Falk Lab School Receives Transformative Gift to Support the Arts
“ I ’ m very excited about being able to name this theater in honor of our family . It ’ s rare that you ’ re able to do something so special and lasting . Falk really shaped all of us , and that ’ s why this honor means so much .” Rob Marshall
“ They always wanted to go to school ,” says Bob Marshall . “ They just loved it .”
“ As they grew older , Falk seemed to fit more and more because of this strong arts program and the teachers who were there ,” adds Anne .
Nurturing Curiosity through the Arts
Learning to work well with others is a Falk Lab School skill that ’ s been critical to the Marshalls ’ successful careers .
“ I remember going into those project rooms and having so much fun ,” says Maura . “ They were a place for us to be creative and I loved that .”
For Rob , working with classmates in the project rooms helped him learn to communicate with others and to accommodate a range of strengths and perspectives , attributes that have been vital in the heavily collaborative worlds of theater and film .
The Marshalls ’ gift will be used to make immediate upgrades to the theater space , including updating its sound system .
“ The things that are showcased onstage come from a place in the heart as much as the mind ,” says Jill Sarada . “ When the students are onstage demonstrating these things , the audience can be transported to another place . By upgrading the sound system , we hope to make the experience more enchanting for families and for the performers themselves .”
The gift is a celebration for a family with close ties not only to Falk but also to the University of Pittsburgh . In 2011 , Falk honored all three Marshall children with its Distinguished Alumni Award .
“ It was a wonderful and nurturing environment , and I ’ m so happy I went there ,” says Kathleen . “ I learned how to learn and to see being curious as a fun thing to do , and I think that philosophy carried throughout the school .”
Creating Opportunities to Participate
The Marshall family traveled to Falk Lab School for a ceremony to honor them and their gift on Feb . 17 , 2023 . They toured the updated facilities , met with students in the performing arts program , and were treated to musical performances by students and a performance by students in the school ’ s Giant Puppet Dance Club .
“ One of the most meaningful pieces of this gift is that the family has vivid memories of Falk being part of their origin stories , a place that set them on a path ,” says Sarada .
“ It ’ s also incredibly powerful to reflect on the way that Falk created a space for the Marshalls to take risks in a supportive environment ,” she adds . “ Giving students the freedom to explore who they are and what they ’ re passionate about remains absolutely central to the Falk experience .”
Asked about the family ’ s hopes for the gift , Maura says , “ I just hope it continues to be as it was when we were there . You don ’ t have to be headed to Broadway to participate in the arts . Participate whether it ’ s onstage or backstage , front of house , back of house , however you can contribute . It ’ s the group experience that ’ s important .”
“ I ’ m very excited about being able to name this theater in honor of our family ,” says Rob . “ It ’ s rare that you ’ re able to do something so special and lasting . Falk really shaped all of us , and that ’ s why this honor means so much .”
The renamed Multi-Purpose Room / Theater space is only the second location within Falk Lab School to be renamed in recognition of a philanthropic gift , with the school ’ s Ann and Henry Fisher Library being the first . The school itself was named in honor of Fanny Edel Falk , whose children , Leon Falk Jr . and Marjorie Falk Levy , in 1931 purchased the land the school sits on and arranged its charter with the University of Pittsburgh . ■
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20 EN AVANT | FALL 2023
Contact Laurie Hess , Manager of Constituent Relations , at ldh31 @ pitt . edu .