Geffen Playhouse

Founded by theater, film and television luminary Gil Cates, Geffen Playhouse has been an integral part of Los Angeles theater since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its commitment to the development of new plays, Geffen Playhouse continues to present a body of work that garners national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the organization is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr. and Board Co-Chairs Martha Henderson and Pamela Robinson. An active member of the community, Geffen Playhouse has a groundbreaking education and outreach program that targets students, seniors and everyone in between who otherwise would not have access to live theater.

Geffen Playhouse has been awarded more than 40 regional theater awards, including six accolades for best overall productions and a special Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award for best new play in Los Angeles for Jane Anderson’s commission The Quality of Life. Other commissioned plays that have gone on to appear across the country include David Rambo’s Icebreaker and Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still, which received a Broadway run in 2010. Other works created in house include Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress and Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking, which opened on Broadway in 2009.