Geva Theatre Center's new partnership with the City of Rochester for the new ROC Geva Pass is off to a great start.

Not even 24 hours after Geva announced this new complimentary ticket program for people living in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Rochester, all 1,200 tickets sold out for the season.

Rachel DeGutzman, Geva's director of engagement, is thrilled the city is underwriting the ROC Geva Pass program to get people to Geva for the first time. The effort is targeting people living in nine zip codes in Rochester. The program provides 200 complimentary tickets for each production for a total of 1,200 tickets this season.

"This says a couple of things. There is a great demand with people who perhaps cannot afford to come to Geva, but they want to come to our productions. The second thing is how do we expand the opportunity. If there is that much demand, is there a possibility and that is something we are exploring," said DeGutzman.

This is year one of a 10-year partnership between Geva and the City of Rochester. It will include 12,000 tickets, or 12,000 people, who will get a chance to see, feel and experience live theatre.

The city says the list of partners is expected to grow the ROC Geva Pass program. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans says that financial limitations should never be a boundary to experience art.

The ROC Geva Pass provides 200 complimentary tickets for each Geva Subscription Series Production to residents in the following zip codes: 14621, 14605, 14608, 14611, 14619, 14606, 14613, 14615, and 14616. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. There are no more free tickets available for this season. Geva has created a waitlist. 

Residents wishing to obtain future complimentary tickets through the ROC Geva Pass may call the Geva Box Office at 585-232-GEVA (4382) or visit the Box Office in-person at 75 Woodbury Boulevard in Rochester.

Geva Theatre Center was founded in 1972. Geva is a not-for-profit professional theatre company.