TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY LAUNCHES INAUGURAL SEASON
TARELL ALVIN M c CRANEY, RENOWNED PLAYWRIGHT AND OSCAR–WINNING SCREENWRITER, HAS TAKEN THE HELM AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE.
Tarell kicked off his inaugural season in August with a special production for Los Angeles: the 20th anniversary of his critically acclaimed play, The Brothers Size , playing to sold-out crowds in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. As a co-production with The Shed in New York, the play marked the beginning of a series of collaborations with theaters across the country, aimed at creating a national pipeline for new works.
In addition to programming his first artistic season, Tarell also launched a groundbreaking initiative called Theater as a Lens for Justice. This community engagement program offers individuals and families impacted by incarceration the chance to connect with theater in a meaningful way—both as audiences and creators. The program aims to foster healing and empowerment by giving participants the tools to tell their stories through performance, using the stage as a platform for reflection and advocacy.
In September, the Tarell Alvin McCraney Welcome Committee—comprised of prominent Black artists, business leaders, and community members—hosted a housewarming brunch to celebrate Tarell’s appointment. The event was a resounding success, drawing an enthusiastic crowd from the city’s vast arts community. Guests celebrated McCraney’s vision and toasted the future of Geffen Playhouse under his dynamic leadership.
Along with these new programs and partnerships, the Geffen Playhouse’s new play development and playwright commissioning programs are kicking into high gear under Tarell’s direction, with a slate of exciting workshops planned for the winter and spring of 2025 in the re-imagined Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater space.
“This is where we start,” said Tarell. “Our planning and plays this season lay the groundwork for the next five years of innovative theater the Geffen is about to bring to LA. Stay ready.”
As part of the Theater as a Lens for Justice initiative, participants from ManifestWorks enjoyed a performance of The Brothers Size ManifestWorks connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness, and incarceration with job opportunities and provides ongoing life and professional skills.
L-R: Jason King, Michele Shay, Anita DashiellSparks, and Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney take a selfie at the housewarming brunch.
L-R: Artistic Director and The Brothers Size playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney with actor Alani iLongwe (seated), choreographer Juel D. Lane, and actors Malcolm Mays and Sheaun McKinney during rehearsals of The Brothers Size. Photo by Jeff Lorch.
HOLLYWOOD THEATRE CLUB KICK OFF
The Hollywood Theatre Club and TodayTix hosted an exciting fall theater preview on September 9, featuring Tarell Alvin McCraney (Geffen Playhouse), Snehal Desai (Center Theatre Group), and Danny Feldman (Pasadena Playhouse), moderated by club leader Jay Marcus. These artistic leaders offered insight into their upcoming seasons, sharing a sneak peek of the groundbreaking productions planned for LA’s three largest non-profit theaters.
UCLA THEATER , FILM & TELEVISION STUDENTS ATTEND OPEN HOUSE
On September 23, Geffen Playhouse opened its doors to UCLA Theater, Film & Television students, faculty, and staff for a unique behind-the-scenes experience.
Attendees were introduced to the upcoming 2024/2025 Season lineup and toured the theater, including peeks into production offices and other backstage areas not open to the public, gaining valu-
able insights into the theater’s rich history and vibrant productions.
The event fostered networking between aspiring artists and theater industry professionals, allowing students to connect and share their passions. This collaboration underscores Geffen Playhouse’s commitment to supporting the next generation of talent in the performing arts community.
VETERANS PERFORM CULTURAL IDENTITY MONOLOGUES
This past summer, Geffen Playhouse hosted the Veterans Writing & Performance Workshop, a transformative 10-week theater-making intensive. This unique program brought together nine military veterans to write personal, original monologues and share with an audience eager to experience their stories.
Led by professional theater artists, the program gives veterans a creative platform for self-expression, bridging the gap between
military and civilian communities. Each participant crafted and performed their own deeply personal narratives, offering a rare glimpse into the emotional complexities of military life, from deployment experiences to the challenges of returning home.
The program culminated on August 5 with Beyond the Barracks, a free public performance. Veterans brought their lived experiences to the stage, creating an intimate and impactful connection with the
audience. Their monologues were not only a reflection of their individual journeys but also a celebration of the collective spirit of those who serve.
