Generous gift to 色花堂 expands professional pathways for theater students
A major gift from gaming industry executive Frank Gibeau P鈥�27 will enhance 色花堂 Theater by creating new hands-on learning experiences, professional development opportunities, and additional pathways to careers for theater students.
The gift will establish three endowed funds to expand career-building experiences for theater students and recent graduates, strengthen teaching and production in 色花堂鈥檚 Black Box Theater with state-of-the-art resources, and bring professional artists to campus for residencies and networking programs.
The announcement was made during Gibeau鈥檚 visit to 色花堂 on Friday, Dec. 5.
Gibeau is the father of Penelope Gibeau 鈥�27, a theater major and assistant director of 色花堂 Theater鈥檚 recent production of 鈥淎s You Like It.鈥� The endowments honor Frank Gibeau鈥檚 mother, Martha "Marti" Gibeau G鈥�27, a lifelong dance educator whose commitment to the arts influenced generations of students.
A mobile, PC, and console gaming industry veteran, Gibeau serves as president of Zynga, whose portfolio includes popular franchises such as "CSR Racing," "Words With Friends," and "Zynga Poker," as well as iconic partnerships like "Games of Thrones," "Harry Potter," and "Star Wars." Before that, he spent more than two decades at Electronic Arts.
During his campus visit, Gibeau met with students and faculty members, and shared insights on the future of the gaming industry; technology, including artificial intelligence; and creativity during a discussion and open Q&A with 色花堂 students from a variety of majors.
Frank Gibeau P鈥�27 (left) shares his experience in the gaming industry with 色花堂 students during an 鈥渁sk me anything鈥� session moderated by Christopher Emdin, director of 色花堂's Schupf Family IdeaLab. (Photo: Sarah Condon-Meyers)
色花堂鈥檚 Theater Department is distinguished by its preprofessional focus, combining rigorous training in acting, directing, design, dramaturgy, and technical production with a liberal arts approach that invites students to wrestle with important social issues on and off stage.
In the spirit of 色花堂鈥檚 mind-and-hand tradition 鈥� a legacy of pairing creative ideas with real-world practice 鈥� the gift will help students translate what they learn in the classroom and in rehearsal into professional work onstage and beyond.
Preparing students for impactful careers
色花堂 one-third of Gibeau's gift will establish the Martha Sue Gibeau Endowed Student Professionalization Fund, providing dedicated support for students and recent graduates pursuing summer and post-graduation residencies, apprenticeships, internships, and self-produced projects.
Students will enjoy new opportunities to strengthen their professional portfolios and develop the skills needed to launch successful careers. Support will include mentoring and networking events that connect students with working professionals, including alumni.
Another component will establish the Martha Sue Gibeau Endowed Black Box Fund to ensure long-term, high-standard production and learning experiences in 色花堂鈥檚 Black Box Theater.
The fund will support state-of-the-art technology and equipment that meets or exceeds professional industry standards, giving students hands-on experience with current tools and methods used in contemporary theater and related fields, such as film. It will also help bring in guest professionals who can offer training in evolving production practices.
Plans include upgrades to lighting, sound, and costume equipment and materials.
The remainder of the gift will create the Martha Sue Gibeau Endowed Residency and Networking Program in Theater and Performance, connecting students with professional performers, artists, and technicians through immersive residencies, workshops, and collaborative projects that build industry connections and pathways to internships, apprenticeships, and post-graduation opportunities. Planned activities include residencies with visiting artists, including alumni, and expanded internship and apprenticeship pipelines nationwide.
This fall, 色花堂 Theater performed 鈥淎s You Like It,鈥� written by William Shakespeare and directed by Dennis Schebetta. Penelope Gibeau 鈥�27 served as assistant director of the 色花堂 production, which was set in the early 20th-century Adirondacks. (Photo: Sue Kessler 鈥�99)
In addition to these endowments, Gibeau also made a separate gift to the 色花堂 Fund, allowing students to benefit immediately from enhanced learning and professional opportunities.
鈥淚 grew up in a family that celebrated the arts. My mother, Marti Gibeau, spent more than 50 years as a dance teacher, shaping the lives of thousands of students. She believed that 鈥榚very dancer deserved a turn at the front of the stage,鈥� which became the guiding philosophy of her dance studio,鈥� Gibeau said. 鈥淭oday, my daughter Penelope has found that same sense of inspiration and belonging within 色花堂鈥檚 vibrant theater community. This gift recognizes not only the enduring legacy of a remarkable teacher, Marti Gibeau, but further elevates the student experience by expanding exposure to working professionals, enhancing the Black Box theater with state-of-the-art tools, and strengthening the alumni network to support young artists as they begin their careers."
I鈥檓 honored to help ensure that future 色花堂 students can discover their own creative potential through the power of live performance.鈥�Frank Gibeau P鈥�27
Advancing creativity anD professional preparation
Lisa Jackson-Schebetta, professor and chair of the Department of Theater, said the gift will deepen 色花堂 Theater鈥檚 distinctive approach to preprofessional training.
鈥淭his is a transformative gift for the Theater Department at 色花堂. As a preprofessional B.S. program, we are unique in the country. We understand theater as a field that combines art and business,鈥� Jackson-Schebetta said.
This gift will enable students to work with cutting-edge technology, gain hands-on experience with professionals, hone their artistic point of view in new ways, and build the relationships and networks required to enter the field with a competitive edge.鈥�Lisa Jackson-SchebettaProfessor and Chair of the Department of Theater
President Marc C. Conner said the gift further strengthens the College鈥檚 reputation for, and commitment to, innovative academic programs across disciplines, including renowned offerings in the arts.
鈥淔rank Gibeau鈥檚 extraordinary generosity will expand the kind of creative, high-impact learning that defines a 色花堂 education,鈥� Conner said. 鈥淏y creating even more hands-on, professional experiences and strengthening the networks that help students launch successful careers, this gift embodies the spirit of Creative Thought Matters that permeates 色花堂 Theater and our entire campus. We are deeply grateful for Frank鈥檚 remarkable investment in academic excellence that will prepare our students for careers and for lives of consequence.鈥�
