Disney Theatrical Group Honors Kabuta Whitney

Co-hosts Thomas Schumacher, Producer and President of Disney Theatrical Group and Teri Schwartz, Dean of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) were on hand last night, April 7 to honor Elizabeth Kubota Whitney at New York's historic New Amsterdam Theater.

The private reception was to acknowledged Whitney's generous $750,000 gift to The Jeanne Michiko Kubota Scholarship for UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. The scholarship is named in honor of Whitney's sister. Whitney started this scholarship to make a significant difference in a student's life, especially those suffering financially and having to put their dreams on hold. The endowment will fund the school's first four-year, full-ride scholarship for a theater undergraduate student.

The Jeanne Michiko Kubota Fund was first established at the UCLA Alumni Association. Kubota had passed away from colon cancer in 1992, and was the woman that made it possible for Whitney to pursue her dreams at TFT.

Whitney, TFT class of 1980, pursued her love of theater at UCLA and had much success as an actress and singer in the 1980's. It was at UCLA where she became friends with Schumacher, class of 1980. Their friendship continues to this day, as does their commitment to theater.
UCLA's continued support has helped propel the success and longevity of this scholarship, allowing hundreds of students to attend UCLA with a solid foundation to achieve their goals and reach for their dreams.

Also in attendance were: Disney's Steven Fickinger, Ken and Alison Whitney, Tamara Keough, Stuart Marland, Peter Heller, Connie Hawkins, Gary and Carrie Fujino, Florence Kubota, Sara Beth Grossman, Marcia DeBonis, Alan Muraoka, Ashley Whitney, Mike Murphy, David and Nancy Schmidt, Ada Maris, Richard, Nancy and Lucy Whitney.

The vision of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television is to serve as a premier global interdisciplinary professional school that develops outstanding humanistic storytellers, industry leaders and scholars whose diverse, innovative voices enlighten, engage and inspire change for a better world. Consistently ranked as one of the top two elite media arts institutions in the world, the School offers an innovative curriculum that integrates the study and creation of live performance, moving image media and the digital arts. Our distinguished graduate and undergraduate programs include acting, directing, writing, producing, animation, cinematography, lighting design, set design, costume design and sound design, and offers PhDs in Theater and Performance Studies and Cinema & Media Studies. For more information, visit www.tft.ucla.edu.

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