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Stage PresenceJanet Bessey’s gift will help preserve Hart House Theatre’s role on campusAUof T staff member whose namewas synonymous with HartHouse Theatre for more thanthree decades has donated $100,000 tohelp ensure the theatre’s long-term survival.Janet Bessey, who started as anassistant stage manager in the 1960s andlater managed the theatre until she retiredin 2001, says her job was a “work of love”that kept her close to the theatre’s mostimportant constituents – its students.During her career, the theatre mounteddozens of shows and took a democraticapproach to casting U of T productions.“The philosophy was thateveryone should have the opportunityto take part,” she says. Some studentsparlayed their experience at Hart HouseTheatre into careers. Rod Beattie, thestar of the Wingfield plays, performedas Hamlet in a 1973 production. Twoother Hart House Theatre alumni arealso involved in the Wingfield plays:Dan Needles writes them and DouglasBeattie, Rod’s brother, directs them.In 1986, the Graduate Centre for theStudy of Drama moved out of HartHouse Theatre, leaving a budget shortfalland gaps in the production schedule.To survive, the theatre kept its manystudent revues, such as the Faculty ofMedicine’s Daffydil and Engineering’sSkule Nite, but sought new clientsamong dance studios, local ethnicgroups and touring stage productions.Despite some box office successes,the theatre has always relied on the universityto subsidize operations. In 2000,Hart House took over management ofthe theatre and launched an endowmentcampaign to raise $7 million. Anadditional $1 million is being sought forcapital improvements. Bessey describesher contribution as a kind of thank you.“The theatre has been a part of my lifefor so many years,” she says. “I wantedto give something back for all the enjoymentI’ve received.” – Scott AndersonA Scientist’s LegacyToronto group creates scholarship in honour of Marie Curie SklodowskaPHOTOGRAPHY:A. M. CHESNEY MEDICAL ARCHIVES, JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL INSTITUTE, COURTESY AIP EMILIO SEGRE VISUAL ARCHIVESInspired by the humanitarian ideals of a Nobel Prize winner, the MarieCurie Sklodowska Association is celebrating 50 years of philanthropyby establishing scholarships for female physics and chemistry studentsat U of T.“We were always influenced by our patron, Marie Curie – néeMaria Sklodowska – whose persistence and devotion enabled her toachieve so much for science and for women,” says association vice-presidentStella Lachoski.After graduating from U of T, Lachoski (BA 1952),Adele Simpson (BA1951) and 25 of their classmates from the Faculty of Arts and Scienceformed a charitable association to raise money for social, educational andcultural causes in Toronto.The group has since grown to 85 – all Canadianwomen of Polish descent – and fundraising efforts now include an annualgala to commemorate Curie’s birthday,as well as art shows,bake sales andclothing drives. “These scholarships are the epitome of everything wehave worked towards,” says Lachoski.“Even after we are long gone, therewill be an enduring legacy to our association, which, we hope, will inspirefuture generations of women to pursue a career in the sciences.”The association has donated $100,000 to the department of physics,endowing two undergraduate scholarships and a graduate fellowship.Starting next year, the awards will be presented annually on the basisof academic merit and financial need. “Marie Curie spoke in her writingsabout the joy she felt when discovering ‘the new sights of nature.’These scholarships will encourage aspiring scientists to share in thatjoy,” says Professor Michael Luke, chair of the physics department.Thedonation will be matched by the Government of Ontario and theUniversity of Toronto. – Laura GassMarie Curie SklodowskaWWW.MAGAZINE.UTORONTO.CA 37