On the Scene: NYU Tisch School of the Arts Gala

New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts is only getting bigger and better. On April 8, Tisch held a gala at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn to raise money for the school’s future which includes an expansion that will be opening in Brooklyn in the fall, as well as two additional curricular degrees that will bring advanced field work to classrooms.

The prestigious institution is made up of conservatory-style programs for aspiring filmmakers, musicians, dancers, actors, etc. One of the tougher schools to be admitted to and one of NYU’s most expensive school’s tuition wise, Tisch seems to be prioritizing their students’ education to make it worth every cent.

The new locations will be a big step for Tisch, especially for the Clive Davis Institute who’s new home base will be in Brooklyn complete with a performing garage space. “Artists will be crossing with scientists, engineers, and technologists. We believe art should be in the center and we know that’s going to happen in Brooklyn so we’re very excited,” said the school’s Dean, Allyson Green. Dean Green also emphasized there is internal work going on within Tisch that is just as important as the physical. “I work closely with our new Assistant Dean for Diversity, Chanel Ward, which I’ve been doing since I became Dean,” she said. “We have to have all voices at the table to tell our stories both on and off the stage and screen. If we don’t have all of our voices, we’re not going to be doing our job in making sure we got right, this time, what Hollywood got wrong.”

The celebration was just as much for the present as it was for the future, as the gala also recognized the 50th anniversary of the Graduate Acting Program and the 40th anniversary of ITP which has a new interactive media department. It was only right, then, to have an honoree from each program. Susan Kelechi Watson, better known as Beth Pearson from NBC’s This is Us, was the honoree from Tisch Grad Acting, while Future Architect Sharon Chang was the ITP alumna honoree.

“NYU has a huge impact on me, particularly my graduate degree at Tisch,” Chang said while mentioning she graduated with two degrees. As for advice for current NYU students, she offers, “Work really hard, have humility, be optimistic, always try. You don’t have to change the world, you only have to change one thing.”

Watson was all smiles; grateful to be honored by the school that provided “the skill set I have now as an actress.” “There’s so many people here. I can’t believe so many people came,” she beamed. “I was surprised when Allyson [Green] asked me but I absolutely said yes.”

Attendees, drink in hand, navigated through the tight space with ease as everyone listened in on interviews and swooned over the honorees and student performers as they walked the violet carpet (the school color) and snapped their Getty images.

When the “red carpet” reception was over, the doors to the main stage area opened cuing the student band to perform, luring guests away from the bar and photo booth; to their seats where their first course awaited them.