History
Curtain Raisers of The Claremont Colleges has a rich history going back to it's founding in 1963. Many wonderful women and men with a heart for theatre and the performing arts have nurtured this organization for over 60 years.
Curtain Raisers began in 1963 as a support group for the newly-built Garrison Theater. With the help of the Garrisons, the group purchased Jim Cook benches for the entrance, a Jean Ames tapestry for the lobby wall, and Millard Sheets paintings. When the Garrison Theater was no longer used for performances, Curtain Raisers became a support group for the Mabel Shaw Bridges Auditorium, selling refreshments at intermissions and ushering at programs for schools.
Since 1983, Curtain Raisers has awarded over 202 scholarships for summer study in professional theater and dance programs to students of The Claremont Colleges.
In 1994, Curtain Raisers developed the Claremont School of Theatre Arts, a summer program at Pomona College’s Seaver Theater. For 20 years, children in sixth through ninth grades looked forward to this theater experience. We have also funded history-oriented performances at local schools.
Over the past 60 years, Curtain Raisers has contributed $406,542 to people, projects and programs, which include:
$163,284 Capital and equipment improvements for Garrison Theatre, Bridges, Seaver, CHS and Shelton Park
$191,475 Summer scholarships
$29,014 Programs for Claremont area students
$22,769 Claremont School of Theatre Arts
Our Story
Past Presidents
Pat VanDenburgh & Jane Johnson...... 1963-64
Gloria Fiske..............................................................1964-66
Harriet Rice............................................................ 1966-68
Jean Richardson................................................. 1968-70
Dottie Griffith.......................................................... 1970-72
Suzanne Christian.............................................. 1972-74
Jil Stark....................................................................... 1974-75
Anne Ashford......................................................... 1975-76
Karen Rosenthal.................................................. 1976-78
Joan Anderson..................................................... 1978-80
Alice Carpenter.................................................... 1980-82
Mary Weis................................................................ 1982-84
Gayle Ginsburg.................................................... 1984-86
Martha Hamilton................................................. 1986-88
Paula Pitzer............................................................. 1988-90
Luzma Brayton.................................................... 1990-91
Gina Dunseth........................................................ 1991-93
Joan Breslo............................................................ 1993-94
Ahlene Welsh.............................................. 1994-96
Jackie Stickels............................................. 1996-97
Suzanne Hall & Carla Sawyer............1997-98
Gale Southard.............................................. 1998-99
Laura Bollinger............................................ 1999-01
Suzanne Hall................................................. 2001-02
Luzma Brayton............................................ 2002-03
Nancy Thum................................................. 2003-06
Marion Boniface......................................... 2006-08
Shelley Randles......................................... 2008-11
Anna Asker..................................................... 2011-13
Hilary LaConte............................................ 2013-16
Teddie Warner............................................. 2016-17
Ahlene Welsh.............................................. 2017-19
Beth Smith & Gail Sparks.................... 2019-20
Beth Smith...................................................... 2020-23
Laura Bollinger & Teddie Warner.. 2023-24
Achievements
The following is a summary of how Curtain Raisers has supported theater arts, first at the Claremont Colleges and then in the local community.
December Opening gala at Garrison Theater.
1963: Proceeds of $6,749 toward capital equipment for the theater.
1964-65: Sales proceeds of $2,746 toward theater equipment.
1966: $1,000 Inland Bank opening proceeds for lectern and lighting equipment.
1966-67: An Evening with Edward Everett Horton. Proceeds of $1,420 for dimmer boards.
1968-70: Sales proceeds of $5,000 toward completion and furnishings of the Green Room.
1970: $300 for Jean Ames painting in the Green Room.
1971-72: $420 for the Children’s Theater Program.
$2,932 to Scripps from party proceeds.
$1,500 for Elizabeth Wood Memorial Murals designed by Millard Sheets.
$385 for Honnold Library books on Theater Arts in memory of Marjorie Woodford.
1973: $683 for outdoor lighting of murals.
$829 for Children’s Theater from profits of I Do! I Do! and member donations.
1974: $1,402.98 from Hitchcock Film Festival.
$113 for piano for rehearsal hall upstairs.
$227.27 for cleaning of Jean Ames tapestries.
