The Art of Giving at YSD Iseman Theater Takes a Bow As the chair and CEO of CI Capital Partners, LLC, Frederick Iseman ’74 yc manages billions of dollars in assets, investing in middle market industry and media corporations across North America. As a philanthropist, Iseman deploys his cultural and monetary resources to vigorously promote his interests in globalization and the arts. His active support, as a trustee, extends to the Metropolitan Opera, Alex O’Neill, Ellen Iseman ’76 yc, Henry the Municipal Iseman, Fred Iseman ’74 yc, Dean James Art Society, and Bundy ’95 and Eugenie Iseman. Carnegie Hall, among others. At Yale, he is a member of the Yale Tomorrow Campaign Committee, the University Council, and the Sterling Fellows. On May 30, 2009, Yale School of Drama’s black box theatre, formerly called the New Theater and located at 1156 Chapel Street, was dedicated as the Iseman Theater. “The dedication of the Iseman Theater marks the first named performance space in the history of Yale School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre and represents Mr. Iseman’s passionate support of theatre and the performing arts here at Yale and around the world,” said Dean James Bundy ’95. “The entire community celebrates his deep commitment and is grateful for his generosity.” In operation since 2000, the theater was designed by Ming Cho Lee (Faculty) and Bronislaw Sammler ’74 (Faculty) with architect Deborah Berke. The flexible space supports a variety of theatrical and dance productions, including Yale School of Drama’s Carlotta Festival, the World Performance Project, and the Undergraduate Playwriting Festival. At the dedication, Iseman said that “the focused, driven, entrepreneurial efforts of Dean James Bundy, the heads of the other Yale art schools, and President Richard C. Levin to make Yale the preeminent major university in the world in the arts
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have succeeded. I am honored to have my name affiliated with this illustrious drama school, which strives continuously to achieve work that is lasting, influential, transcendent, and sublime. What a pleasure to do my bit to abet Yale’s remarkable Matt Cornish ’09 work.”
A Surprise for George White George White It was a surprise for George White ’61 yc ’57 (Former Faculty) when he walked into the Belasco Room at Sardi’s Restaurant on May 12 and saw it filled with old friends, colleagues and former students, glasses lifted in toast to him. It was even more of a surprise—and an emotional one too—when he learned the gathering was to honor his many years of educating theater management students at the School and the groundbreaking work he set down in theatre management at Yale. A quintet of George’s former students—Abigail Evans ’87, Meredith Freeman ’88, Flora Stamatiades ’94, Kathy Houle ’88, and Laura Wilts Perlow ’93—surprised George again by announcing the establishment of the George White Prize: to honor “an extraordinary theatre artist, producer and teacher who has generously devoted a lifetime of talent to the theatre, and has graciously guided and inspired a multitude of YSD students and theatre professionals.” The Prize was given for the first time at Commencement in May to Sergi Torres ’09. With the establishment of this prize, George’s legacy of excellence in teaching Back row, from left to right: Abigail Evans and commitment to ’87, Scott Richards yc ’82, Laura Wilksthe field will play a Perlow ’93, Meredith Freeman ’88, significant role in the Kathy Houle ’88, Flora Stamatiades ’94, Dean James Bundy ’95. Front row, from left lives of its recipients. to right: Elizabeth Darling White, George White ’61 yc ’57, Juliette White Hyson yc ’89.
Barry Jay Kaplan
Iseman photo by Tony Fiorini; White photo by Herb Scher ’86; Richard photo courtesy of Nicholas Lemesh; Trask photo courtesy of Emily Trask; Kaye photo courtesy of Dena Kaye.
Frederick Iseman