Geva Hosts First TEDxRochester 11/2

GeVa Theatre Center will be the host of the first TEDxRochester on November 2nd in the Mainstage from 2pm - 7pm. TEDx is a day-long conference featuring presentations by local figures, video broadcasts of speakers from all over the globe, performances and demonstrations by local artists and cultural institutions.

If you have never heard of TEDx, don't worry - you are not alone, but you will be hearing much more! TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and since its inception in 1984 has brought together some of the world's most vibrant thinkers and doers, experimenters and explorers to promote "Ideas worth Spreading." First held in Monterey, CA, TED has, in recent years, expanded to include an international conference, TEDGlobal; media initiatives including TEDTalks and TED.com; and the TEDPrize. It was only recently that TED has licensed TEDx (x=independently organized TED events) in other cities around the world. To date, only 30 US cities have been approved by TED to host TEDx events, Rochester is one of those lucky cities.

It was at a TED Conference that Jeff Han introduced his breakthrough multi-touch, pressure sensitive computer screen that we use today as a touchscreen, where Daniel Kraft demonstrated his Marrow Miner - a new and minimally invasive way to harvest bone marrow and where Al Gore has talked about how we can address climate change.

TEDxRochester's roster of speakers brings to the Geva Mainstage some of our area's most innovative thinkers and doers: Scott Eberle, Director of Play Studies at the Strong National Museum of Play; Adam Frank, Professor of Astrophysics at University of Rochester; Richard Haisma, Artistic Director of Geomantics Dance Theater; Peter Kodzas, Professor at the Eastman School of Music; Todd Krauss, Associate Professor of Chemistry at University of Rochester; Luis Martinez, Founder of Gran Altura LLC; Larry Moss, Founder, Airigami LLC; Marla Schweppe, Chair of 3D Digital Graphics at RIT; Deb Stoiber, Nitrate Vault Manager at George Eastman House; Thomas Warfield, Director of Dance at NTID; Eric Wheeler, Curator of the National Center for the History of Electronic Games and Ali Yapicioglu AIA; Partner In. Site: Architecture.

TEDxRochester is totally free to attend and has been full to capacity for weeks with a long waiting list. Obtaining tickets for TEDx events is not as simple as calling and booking a seat. Registrants must apply by answering a series of questions including their favorite achievements and outlining why attending TEDx would be important to them. The application is then reviewed and attendees are selected on merit. In addition to a very large Rochester contingent, participants will be traveling from Buffalo and Syracuse to attend this first TEDxRochester.

GeVa Theatre CENTER

GeVa Theatre Center is Rochester's leading professional theatre and the most attended regional theatre in New York State. Founded in 1972, Geva attracts over 160,000 patrons annually, including more than 16,000 students. The 552-seat Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage offers a wide variety of shows, from musicals to American and world classics.

The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Nextstage is home to Geva's own series of cutting-edge drama, comedy and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; What's Next: Geva's New Play Reading Series and the Hornet's Nest - an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. The Nextstage also hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown.

GeVa Theatre Center offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. For the past fourteen years the organization has been led by Artistic Director Mark Cuddy.