P.L.A.Y. Performance = Literature + Art + You
Student Matinee 2011 – 2012 Season

"The students were enthralled. Many had never been to Geva nor had they experienced a live performance by professional actors. They all enjoyed themselves immensely. We discussed the messages and themes. Wonderful background information and activities that heightened interest.."

High school teacher, School of Imaging and Information Technology at Edison

Our P.L.A.Y. Student Matinee series transports students through time and cultures. These plays visit an amazing spectrum of emotions, extraordinary characters and thrilling events as seen through the eyes of exceptional playwrights.

"Another hundred people just got off of the train. It's a city of strangers..."

This season’s urban travelogue will take us from 19th century London streets, to the heart wrenching issues facing American neighborhoods yesterday and today, and concludes making music in Manhattan. We’ll meet heroes and villains – some hidden in plain sight and some larger-than-life. Join us for all the sights, sounds and stories.

Download the P.L.A.Y. Student Matinee brochure here.

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 2011-2012 these workshops are offered to groups attending Dracula, A Raisin in the Sun, Superior Donuts and Company.

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 per seat for Dracula, A Raisin in the Sun, Superior Donuts and Company
$14 per seat for A Christmas Carol

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:

Tickets for the 2011-12 School year go on sale Thursday, May 19th.

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.