The Veterans Writing & Performance Workshop is a testament to the power of storytelling and the arts to foster healing, understanding, and connection.
Visit geffenplayhouse.org/veterans for more information.
L-R: Snehal Desai, Danny Feldman, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Jay Marcus
Geffen Playhouse Chief Development Officer Sarah Weinberg gives UCLA students a tour.
L-R: Maxine Reyes, Paul Alan Dixon, Juliette Myers, Christine Clayburg, Tyrone J Small, Stephanie Maura Sanchez, Steve Suh, Dave Lara & Paula Andrea Cajiao. Photo by Jeff Lorch.
Tyrone J Small, U.S. Army Veteran. Photo by Jeff Lorch.
A LOOK BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF WAITING FOR GODOT
THIS FALL, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS SAMUEL BECKETT’S ICONIC MASTERPIECE WAITING FOR GODOT .
The highly anticipated production brings a fresh-yet-authentic interpretation of Beckett’s tragi-comic classic. The play, famous for its witty dialogue and existential themes, is given an extra layer of authenticity thanks to a unique collaboration with Gare St Lazare Ireland, who are celebrated worldwide for their expertise in Beckett’s works.
Gare St Lazare Ireland’s co-artistic directors lead the production as director (Judy Hegarty Lovett) and actor (Conor Lovett as “Pozzo”), bringing 25 years of Beckett expertise to the stage.
Joining Lovett in the cast are Rainn Wilson as “Vladimir,” Aasif Mandvi as “Estragon,” Adam Stein as “Lucky,” and Lincoln Bonilla and Jack McSherry sharing the role of “Boy.” The cast’s comedic rapport and depth are expected to breathe
new life into Beckett’s exploration of the human condition.
Audiences can expect a production that honors Beckett’s minimalist vision with powerful performances, sharp humor, and profound moments of reflection. With the combined creative forces of the Geffen Playhouse and the Gare St Lazare Ireland leadership, this staging of Waiting for Godot promises to captivate both longtime fans of Beckett and newcomers alike.
In addition to performances on the Gil Cates Theater stage, the cast will perform Act 1 of Waiting for Godot at the Victorville Federal Correctional Institution in December. Through our Theater as a Lens for Justice initiative, we’re proud to continue the long tradition of Godot performances for incarcerated individuals that extends back to the inception of the play.
WAITING FOR GODOT
NOV 6 – DEC 15, 2024
GIL CATES THEATER
Written by Samuel Beckett
Directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett
Produced in Association with Gare St Lazare Ireland
Featuring Lincoln Bonilla as Boy (alternating)
Conor Lovett as Pozzo
Aasif Mandvi as Estragon
Jack McSherry as Boy (alternating)
Adam Stein as Lucky Rainn Wilson as Vladimir
Geffen Playhouse’s Theater as a Lens for Justice initiative provides access to this production and supplementary programs for populations impacted by incarceration and is supported, in part, by Jayne Baron Sherman. This production is also supported by:
L-R: Aasif Mandvi, Rainn Wilson, Conor Lovett, and Adam Stein in rehearsals for Waiting for Godot
Photo by Jeff Lorch.
SARA PORKALOB’S DRAGON LADY IGNITES THE 2024/2025 GIL CATES THEATER SEASON
AUDIENCES WERE BLOWN AWAY BY HER POWERFUL TRI-GENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE.
The Los Angeles premiere of Sara Porkalob’s critically acclaimed Dragon Lady roared onto the Gil Cates Theater stage this past September to launch the 2024/2025 Season. Exploring family history, identity, and resilience, Porkalob’s captivating one-woman musical weaved together humor, music, and intimate storytelling, earning rave reviews for its raw emotion and brilliant execution. Audiences were mesmerized by her ability to bring multiple generations of her Filipino-American family to life in this poignant, powerful production.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Geffen Playhouse hosted its first-ever AANHPI Partners Appreciation Night, sponsored by Gold House. This special event celebrated the rich contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities to the arts. Attendees from across Los Angeles’ Asian Pacific community came together for a night of theater and connection, highlighting the importance of representation in storytelling.
UCLA’ S CENTER FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS WITH GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE FOR A 10-WEEK RESIDENCY
THE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER SPACE TRANSFORMS INTO A WORKSHOP FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED ARTISTS.
