T he University of Pittsburgh School of Education ’ s Falk Laboratory School has received a $ 75,000 gift to provide ongoing support for the arts by Rob Marshall , award-winning film and theater director and a 1974 Falk alumnus , on behalf of his family — sisters Maura Marshall Powell ( Class of 1974 ), a successful architectural designer , and Kathleen Marshall ( Class of 1976 ), a Tony Award – winning Broadway director and choreographer ; and their parents , Robert and Anne Marshall .
The Marshalls ’ gift will update the Multi-Purpose Room / Theater space , which was renamed the Marshall Family Theater in honor of the family . Generations of Falk students , including the Marshalls , gave their first performances on that stage in Falk Lab School plays and musicals as well as attended music and physical education classes in the space .
“ It was a wonderful space ,” says Rob of the Multi- Purpose Room . “ It was everything — our cafeteria , graduation space , and theater . It was very special to us .”
Recalling Falk productions of “ Fiddler on the Roof ,” “ Oliver !” and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas , Kathleen adds , “ Those were really the first shows that my brother and sister and I did . Our love of theater and of performing came from that .”
Twins Rob and Maura attended Falk Lab School from 1965 to 1974 , while their younger sister , Kathleen , attended from 1967 to 1976 . Today , Maura owns a designbuild firm in the Washington , D . C ., area , while Kathleen has won numerous awards , including three Tonys , for her work as a director and choreographer on Broadway . Rob began his career in theater before transitioning to film , directing blockbuster films such as the Oscar-winning “ Chicago ,” “ Memoirs of a Geisha ,” and “ Mary Poppins Returns ,” among others .
Robert “ Bob ” Marshall , a professor of English , served as dean of the University of Pittsburgh College of Arts and Sciences ( now the Kenneth P . Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences ) for a number of years , while Anne Marshall completed her teacher education career as the coordinator of elementary education at Pitt ’ s School of Education .
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