Connectivity
at Geva
Connectivity at Geva’s overarching objective is to connect more people and organizations with the productions presented on the theatre’s stages. Geva’s Connectivity programs include Geva Insights, Mondays at Geva, the Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Awards, symposiums and more.
The goal of these programs and initiatives is to build more connected relationships with existing patrons and partners. To build new and meaningful relationships with people and organizations with whom we have traditionally had no or little connectivity, the kind of sticky connectivity that endures.
Geva Insights
Geva Insights is a series of post-performance conversations with thought leaders, experts, and members of the community who contextualize or provoke more in-depth consideration of the themes inherent to each play during the course of Geva’s season. These unscripted, unrehearsed chats are produced and hosted by Geva’s Literary department.
Future Event Dates:
Pure Native
- Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
- Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
Mondays at Geva
The stages are dark on Monday evenings at Geva, so the art and action shift to the lobby and café where brilliant local visual artists, performers, musicians, and speakers broaden our consideration of the onstage productions. Geva Theatre invites the community to join us for a free series of art openings and to party for a couple of hours each month!
Future Event Dates:
Pure Native
- Monday, April 28th, 2025
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
- Monday, June 9th, 2025
ArtsBloom Workshops
Geva recently launched a series of workshops, facilitated by locally and nationally renowned theatre artists. Professional enrichment workshops, in Geva’s Fielding Stage, are open to anyone ages 14 and up and include interactive instruction on topics such as: arts & activism, acting, embracing & celebrating difference, and more! These workshops are funded in part by the City of Rochester’s ArtsBloom grant with the goal of “enriching and expanding the experience of public art for all Rochesterians by reaching historically underserved residents, while increasing economic opportunities for local artists and small arts organizations in Rochester.”
Future Event Dates:
Embracing & Celebrating Difference – Indigenous Theatre
- Sun, April 20th, 2025. 1-5pm. Stay tuned for event details!
Future Workshop Dates:
- Sun, May 11th, 2025. 1-5pm
- Sun, June 8th, 2025. 1-5pm
Little Women Book Club Series
About
In celebration of Geva Theatre’s production of Little Women, we are excited to offer a concurrent book club experience. Geva Theatre is partnering with Writers & Books, Flower City Noire Collective, and the Monroe County Library System to host a four-week book club series.
The book club will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:15 PM to 7:45 PM, running from March 6th through March 27th. Each session will feature a unique discussion of Little Women, led by different organizations, offering diverse perspectives on the novel.
Dates/Details
- Flower City Noire Collective – March 6 (Topic: “Challenging the Cannon” by Kristen Walker)
- Writers & Books – March 13 (Topic: “Gender and Class in the 19th Century” by Elizabeth Ambrose)
- Geva – March 20 (Topic: “Little Women: Adaptation From Rehearsal to Performance” by Fiona Kyle)
- Monroe County Library System – March 27 (Topic: “Life During the Civil War” by Mark Sample)
Location
Registration
Books for the series will be provided by the Monroe County Library System. Participation is free, but registration is required to secure your spot.
ROC Geva Pass
Geva recently launched a series of workshops, facilitated by locally and nationally renowned theatre artists. Professional enrichment workshops, in Geva’s Fielding Stage, are open to anyone ages 14 and up and include interactive instruction on topics such as: arts & activism, acting, embracing & celebrating difference, and more! These workshops are funded in part by the City of Rochester’s ArtsBloom grant with the goal of “enriching and expanding the experience of public art for all Rochesterians by reaching historically underserved residents, while increasing economic opportunities for local artists and small arts organizations in Rochester.”
Get Tickets:
Residents wishing to obtain complimentary tickets through the ROC Geva Pass may call the Geva Box Office at 585-232-GEVA(4382) or visit the Box Office in-person at 75 Woodbury Boulevard, Rochester, New York 14607. For groups larger than 4, please email RocGevaPass@gevatheatre.org
Thank You!
We would like to thank our partner organizations for making the ROC Geva Pass a success and raising awareness of this incredible program with their constituents and communities:
- Beyond the Sanctuary
- Ibero-American Action League
- Baden Street Settlement
- Soulstainable Living
- Rochester Public Library system’s participants in the Safe to Be Smart teen program
- Center for Youth
Engagement at Geva programs are sponsored, in part, by Volvo Cars Rochester
Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Award
Geva Theatre annually presents the Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Award to an individual who or organization that promotes and encourages diversity in the arts. The award recognizes that art allows for the expression of truths and beliefs, and helps us gain an understanding of one another and our world. It further acknowledges that a mixture of cultures stimulates creativity, the sharing of ideas, and the building of a common collective future, which has always been close to Ms. Calhoun-McDavid’s heart.
The award was established in 2011 and named in honor of Essie Calhoun-McDavid, retired Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Community Affairs, and Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company. Ms. Calhoun-McDavid, a longtime advocate for diversity in the arts, was the first recipient of the award.
The award is designed by renowned Rochester glass artist Nancy Gong.
Past Recipients
- Dr. David Anderson (Sankofa)
- The Center for Youth Strings for Success
- Rachel Y. DeGuzman
- Shawn Dunwoody
- Garth Fagan
- Reenah Golden
- Delores Jackson Radney
- Tonia Loran-Galban (Akwesasne Mohawk, Bear Clan)
- Debora McDell-Hernandez
- Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez
- School of the Arts
- Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan
- David Shakes
- Dangerous Signs
- Thomas Warfield
Geva's Connectivity Staff
Contact Information
Eron Damercy
Director of Connectivity
edamercy@gevatheatre.org
Eritrea Haile
Connectivity Assistant – Engagement
ehaile@gevatheatre.org