Geffen Playhouse is partnering with UCLA’s Center for Justice and Prison Education Program for an exciting 10-week hip hop theater residency in the intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. This transformative program invites students to explore the intersection of art and social justice through WHAT IT IZ: The Spoken Wordical . The production, originally created by formerly incarcerated artists during a creative writing workshop at the California Institute for Women (CIW), brings hip hop theater and spoken word to the forefront, amplifying voices that are often silenced.
Throughout the residency, students will dive deep into the process of preparing for performances, while also gaining exposure
to the professional world of theater. Geffen Playhouse will offer a weekly workshop series that introduces students to key roles within the theater industry, from acting and directing, to stage management and technical design. These workshops aim to cultivate a holistic understanding of theater production while building skills and confidence for students to bring WHAT IT IZ to life.
The program will culminate in a powerful final production, hosted by Geffen Playhouse, where students will showcase their work with live performances on December 6 and 7. This residency represents a meaningful collaboration between the arts, education, and prison reform, shining a light on the healing and transformative power of theater.
Community partner Cinema Sala’s staff and supporters attend the Dragon Lady AANHPI Partners Appreciation Night on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Broadway star Sara Porkalob in a music studio records her original songs from Dragon Lady: Part I of The Dragon Cycle
Students from UCLA in class at the Geffen Playhouse’s Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater.
NOISES OFF TAKES OFF AT CHICAGO’ S STEPPENWOLF THEATRE
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE AND STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY
PRESENT MICHAEL FRAYN’S HILARIOUS PLAY-WITHIN-A-PLAY LOVE LETTER TO THEATER.
Get ready to laugh out loud as Geffen Playhouse partners with Steppenwolf Theatre Company to bring the classic British farce Noises Off to life in a special co-production. Written by Michael Frayn, Noises Off is often hailed as one of the funniest plays ever written, offering audiences a behindthe-scenes look at the chaos of a theater production gone hilariously wrong.
The play follows a troupe of actors attempting to stage a mediocre farce, Nothing’s On, only to have their offstage mishaps mirror the madness unfolding onstage. With missed cues, miscommunication, and plenty of slapstick, the show is a fast-paced, brilliantly timed comic masterpiece.
Directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, this production promises to
deliver Steppenwolf’s signature innovative approach to performance while staying true to Geffen Playhouse’s tradition of captivating storytelling, with a cast comprised of half Chicago-based and half Los Angeles-based actors. This collaboration highlights the best of both theater companies, blending impeccable acting with razor-sharp comedic timing.
Noises Off has been hailed as “fast, furious, and ferociously funny” by the Chicago Daily Herald and will arrive in LA for a limited run beginning January 29. Tickets are already selling fast, so don’t miss the chance to experience this laugh-out-loud comedy that has delighted audiences for decades. Whether you’re a theater enthusiast or just in need of a good laugh, this co-production is sure to be a highlight of the season.
NOISES OFF
JAN 29 – MAR 2, 2025
GIL CATES THEATER
Written by Michael Frayn
Directed by Anna D. Shapiro
A Co-Production with Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Featuring Vaneh Assadourian as Poppy Norton-Taylor
Amanda Fink as Brooke Ashton / Vicki
Audrey Francis as Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent
Francis Guinan as Selsdon Mowbray / Burglar
Rick Holmes as Lloyd Dallas
Ora Jones as Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clackett
David Lind as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
James Vincent Meredith as Frederick Fellowes / Phillip Brent
Max Stewart as Tim Allgood
L-R (standing): Max Stewart, Francis Guinan, Rick Holmes, Audrey Francis, James Vincent Meredith, and Ora Jones in Noises Off at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
MEET PLAYWRIGHT A.K. PAYNE
This season, we are thrilled to highlight the powerful voice of playwright a.k. payne ( Furlough’s Paradise ), whose work delves deep into the nuances of Black life, history, and memory. payne’s plays transcend traditional narratives, creating lyrical, poignant stories that offer an intimate look at the resilience, joy, and struggle within the Black American experience.
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, payne has quickly made their mark in the theater world with works that intertwine the personal and the political. Their storytelling is steeped in a deep sense of community, often exploring themes of legacy, belonging, and the complex interplay between past and present. Whether portraying moments of heartache or hope,
payne’s writing invites audiences into a space of reflection and empathy.
