Geva Theatre Center Awarded $25,000 Grant

The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest has selected Geva Theatre Center as one of 42 professional theatre companies in the United States to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation, bringing the finest productions of Shakespeare to middle and high school students. This is the 10th year of Shakespeare for a New Generation, and the first time that Geva has participated in the program.

Geva was awarded a $25,000 grant to support its educational programs in Greater Rochester school districts involving its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production culminates Geva’s 40th Anniversary Season and runs May 8 to June 2, 2013. In addition to providing subsidized $12 student matinee tickets for over 2,000 local students, Geva will provide 250 free Passport seats to students of the Rochester City School District. Included with the student matinee ticket are teacher workshops; Discovery Guides that reinforce the curriculum and help students relate the themes, issues and concepts of the play to other subject areas in math, reading, science and social studies; Discovery workshops in schools with professional teaching artists preceding attendance; and a post-show talk-back with the cast. Post-show classroom visits will complete the experience.

In total, Arts Midwest announced more than $1 million in grants to 42 non-profit, professional theatre companies in 24 states and the District of Columbia to perform Shakespeare for students through Shakespeare for a New Generation. Shakespeare for a New Generation introduces middle and high school students to the power of live theatre and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. Since the program’s inception in 2003, Shakespeare for a New Generation has benefitted more than 2.25 million individuals, including 1.9 million students, with live performances and educational activities.