What do you want to do when you grow up? We wanted to continue to act.

When actors reach “a certain age”, they find suitable parts harder to come by. Sonya Raimi, Jim Scholes and Elaine Good were having lunch together in mid 2000, and decided that rather than wait around, they would build their own performance vehicle: a touring group to take live theatre to clubs, libraries, private parties, retirement communities and schools. Darrell Lance and Greg Byrne joined them, and Jean Gordon Ryon agreed to be the group’s director. The Geriactors was born, and Libby Skerritt became our musical director and accompanist.

The membership of Geriactors continues to shift somewhat. We still mourn Sonya Raimi and miss her sorely. Elaine, Harriet Stark, Melissa Githler, Morey Fazzi, Jim, and Libby have also left us. On the brighter side, new members Ginni Pierce, Roger Gans, Ellen Herzman, Linda Loy, Mary Krickmire, and Elaine Fuller have joined us. The Geriactors is different and the same. The current set of actors musters an impressive body of training and experience. All are well known in Rochester and regional theater, including Geva, the University of Rochester and the UR Summer Theatre, Blackfriars, the JCC Center Stage, the Shipping Dock and other area theaters. Our pooled years of experience in “live” theater amount to two or three centuries.

The Geriactors have appeared at every Rochester Fringe Festival since its inception.

The main reason for Geriactors is simple: As long as life goes on — LIVE! For an actor or a musician — for anybody — to do what you love best is the greatest blessing. We, the Geriactors, are enjoying life and we want our audiences to enjoy as well.

Our Current Company

Artistic Director

Jean Gordon Ryon is an award-winning director of numerous productions in the Rochester area, and Literary Associate/Dramaturg at Geva. She is an Artist in Residence at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC).

Music Director

Elaine Fuller, Pittsford, has been accompanying shows, choruses and individuals in the Northeast since 1950. She is a former member of the Glen Rock (NJ) Pops Orchestra.

The Company

Denise Bartalo, Rochester, a retired Literacy Specialist and has been active in theater for over 35 years, the last 12 in the Rochester area.

Donald Brian Bartalo, Rochester, is a retired public school educator and founder of the hummingbird theatre co.

Suzanne Bell, Rochester

Greg Byrne, Fairport, a retired English teacher has graced area stages for 35 years.

Roger Gans, Rush, has been acting all his life, in the Rochester area since 1974. He has appeared in more than 100 productions in the Rochester area, including more than 20 of Shakespeare's plays. He is an Artist in Residence at Rochester's Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), and has been with the Geriactors since 2001.

Ellen Herzman, Geneseo, has acted in Chicago, Washington and the Rochester area.

John Jaeger, Rochester

Richard Kendrick, Webster, outgoing President of the Penfield players

Mary Krickmire, Fairport, retired Director of Theatre at Aquinas Institute taught theatre/voice and speech and acted and directed for theatres on the East Coast and Midwest.

Darrell Lance, Rochester, has retired from the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, but remains active on stage.

Linda Loy, Brighton, has acted here, in D. C. and Minnesota, for many, many years.

Ginni Pierce, Macedon, has been active in regional theater for more than four decades.