SOUVENIR Kicks Off Geva Theatre Center's 2009/10 Season, Opens 9/8

GeVa Theatre Center's 2009/10 Season gets off to a stellar start with Souvenir, a Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley, which opens on September 8 and runs on the Mainstage through October 4. The production stars Judy Kaye and Donald Corren who reprise their Broadway roles as society diva Florence Foster Jenkins and her long-suffering accompanist Cosme McMoon.

Long before "American Idol," the wealthy (and tone-deaf) socialite Florence Foster Jenkins fancied herself a gifted soprano. She could not have been more wrong...she could not have been more famous.

The true story of Florence Foster Jenkins (1868 - 1944) is legendary. A Manhattan socialite, Jenkins would give regular recitals at the Ritz-Carlton in New York and her audiences adored her - primarily for the amusement she provided rather than her musical ability. She dismissed the laughter coming from the audience as "professional jealousy." In 1944, yielding to public demand, she rented out Carnegie Hall and the performance sold out weeks in advance. Jenkins died a month later. Jenkins' legacy is a series of nine arias which she recorded on five 78-rpm records (now available on CD) which continue to provide "enjoyment" to countless new listeners.

Judy Kaye has won plaudits around the country for her portrayal of Jenkins, a role which she has played since Souvenir's premiere in 2004. Kaye made her Broadway debut in 1977 as Rizzo in Grease. In 1978 she understudied Madeleine Kahn in the Broadway production of On the Twentieth Century, a role which she was asked to take over permanently. Landmark Broadway roles followed including a Tony Award® -winning performance as Carlotta in the Phantom of the Opera. She created the role of Emma Goldman in the Broadway production of Ragtime and her 2002 performance as Rosie in Mamma Mia! won her a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Ms. Kaye features on several original cast Broadway recordings has released several solo albums including Diva by Diva and Songs from the Silver Screen.

Joining Kaye is Donald Corren as Cosme McMoon, Jenkin's loyal friend and long-suffering accompanist. Corren reprises the role which he originated in the Broadway production. Corren's credits include Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway and the national tour for which he won Los Angeles and San Francisco Drama Critics Circle Awards, Off-Broadway productions of Saturday Night and Tomfoolery, and nine seasons as Medill on "Law & Order."

Souvenir is directed by Vivian Matalon who directed the New York productions. Among many accolades and awards, Matalon is a Tony Award® Winner for Best Direction of a Play for Morning's at Seven and Tony nominee for Best Direction of a Musical for The Tap Dance Kid.

GeVa Theatre Center's production of Souvenir includes the complete Broadway design team of R. Michael Miller (scenic design), Ann Wrightson (lighting design), David Budries (sound design) and Tracy Christensen (costume design).

Souvenir opens on September 8 and runs on the Mainstage through October 4.

TICKET PRICES: $22 - $59.

RESERVATIONS: (585) 232 GEVA (4382), Website: www.gevatheatre.org

LOCATION: GeVa Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Blvd, Rochester, NY 14607