Founding Artistic Director of The Classics Company
www.theclassicscompany.org
On July 31, 2022 I retired as Geva Theatre Center’s Artistic Director after 27 years of leading this major regional theatre and was appointed Artistic Director Emeritus. I immediately began another chapter providing interim leadership, before founding The Classics Company in Rochester, NY in 2025.
I have been fortunate to have forged a career in theater ever since my Greek teacher at Boston Latin School sent me to acting classes at the Boston Children's Theater when I was 14. Supported and encouraged along the way by teachers, parents, friends, colleagues, patrons, and my wife, Christina Selian - I have somehow managed to do what I love, how I love, with whom I love, where I love, for a very long time. More importantly, I still have passion and optimism for our art form, and the pride at being a member of the American arts community.
Recent Acting
HEARTLAND
Written by Gabriel Jason Dean, Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh
Cast: Mari Vial-Golden, Owais Ahmed, Mark Cuddy
59E59 Theaters, NYC, March/April 2022
“…we spend some time in Omaha, Nebraska, at the home of Harold Banks (Mark Cuddy, giving an outstanding performance, in turn funny, arrogant, and tormented over the course of the play).”
“Mark Cuddy, current artistic director of The Geva Theatre Center, is very convincing as the professor who knows he is sinking into illness and ageing, while he mourns the estrangement from his daughter. Taking his cues from the text, he is very subtle in revealing the symptoms and the signs of his encroaching ailment.”
“Cuddy is remarkable. His character begins the play walking around in his underwear while preparing a lecture, but by the end he is a very different man, mentally and physically. Watching Cuddy in these final scenes is deeply moving.”
“…features a top-notch cast.”
Recent Directing
In 2026 I directed three plays by Anton Chekhov that comprised the inaugural season of The Classics Company: The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters.
Natalia Hulse and Ian Yates in The Seagull. Photo credit: Goat Factory Media
Jerry Bradley in The Cherry Orchard. Photo Credit: Goat Factory Media
Reuben J. Tapp, Tanner Efinger and Sarah Izzo in Three Sisters. Photo Credit: Kevin Spacher
ERMA BOMBECK: AT WIT’S END
Written by Allison Engel and Margaret Engel, Starring Pam Sherman
Geva Theatre - January/February 2018, March 2019; Denver Center Garner Galleria - September 2019; Shea’s Buffalo - November 2019; Cleveland Play House - August 2023; Denver Center Garner Galleria - September 2024; Des Moines Performing Arts Center, December 2024
CONSTELLATIONS
Written by Nick Payne, Starring Gus Cuddy and Mari Vial-Golden
Geva Theatre Center - February 2022
“What matters is Payne’s exploration of how our split-second decisions impact our lives, and life’s randomness generally. This production, carried by (Gus) Cuddy and (Mari) Vial-Golden, wonderfully amplifies these themes.
Geva’s production of “Constellations” is intimate and thought-provoking, featuring top-notch acting and directing from (Mark) Cuddy, who Rochester theatre-goers are surely going to miss.”