a study EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ball program at Columbia is unlikely. The banging-head-on-wall metaphor seems to to analyze the historic failure of CU athlet- Alex Sachare ’71 never got to see a Varsity Show when I was a student. My worked together on the Varsity Show. More recently, Tom Kitt describe this entire subject and leads to my ics and make recommendations on how freshman year was 1967–68, and the Varsity Show was ’96 and Brian Yorkey ’93, the duo who won Tony and Pulitzer EXECUTIVE EDITOR suggestion: Just stop it. Give up football. to achieve competitive respectability. We one of many things at Columbia — just about everything, awards for Next to Normal and created this spring’s If/Then, met Lisa Palladino We don’t need an Eric Kandel to explain don’t point to specific issues or individu- actually — that fell victim to that spring’s demonstrations. and had their first collaboration on the Varsity Show. that this game can, and too often does, als; we simply want to have a competent MANAGING EDITOR After buildings were occupied beginning on April 23, The success of Varsity Show alumni extends beyond the stage cause permanent brain injury. It is time third-party analysis. We believe that Co- Alexis Tonti ’11 Arts lumbia’s students, faculty and alumni all I1968, and especially after the police bust in the early hours of — way beyond. Herman Mankiewicz (Class of 1917), who with Columbia made a statement about this by April 30, what passed for normal activities on campus came to Orson Welles wrote Citizen Kane, and Herman Wouk ’34, the Pu- FORUM EDITOR dropping the sport altogether or replacing deserve these answers. At the same time, a screeching halt. litzer Prize-winning author of The Caine Mutiny and many other Rose Kernochan ’82 Barnard it with a touch or flag version. Encourage we also insist on the University formulat- Classes were canceled, although some faculty chose to continue novels, are Varsity Show alumni.