$110 for American Conservatory Theatre.
$280 allocated for Young Artists Concert Series.
1975: $3,500 gift to the Garrison Theater for capital improvements.
1976-77: $2,500 gift to the Garrison Theater for capital improvements.
1977-78: $4,800 gift to the Garrison Theater for three Jim Cooke teak benches.
1978-79: $4,000 contributed to the Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund.
1979-80: $7,258.58 contributed to the Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund.
1980-81: $3,794.41 contributed to the Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund.
$100 to Scripps College Dance Department for a telephone answering machine.
1981-82: $2,976.73 contributed to the Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund.
$100 for covers for the teak wood tables in the Garrison Theater lobby.
1982-83: $1,307.43 dividends and contributions to the Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund.
1983-84: $1,000 to the Janssen Instrument Collection.
1984-85: $3,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$2,400 for communication system for Bridges Auditorium.
1985-86: $3,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$2,400 to The Claremont Colleges Center for the Performing Arts.
1986-87: $3,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
1987-88: $5,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
1988-89: $6,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
1989-90: $6,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
1990-91: $6,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$5,000 toward the peripheral curtain at Seaver Theater, Pomona College.
$3,000 in support of Bridges Auditorium (donation through Claremont Community Foundation).
$5,000 toward Curtain Raiser Challenge.
$50,000 Curtain Raisers led this Challenge in support of Bridges Auditorium.
1991-92: $4,300 toward summer theater scholarships.
$25,000 in support of Bridges Auditorium.
1992-93: $6,200 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,700 for infra-red hearing equipment for Bridges Auditorium.
1993-94: $5,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$2,695 to Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
$1,750 in support of Little Clay Cart matinees for children.
1994-95: $6,300 toward summer theater scholarships.
$2,570 toward Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
1995-96: $6,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
$3,000 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
$2,500 for Bridges Auditorium Study.
$230 for equipment for Seaver Theatre.
1996-97: $6,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,460 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
1997-98: $4,050 toward summer theater scholarships.
$230 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
Contributions from the
Louise Hawkes Padelford Memorial Fund
1981-82: $5,000 toward the purchase of an Apple computer for The Claremont Colleges Center for the Performing Arts.
1982-83: $3,000 toward four student summer theater scholarships.
1983-84: $3,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
1985-86: Gifts to student productions:
$800 Pomona College Drama Department.
$500 Four College Players.
$125 Five College Theater.
1987-84: $3,500 for risers for Bridges Auditorium.
1989-90: $5,000 Curtain Raisers Challenge.
1990: Account closed.
Total contributions from Memorial Fund: $20,925
Total contributions from both accounts: $406,542
1998-99: $4,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
1999-00: $4,700 toward summer theater scholarships.
2000-01: $6,800 toward summer theater scholarships.
2001-02: $5,350 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,850 for programs presented to junior high and high school students.
2002-03: $3,800 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$558 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
2003-04: $5,700 toward summer theater scholarships.
$3,000 for restoration of Jim Cook benches at Scripps College Performing Arts Center.
$137 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship.
2004-05: $6,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,450 for programs presented to junior high students.
$450 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship.
2005-06: $5,200 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$300 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship.
$500 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts master class.
$100 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts program.
2006-07: $6,325 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$475 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship.
2007-08: $8,740 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$510 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship
2008-09: $6,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$600 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarship
2009-10: $6,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$600 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarships.
2010-11: $4,800 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$600 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts scholarships.
$396 for audio equipment at Department of Theatre and Dance, Pomona College.
$15,000 for The Theatre Project at Claremont High School.
2011-12: $4,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$4,184 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
2012-13: $4,500 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$700 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
2013-14: $4,750 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$700 for Claremont School of Theatre Arts.
2014-15: $5,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
$100 for Claremont Lincoln University Community Performance Stage in Shelton Park
2015-16: $5,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
2016-17: $2,600 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
2017-18: $2,600 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
2018-19: $4,910 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,200 for programs presented to junior high students.
2019-20 $1,400 for programs presented to junior high students.
2021-22 $3,350 toward summer theater scholarships.
2022-23 $3,000 toward summer theater scholarships.
$1,500 for a program presented to CLASP students.
Total contributions to date: $385,617