George Abbott was a legend of the American stage; his work spanned over seven decades and earned him the moniker “Mr. Broadway.” Throughout his career, he worked to bring the highest level of artistry and creativity to musical theater, at the same time he took great pleasure in nurturing young talent. The list of musical theater legends that were directly influenced by him is unparalleled: Hal Prince, Carol Burnett, Bob Fosse, Liza Minnelli, Gene Kelly and Shirley MacLaine. In an interview with Time magazine, Abbott remarked, “Young people are excited and eager [to learn]. They make me feel young again.”

Joy Valderrama, a graduate of Temple University, first met the Broadway legend in New York in 1959 at a dinner party at his Fifth Avenue apartment. “I rang the doorbell at 7 o’clock,” recalled Joy. “George answered, gave me the once-over and said, ‘Good, you’re on time.’

I looked at his handsome, smiling face and steel-blue eyes and thought to myself, ‘In my dreams.’”

They dated for 25 years. “It was an exciting time — going to opening nights, dinner parties, meeting his friends and some of the biggest stars on Broadway.” In 1983, he proposed. “My lawyer tells me that I have enough money for two to live on,” he said. “It’s time we got married.”

On Thursday, Oct. 25, during a cocktail reception at Sardi’s in the heart of New York City’s Theater District, with guests on hand who included Hal Prince, Tommy Tune, Tova Feldshuh, Arlene Dahl and Heather Randall, Joy Abbott bequeathed her ownership share of rights and future royalties earned by theater productions authored by George Abbott — which include famous titles such as The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, On Your Toes and The Boys From Syracuse — as well as other selected memorabilia to the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

The bequest, which is currently valued at a minimum of $6 million, will serve as the lead gift in establishing the new “George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater” at the Boyer College.

“I always wanted to ensure George’s legacy was preserved in a way that would benefit future generations,” Mrs. Abbott said prior to the announcement, “and this is a way to tribute his legacy and dedication to mentoring young artists.”

“The Abbott Center will attract some of the most accomplished professionals in the field,” said Robert T. Stroker, dean of the Boyer College. “This historic gift will allow us to continue Mr. Abbott’s legacy and teach the craft of musical theater in much the same way he did throughout his extraordinary career — as a mentor to scores of young people.”

The gift will also allow the Boyer College, whose alumni include Broadway performer Hugh Panaro, pianist Marc-André Hamelin and NPR host Bill McGlaughlin, to launch a campaign to raise funds for the Abbott Center and create a B.F.A. program in musical theater. The center will not only draw performers, guest artists, scholars, technicians and teachers, providing an interdisciplinary approach to training students, but also will house Abbott’s treasure trove of historical memorabilia. Students who graduate from the B.F.A. program will do so with working knowledge of staging, lighting, production, performance and other aspects of professional musical theater, taught by the best the musical theater world has to offer.

“We are honored and privileged that Joy Abbott has designated her alma mater as the beneficiary to George Abbott’s unparalleled legacy,” said Temple President Ann Weaver Hart. “Her unprecedented gift to the Boyer College will permanently alter the performing arts landscape at Temple, helping to shape future careers in musical theater for decades to come.”

— Written by Kirshbaum Demler & Associates

For the Boyer College of Music and Dance