by Marcia Greenwood | Published Aug 26, 2021
Geva Theatre Center’s 49th season will include shows about air guitarists and yoga capitalism and the world premiere of a musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
In all, eight productions will be staged at Geva during the upcoming season, which because of scheduling adjustments forced by the coronavirus pandemic, will run from January through July 2022.
Geva’s artistic director Mark Cuddy said in a statement that the programming “captures everything that is theatrically meaningful to me: humor, adventure, topicality, music, new writing, deep relationships, and the opportunity for virtuosic acting.”
Previously, Cuddy announced he will retire after this season and 27 years with the regional theater company. “For my farewell … I couldn’t be prouder of what audiences will experience at the conclusion of my tenure,” he said.
The full 49th season lineup is as follows:
Airness
Jan. 11 through Feb. 6 on the Wilson Stage: Written by Chelsea Marcantel and directed by Skip Greer, this comedy focuses on a woman who enters an air-guitar competition thinking she’s a shoo-in, until she is faced by a group of other air-guitar nerds determined to win.
Constellations
Feb. 2 through 20 on the Fielding Stage: Written by Nick Payne and directed by Mark Cuddy, the zigzagging love story explores the infinite number of possibilities created when two people meet.
How to Catch Creation
Feb. 22 through March 20 on the Wilson Stage: Christina Anderson wrote and Daniel J. Bryant will direct this production exploring what makes a family and what it means to find fulfillment.
Somewhere Over the Border
March 30 through May 1 on the Wilson Stage: Written by Brian Quijada and directed by Rebecca Martinez, this musical set in the 1970s was inspired by the real-life journey of Quijada’s mother, who left El Salvador for the United States in search of the American dream, and by L. Frank Baum’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The Chinese Lady
April 20 through May 8 on the Fielding Stage: Written by Lloyd Suh, this play is based on the true story of Afong Moy, who at 14 was brought to the United States from China’s Guangzhou Province and put on display as “The Chinese Lady” and for more than 45 years toured the country as a sideshow act.
Yoga Play
May 10 through June 5 on the Wilson Stage: Written by Dipika Guha, this comedy, a co-production with Syracuse Stage, will be directed by Melissa Crespo. It’s about a corporate yoga giant that at the height of its success is hit by a scandal that sends it into freefall.
Where We Belong
June 1 through 19 on the Fielding Stage: Directed by Mei Ann Teo, this solo piece written and performed by Madeline Sayet is about a woman who travels to England to pursue a Ph.D. in Shakespeare and is confronted by a country that, on the brink of the Brexit vote, refuses to acknowledge its ongoing role in colonialism.
Sister Act
June 21 through July 24 on the Wilson Stage: Based on the movie of the same name, this musical, which was nominated for five Tony Awards, is about a disco diva who hides out in a convent after witnessing a mob hit.
Ticket subscriptions are on sale. For more, call the Geva box office at (585) 232-4382 or go to gevatheatre.org. Individual tickets will go on sale Nov. 2.
Performances of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash continue through Sept. 12 on Geva’s outdoor stage behind its building at 75 Woodbury Blvd. Tickets start at $25 at gevatheatre.org.
Vietgone, about an immigrant couple who meet in the United States in 1975 after the fall of Saigon and embark on an adventure across America, will be staged Sept. 28 through Oct. 24 on the Wilson Stage. Tickets start at $25 at gevatheatre.org.
Originally, Vietgone was part of Geva’s 2019-20 season but had to be postponed because of the pandemic.
Vietgone ticketholders will be required to provide proof of full COVID vaccination.
Because Ring of Fire performances are being held outside, no proof is required.
Geva has announced that following a pandemic-year hiatus, it will bring back its production of A Christmas Carol this November and December. Ticketholders will be required to show proof of vaccination.
Geva will post information about COVID protocols for 2022 indoor shows on its website.
