P.L.A.Y. Performance = Literature + Art + You
Student Matinee 2009 – 2010 Season

They were captivated by Fences. They liked the play when we read it, but I don't believe they quite expected to love it the way they did when they saw it on stage."

Our P.L.A.Y. Student Matinee series transports students through time and territory both rural and urban, real and imagined. These plays sail through an amazing spectrum of emotions, extraordinary characters and thrilling events as seen through the eyes of exceptional playwrights.

This season’s inspiring travelogue tours the American landscape of our recent past and present. We’ll witness the mystery of the Northern Lights and the community of a Pittsburgh diner, explore an attick crowded with history, escape to a balcony over the seas, and gather round the hearth for a holiday at home. Join us for the journey.

P.L.A.Y. Programs

We provide the tools.

The educational opportunities don’t begin and end with your trip to Geva. Be sure to maximize your time with us by taking advantage of all our P.L.A.Y. programs.

1) Teacher Workshop

Meet some of the artists who contribute to each performance. Teachers are invited to Geva during the weeks prior to every student matinee to join company members and the education staff in discussion of the play, its historical and literary context, theatrical craft and artistic process. Share refreshments, and bring your questions to be answered first-hand by those who are hard at work on the production you will see.

2) Teacher Previews

Teachers who would like to attend a preview performance of any production in the P.L.A.Y. series prior to bringing a group to a student matinee may call 585-232-1366 x 3035 to request a complimentary preview ticket.

3) Discovery Guide

Packed with information about the play and its origins, relevant context, suggested discussion questions and related activities, the Discovery Guide unlocks every production’s essential issues and avenues for exploration.

Remember some great info from a past production? Visit our Guide Archive here.

4) Discovery Workshop

Interactive Discovery Workshops make a personal connection with every student who will attend designated performances in our P.L.A.Y. series. A pair of professional artist-educators will explore the play’s themes and the conceptual approach for each production. These free workshops are limited to 30 participants; larger groups will be served in multiple sessions. During 2009-2010 these workshops are offered to groups attending The Clean House, Almost, Maine, The Price and Two Trains Running.

5) Talkbacks

All P.L.A.Y. performances are immediately followed by a dialogue with cast members, providing students and teachers with the opportunity to respond to the performance and ask questions about the process that went into its creation.

6) Actor Visits

Invite an actor to walk off the stage and into your classroom after a P.L.A.Y. performance. We know that direct contact with our theatre artists will extend and enhance the dialogue that begins with each performance. How do performers channel their personal passion, intellectual curiosity, rigorous professionalism and brave creativity in the creation of a role? Call (585) 232-1366 x 3035 to discuss scheduling options, so that you and your students can find out.

7) Page to Stage

An intensive program intended for small groups of mature high school students, Page to Stage invites students to attend the initial reading of a P.L.A.Y. production, as well as a blocking rehearsal, run-through, technical rehearsal, preview, and performance. The students enjoy the opportunity to engage the director and actors in a dialogue regarding the show’s progress, and file a report with us diagramming their insights.

Please note: the scheduling and transportation requirements for participation in this program are significant, and opportunities are limited. Geva will gladly evaluate any school’s proposal to participate to ensure that we provide an outstanding experience for your students while protecting the integrity of our professional artists’ process. Please call to discuss your interest.

All the programs above are designed to work in tandem with each of our individual productions. For alternatives which are not specific to individual plays, you may also want to supplement your theatre visit with:

More Opportunities for Classes and Groups, read here.
More Resources for Teachers, read here.

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How do I bring my students to a production?

Ticket Prices:

$12 for all seats
Receive one complimentary chaperone ticket for every 15 ordered.

Ticket price includes a wide range of programming that will enhance your students’ visit – click on the “P.L.A.Y. Programs” tab above to view all the opportunities that might serve your group.

To Reserve Seats:

Call the Geva Theatre Center Education Department at (585) 232-1366 x 3035.
Tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and many performances sell out; don’t wait!

Can’t come during the school day, but want to bring students to a public performance in the evening or on a weekend? You’re still entitled to the benefit of all our educational programming! Learn how to bring a group to a public performance here.

Questions about any of these programs?

Please email Education Administrator Eric Evans (first initial, last name at gevatheatre.org) or call 585-232-1366 x 3035.

Click here to send us an email if you wish to join our Education Mailing list to keep abreast of our offerings and updates. Please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and let us know what programs interest you.