With the establishment of the John Patrick Garrity, Jr. '73 Theatre Scholarship Fund, the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film has a fresh resource as it seeks to double the number of theatre majors at the College from about 20 to 40.

The scholarship was established by the Masterpool Foundation through the efforts of James M. Hughes, Esq. ’73 and Christine Mahoney Hughes ’75, long-time friends of Garrity, who is an associate professor of theatre arts and managing director of theatre at PC. As students, the three worked together in the production of numerous shows at the Friar’s Cell, including The Birds and Man of La Mancha.

James is an attorney in the law office of James M. Hughes in Fairfield, Conn. Christine is a homemaker and part-time freelance soloist. They are the parents of Patrick ’07 and Maggie Hughes ’09, who work with Garrity in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film.

First preference for scholarships from the new fund will be given to PC students who are in good academic standing, who are majoring in theatre, and who have demonstrated abilities in theatre performance and/or production.

Garrity, who has a master of fine arts degree in directing from The Catholic University of America, has been involved with theatre at PC since his undergraduate days. He has been a member of the College faculty since 1976.

“It was a great honor that Jim and Chris would create this distinction in my name,” said Garrity. “There’s a talented theatre student out there somewhere in junior high or high school who, when the time comes, may get to attend PC because this scholarship exists.”

Those interested in learning more about this scholarship or how to make a donation are asked to call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (401) 865-2414.