Geva Theatre Center Ribboncutting

Geva’s Capital Campaign has exceeded its initial goal (although there are still opportunities to name a seat), and this summer the theatre shut down for a complete overhaul of the public spaces. The theatre was re-dedicated Friday morning, and a decent crowd gathered outside on our first crisp autumn day for the ceremony. A traditional religious invocation started the proceedings (of course, in my head, I was singing, "Gods of the theatre, smile on us..." from Sondheim's The Frogs). It was great to see so many people from the community there to support the theatre, as well as some of the former Geva staff who were so instrumental in getting us to this point (including former Executive Director Tom Parrish).

The new seats in the Wilson Theatre are very comfortable and whisper quiet. But the real transformation is in the lobby and bar, and the addition of a patron lounge in a previously inaccessible space above the entrance and restrooms.

I wish I had taken ‘before’ photos for comparison, because it really is almost like a brand new building. The bar has been relocated (and enlarged) to a more prominent spot along the outer wall, and the theatre now has a real kitchen! Geva worked with Dan Eaton, of TWC “Cooking at Home” fame, to design a menu that is a combination of hot and cold entrees, focusing on local produce, that will make dining there before a show a pleasure. The underutilized gift shop has been replaced with additional seating, which will be in demand with the upgraded food choices.

There is a brand new mezzanine level, overlooking the remodeled foyer and box office. The elevator stops at that level, and there is also a new staircase. Both will allow secondary access to the balcony, which was previously only accessible by stairs through the main entrance to the theatre (which not only created a bottleneck after a show, but also rendered the balcony handicap inaccessible). The balcony access is even more remarkable given that the construction company found a steel beam in the way that had to be dealt with!

A beautiful abstract sculpture, created by RIT graduate student Julia Manson, graces the entryway, directly across from a bank of flat screen TVs that will be used to showcase various Geva events. The lobby is definitely going to buzzing with activity, especially since the bar will remain open during show, as well as after. I can’t wait for the season to kick off – not just because the first show is … Sondheim! (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) – but because the new spaces will be so welcoming and audience-friendly.

For more information on the upcoming season, visit gevatheatre.org

For more about the sculpture, visit: http://www.gevatheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Julia-Manson-Lobby-Sculpture.pdf