Liberace

The mention of Liberace typically evokes images of sequins, Steinways and candleabras. But to Bathsheba Doran, who arrived at Columbia University last fall from England to begin her graduate work in playwriting as a Fulbright Scholar, it does not. This year, Doran returns to Columbia with the help of a Liberace scholarship, a unique program that provides grants to accredited institutions and organizations for training in the performing and creative arts.

Although this is the first year that Columbia has had a Liberace Scholar, the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts has provided over $4 million in scholarships since 1976 to over 100 prestigious institutions and 1,400 of their students for the advancement of music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

"I once read that Liberace coined the phrase 'I laugh all the way to the bank.' It is definitely the case that the Foundation he established is a major player in helping arts students and we are thankful to them," said Bruce Ferguson, dean of the School of the Arts.

The merit-based review process was limited to promising and deserving graduate students studying playwriting who demonstrated exceptional talent, drive and artistic potential.

Columbia's first recipient has been making the most of her time and opportunities in New York. Doran, in conjunction with another Columbia student, Emily Conbere, has established a theatre company, Our Theatre. The company has two plays in preliminary stages of production and recently produced a writing festival in London. During the course of the festival both well-known and new writers, including Columbia playwrights, directors, producers and actors, met at the Battersea Arts Center in London in September to participate in forum discussions focused on writing. The goal of the festival was to generate excitement and provide a transatlantic link for off and off-off Broadway productions.

In addition to these endeavors, Doran has been working on her newest play, "Fifteen Minutes," which was a collaboration project last semester. She is hopeful that production will begin in the spring with a director that she also met at Columbia.

"The amazing thing about being at Columbia is the people you get to work with," said Doran. "Columbia offers a very strong support network, especially the faculty. Students have access to connections and opportunities both at Columbia and in New York that would not be open to you in other places."

During her time in New York Doran has also interned at the Atlantic Theatre Company where she had the opportunity to read scripts, watch rehearsals and have one of her short plays performed. She also had a full-length stage play, "I Kathryn," read at the Cherry Lane Theater by Olympia Dukakis.

"Doran has an extraordinary talent as a young playwright," said Eduardo Machado, associate professor of Theatre Arts. "Her imagination and energy are boundless and I expect that she will have an exciting career. We are thrilled that the Liberace Scholarship was available to assist her with her studies."

Doran's professional career took root in her native England. During her undergraduate studies at Cambridge, she wrote and performed a two-woman comedy revue, "Feminine Wash." After graduating from Cambridge Doran wrote comedy for British television.

"Writing for television for two years, helped me determine that my goal is to write plays," said Doran. "I think it is important that I had this experience before coming to Columbia and continuing my studies, for I know where my interests really lie."

As with most young artists, funding concerns weigh on Doran, both funding for her works and her education, and the Liberace scholarship has been a welcomed form of assistance.

Liberace considered the Foundation one of his greatest achievements. In his book, "The Things I Love," Liberace wrote, "a lot of good things have happened to me in show business and I want to do what I can to give others just starting out a career boost. I hope the Foundation projects will continue into the future to offer gifted newcomers financial help, and in many cases, artistic exposure as well."

During his career Liberace, an internationally renowned pianist and showman, performed with major symphonies from the London Philharmonic to the Boston Pops and entertained audiences with classical and popular music as well as stage and television shows.