Geva Premiere SPLITTING INFINITY Wins National Award

The Francesca Ronnie Primus Foundation and the American Theatre Critics Association have just announced that the 2009 Francesca Primus Prize has been awarded to Jamie Pachino for her play, Splitting Infinity - a haunting and evocative play about the mysteries of the universe and the road not taken. The prize is given annually to an emerging woman theatre playwright, artistic director or director and carries with it an award of $10,000.

Splitting Infinity was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre and had its world premiere here at GeVa Theatre Center, directed by Mark Cuddy and starring Elizabeth Hess and Michael Rupert. The play was a hit with critics and audiences alike:

"A star was born during GeVa Theatre's world premiere of Splitting Infinity on Saturday night. Playwright Jamie Pachino 'made contact' with the audience in a deeply satisfying and thought-provoking story about faith, ambition, humanity, friendship and love." Democrat & Chronicle

The play has subsequently been produced at San Jose Repertory Theatre, Florida Stage and OpenStage Theatre in Denver. The plot centers on Leigh Sangold, a scientist and a Nobel Prize-winner. As she faces her 49th birthday, her brilliant young protégé - and lover - convinces her to take on the ultimate scientific experiment: to prove the existence of God. Leigh's pursuit throws her life into chaos, including her relationship with Rabbi Saul Lieberman, who has been her closest friend - and in love with her - since they were kids. Career, love, faith: Leigh is willing to risk it all in her search for knowledge. The play has won several awards including the Laurie Foundation Theatre Visions Award, Pinter Prize for Drama and the Dorothy Silver Playwriting Contest.
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GeVa Theatre Center, as part of its mission, develops and produces new theatrical works, and nurtures the artists that create them, through a spectrum of commission-to-fruition programming, characterized by strong dramaturgical support. "This terrific honor for Jamie and her smart, probing play is another symbol of Geva's dynamic commitment to new play development," said Geva's Artistic Director Mark Cuddy. "Each time we nurture a new play or musical to fruition, we carry forth Rochester's brand of innovation and world class arts."

Based in Los Angeles, Ms. Pachino has been writing for more than a decade and her plays have been produced and developed at theatres around the country. She writes also for film and television and is an actress and choreographer. She was chosen from 41 nominees to receive this award by a nationwide committee of critics which included Rochester critic Herb Simpson.

In addition to the Primus Prize, the committee also chose two contenders to receive a $1,000 Primus Citation. One of these winners was Jennifer Haley for her play Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom. This play was featured in Geva's popular "Hornets' Nest" series last season and Ms. Haley's play Breadcrumbs was featured in Geva's "WHAT'S NEXT: Plays in Progress" last season.

THE FRANCESCA RONNIE PRIMUS FOUNDATION
The foundation was established to recognize and support women artists who are making a difference in the theatre community in which they work. Founded in 1997 in memory of actress, critic and ACTA member Francesca Primus, the Primus Prize was originally administered by the Denver Center Theatre Company and limited to playwrights. The award is currently overseen by ATCA.

AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION (ACTA)
ACTA is a nationwide organization of theatre critics and is affiliated with the International Association of Theatre Critics. In addition to the Primus Prize, ACTA administers the $40,000 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ACTA New Play Award and the M. Elizabeth Osborn Award. ACTA members also recommend a regional theatre for the annual Tony Award and vote on induction to the Theatre Hall of Fame.

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 170,000 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; 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.

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