Donor's Passion Inspires Gift Supporting Playwriting and the Writing Nest at Florida Atlantic's Theatre Lab

Florida Atlantic University's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters has received a significant gift from Myrna Gordon Skurnick of Boca Raton to establish the Myrna Gordon Skurnick Theatre Lab Playwriting Program and Creative Writing MFA Fellows. Endowed in perpetuity, these fellowships attract the most talented creative writers to Florida Atlantic.

The University has honored this commitment by naming the Myrna Gordon Skurnick Writing Nest at Theatre Lab. This dedicated space located just outside of the theatre serves as an inspirational space for writers of all ages and genres to write and create.

"I am thrilled to be able to support playwriting for students at Florida Atlantic in such a unique way," said Myrna, whose love of theatre began during her childhood in London. "When I turned 14," she relates, "I was allowed to ride the bus by myself to the West End. So from then on, my best girlfriend, Jean, and I went every Saturday to a matinee, sitting up in the so-called 'Gods' and, for a couple of shillings, saw every play running!"

Myrna also loves to write her own short stories, memoirs, and vignettes, a passion motivating her gift. The Playwriting Program creates a unique setting where prominent visiting playwrights work closely with students, present community workshops, and teach as guest instructors through flexible residencies. This program transforms and broadens the impact of Theatre Lab, established in 2015.

Theatre Lab is the only playwriting program in the southeastern United States connected to an institution of higher education, offering its Creative Writing MFA students unique opportunities for prominence, distinction, and national attention. "Myrna's generous gift enables an exciting vision that expands our potential to lead, innovate, and educate in the creative and performing arts," said Michael Horswell, Dean of Florida Atlantic's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.

Said Myrna, "I'm giving these writers the opportunity they might not have had otherwise, and I just wish someone had given me this type of opportunity. I'm just hoping the chicks in my nest produce a few golden eggs."

Learn how you can take your passion and interests and transform them into a charitable gift that helps students at Florida Atlantic University. Contact Kristina Gregg, CFRE at 561-297-2058 or k.gregg@fau.edu to learn more.