“The training of young artists is vital. They are critical. They will not only enhance our work, they ARE our work, and my hope is that they will eventually take our place.”

Skip Greer Artist-in-Residence and Director of Education

Current Offerings

Stage Door Project: Design – for students in grades 9-12
Career Day – for students in grades 10-12
Summer Academy – for students ages 12-18
Young Writers Showcase – for students ages 13-18
Career Development – internships, apprenticeships and fellowships for college students and early career artists

Frequently Asked Questions

“What about training for younger students?” or “I can’t find a class in my area of interest.”

At this time, Geva Theatre Center does not offer any theatre classes for participants younger than 12 years old. However, we are constantly evaluating our programming, and appreciate the many members of the greater Rochester community who have requested a variety of additional training opportunities. Click here to be added to our training mailing list.

Stage Door Design

The Stage Door Project is a Geva Theatre Center education program designed to introduce talented and motivated students to the creative process and skills practiced by theatre professionals in the crafting of Geva productions.

The 2011-12 program is offered to high school students who identify an interest in the design opportunities of theatrical production, including scenic, costume, lighting and sound design.

Students will have unique access to visit several steps in the Geva production process, and share ideas directly with Geva artists. They will read and respond to a script, talk with a director about what a production can communicate through design and why, and visit Geva during the build, rehearsal, and technical rehearsal periods prior to attending a public preview performance.

A Stage Door candidate does not need to have extensive experience in a specific area of theatre design or technology, but a creative, inquisitive mind is a must. We believe that design is an interpretive process integral to storytelling, and seek students with the passion to create compelling stories. While we will explore the practical application of ideas, this program will emphasize why design choices are made over and above the technical solutions of how those designs are achieved. Candidates who can apply both rigorous analysis and imagination in their examination of a play will thrive with this opportunity.

This year’s program consists of 9 sessions between December 2, 2011 and February 27, 2012

Download the full program description and 2011-12 timeline here.
Download the participant application form here.
Download the teacher nomination form (required to apply) here.

Deadline to apply: November 7, 2011

For more information about this program, please contact:
Eric Evans, Education Administrator
Geva Theatre Center
75 Woodbury Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 232-1366, ext 3035
eevans@gevatheatre.org

Career Day (Grades 10-12)

Every spring we provide students from schools around the greater Rochester area with an extensive backstage tour of the theatre, and then a question and answer session with a panel of employees from Geva’s various departments. This event gives students insights into the daily routine at Geva and possible career avenues in the theatre. Career Day provides a wonderful “first step through the door” for young theatre artists.  It sparks their imaginations, and they leave with a greater understanding of all that is required to create art on stage

The 2012 Career Day has been scheduled for Monday, March 5th, 9:45am – noon. Career Day is open to students in grades 10-12; participation is free but space is limited. For more information, please send us an email.

Summer Academy 2012

The Summer Academy is a five-week professional theatre training program for 30 selected young actors, ages 12 to 18, who wish to explore, define and develop the actor in themselves. Open to students of all levels of theatre experience, Summer Academy provides quality training for the beginning actor, as well as advanced level study for the young actor with previous experience.

Led by Geva's professional artists who are passionate and skilled in working with young actors, courses will include Acting, Text Analysis/Scansion, Voice and Diction, Movement, Monologues, Expansions, Singing Ensemble and Rehearsal/Production. In addition, a weekly Master Class led by a guest instructor or speaker may be included. The program culminates in a showcase of the students' work, on Geva's Mainstage, open to the public. Students will be granted a certificate of completion from the Summer Academy program.

The focus of Summer Academy 2012 will be Shakespeare.  The program will run from July 9 through August 10, with a culminating performance on August 11.

Please check back for details about this year’s performance, which will be a free event open to the public.

The Summer Academy 2012 Brochure will be available in mid-February.
Download the Summer Academy FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) here.

Please call the Education Department at 232-1366 x3035 with any additional questions.

"This was the greatest experience I've ever had. I expected to be challenged -- I didn't expect to be changed as well."

What's Next: Young Writers Showcase

Geva's Literary Department presents an annual showcase of plays written by area teens. This event provides a rare opportunity for young writers to have their works performed by professional actors. Playwrights ages 13-18 are invited to submit short plays, and selected scripts will be given staged readings in the Nextstage. Click here for more information, or contact Jean Gordon Ryon at jryon@gevatheatre.org or (585) 232-1366 ext. 3034.

SUNY Brockport Alliance

This program enables Geva's guest artist-educators to come in contact with undergraduates at SUNY Brockport by teaching acting, directing, and playwriting classes at the university, as well as providing guest lecturers. Geva is thrilled to be partnering with SUNY Brockport again for our 2010-2011 season. SUNY Brockport theatre students also have opportunities for auditions and internships with Geva Theatre Center.

Learn more about Theatre at SUNY Brockport here.

Fellowships and Apprenticeships

One Directing Fellow is hired annually; the fellow may direct a production at SUNY Brockport, assistant direct at Geva and rehearse understudies as needed. The 2010-11 Fellow directed SUNY Brockport's production of Black Comedy. If you are interested in applying for the 2011-12 Directing Fellowship, please send a cover letter and resumé to Skip Greer, Director of Education.

One Literary Fellow is hired for the season, typically for a period of 8-9 months. The Literary Fellowship offers a broad range of experience and opportunities, providing a demanding but rewarding sampling of the responsibilities of an institutional dramaturg and the role of a literary office within a regional theatre. Duties vary but generally include the following:

• assisting with script evaluations, query evaluations and the processing of scripts in the literary office
• assisting with production dramaturgy for Mainstage and Nextstage shows
• providing administrative support for Geva’s annual new play workshop festival
• providing administrative and dramaturgical support for Geva’s annual Regional Writers and Young Writers Showcases.

Please note that the Literary Fellowship has been completed for the 2010-11 season. Please check back in August 2011 for further information.

Apprenticeships are available for three young professionals to work as assistant teachers with our five-week Summer Academy program. Most apprentice candidates are college students pursuing a degree in theatre. Priority is given to returning alumni of the Summer Academy program and to SUNY Brockport theatre students. To apply for an apprenticeship position, please send a cover letter and resume to Kathryn Moroney, Associate Director of Education. Applications will be accepted between January and early March 2011; hiring decisions are generally announced in April. You can read more about the program on this page; just clink on the tab labeled “Teens 12-18".

Internships

Most of Geva’s intern positions are filled by students who participate in the Brockport Alliance (see above). However, additional internship positions are occasionally assigned on individual basis. Internship positions at Geva are generally full-time (35-40 hrs. per week) and unpaid, and most internships last for the length of a semester. It may be possible to arrange academic credit through your educational institution. Please note that we do not offer production internships during the summer months.

If you seek experience in a specific area of theatre, please submit your resume and a detailed cover letter describing what type of opportunity you are seeking, what you expect to gain from an internship, and what skills you can contribute to Geva. Internship inquiries should be addressed to Skip Greer, Director of Education.

You may also be looking for:
Current employment opportunities here.
Casting information here.

Can’t find the answer to your question? Please click here to send us an email.

“I know that I am a more confident person now, one who is more ready to take on anything I face.”