Geva Theatre Center Artistic Director Mark Cuddy
unveiled the theater’s 2014-2015 season Monday night, referencing the tagline, “Your
theatre, home grown.” That approach can be seen in both the Fielding Mainstage shows and the performances slated for the Nextstage, as many of next year’s plays are newer,
critically lauded works never before seen in Rochester, as well as several
completely new works getting their world premieres on the Geva
stage.
The
2014-15 Mainstage season will consist of the
following shows:
–“Wait
Until Dark” (September 9-October 15), the classic
thriller by Frederick Knott (“Dial M for Murder”). The play follows a gang of
criminals tormenting a young recently blinded woman in her apartment. The Geva production will be only the second production of Jeffrey
Hatcher’s recent adaptation of the work.
–“Good
People” (October 21-November 16) is a Tony-nominated play David Lindsay-Abaire. The play, about a struggling single mother in South
Boston, will be directed by Boston native Cuddy.
–“Little
Shop of Horrors” (January 13-February 15, 2015), the classic doo-wop musical
about a man-eating plant creature and a mild-mannered guy who finds love on
Skid Row.
Featuring songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, directed by Skip Greer.
–“Women
in Jeopardy!” (February 24-March 22, 2015) is a world premiere by Rochester native Wendy
MacLeod. Sounding a bit like “Thelma & Louise” crossed with “Rear Window,”
this is a comedy about two divorcees who suspect that their friend may be
dating a serial killer.
–“The
Mountaintop” (March 31-April 2016, 2015) by Katori
Hall is a fictionalized account of what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
on the night before his assassination.
–“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (May 5-31, 2015)
closes the season. The 2013 Tony winner for Best Play is Christopher Durang’s Chekhovian comedy about a trio of sisters and a boytoy who can barely stay clothed.
The
Fielding Nextstage Studio Series will host the
following:
–“Katherine’s
Colored Lieutenant” (February 5-22, 2015), a world premiere play by actress
Nora Cole, about the love story between Cole’s aunt and uncle, a Louisville
schoolteacher and a Tuskegee airman.
–“A
Body of Water” (March 19-April 5, 2015), a fascinating-sounding play by Lee
Blessing about a couple that awakes in a beautiful, serene location – but they
have no idea who they are, or how they got there.
–“True
Home” (April 23-May 10, 2015), a world premiere musical-theater piece by
Rochester native and Broadway star Cass Morgan, inspired by her exploration of
family roots in Ireland.
Other
shows announced included:
–“The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (July 9-27, 2014), a Geva Theatre Conservatory production featuring college
students that will take the Mainstage this summer. The 2004 Broadway musical
features catchy song, charming characters, and ample audience participation.
–“‘Til Death Do Us Part” (November 4-30, 2014), featuring
Colleen Moore’s return as Sister from Maripat Donovan’s
“Late Nite Catechism” series, this time acting as a
marriage counselor.
–“A
Christmas Carol” (November 26-December 27, 2014), Mark Cuddy’s
adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, again featuring Guy Paul as
Scrooge.
Season
tickets are now on sale, with six-show Mainstage packages
starting at $138. Subscribers can purchase tickets to “Christmas Carol,” “Spelling
Bee,” and “Death Do Us Part” starting on March 25. Non-subscribers can buy tickets
to “Spelling Bee” as of April 15, and tickets to individual shows go on sale to
the general public on August 5. For more information visit
gevatheatre.org or call 232-4382.
This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2014.