In addition to their rich, textured dialogue, payne’s plays are known for their deeply collaborative spirit, often working closely with directors and performers to create productions that feel lived-in and authentic. Their unique ability to blend poetic language with everyday realities has earned them numerous accolades and a growing following within the theater community.
As we prepare to bring their work Furlough’s Paradise to life at Geffen Playhouse, we invite you to experience a.k.’s vision firsthand and discover the beauty and power of their stories. Their plays offer not just a reflection of the world we live in, but a vision for what it could be.
FURLOUGH ’S PARADISE
APR 16 – MAY 18, 2025
GIL CATES THEATER
Written by a.k. payne
Directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden
INTRODUCING THE 2024/2025 COHORT OF THE WRITERS’ ROOM
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Geffen Playhouse is delighted to announce the six newest members of The Writers’ Room, our prestigious new play development program, which fosters bold and relevant work from the vibrant artistic community of Los Angeles. Sunny Drake, Keiko Green, Andrew Zepeda Klein, maatin, Samah Meghjee, and James Anthony Tyler round out this year’s cohort of playwrights, selected from a pool of hundreds of applicants. These playwrights will embark on a twelve-month residency from September 2024 to August 2025, working in close collaboration with the Geffen’s Literary Manager & Dramaturg, and attending monthly in-person meetings at the Geffen as they develop the first draft of a new play or musical.
Through The Writers’ Room, Geffen Playhouse continues its deep commitment to supporting emerging voices and groundbreaking new works. By providing the time,
space, and resources necessary to nurture playwrights, the program ensures that each selected artist receives the guidance and creative freedom to push boundaries and explore new theatrical landscapes.
At the end of the residency, playwrights will have their plays workshopped, culminating in a professional reading to share with staff, colleagues, and fellow artists. Numerous participants from past cohorts have gone on to have their Writers’ Room plays produced at theaters nationwide, including Ramiz Monsef and Matt Schatz, whose plays have been produced at the Geffen.
We are excited to see the incredible stories that will emerge from this dynamic group, whose voices will undoubtedly shape the future of theater in Los Angeles and beyond.
Visit geffenplayhouse.org/writersroom for more information.
James Anthony Tyler
Samah Meghjee
Andrew Zepeda Klein
Sunny Drake Keiko Green maatin
Photo by Nomé SiDone
DONORS ENJOY SPECIAL ACCESS
EXCLUSIVE DONOR EVENTS OFFER AN INTIMATE AND IMMERSIVE LOOK INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND OUR PRODUCTIONS.
Recent donor events have included unforgettable experiences such as “The Brothers Size: Behind the Story,” a panel discussion featuring director Bijan Sheibani and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. Donors were treated to an insightful conversation about the development and vision behind this powerful play. Another highlight, “Pull Back the Curtain: A Geffen Backstage Tour,” gave attendees an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of our theater. Guests explored the technical marvels that bring each production to life, from set construction to lighting design.
These special events provide Geffen donors with an opportunity to engage deeply with the art and artists that define our work. Look for future events that continue to celebrate the vibrant creative community at the Geffen Playhouse as a special thank you to the people who keep our theater open and thriving.
Literary Manager & Dramaturg Olivia O’Connor welcomes an audience to the culminating reading of Alexis Roblan’s play BRB, directed by Katie Lindsay. Alexis was a member of The Writers’ Room 2023/2024 cohort. Photo by Isaak Berliner.
UPCOMING DONOR EVENTS
FORMING A FARCE: NOISES OFF TECH REHEARSAL VISIT
Saturday, January 25, 2025
An exclusive look at Noises Off before previews begin, including a discussion with director Anna D. Shapiro.
THEATER & JUSTICE: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, April 22, 2025
Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney in conversation with playwright a.k. payne and director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden about the process of writing and staging Furlough’s Paradise
PROPS AT THE PLAYHOUSE
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
A behind-the-scenes look at props with prop master Rich Gilles, including a tour with insight on notable props from past productions.
MARCH 29, 2025
Geffen Playhouse hosts our largest fundraiser of the year to support our artistic and educational initiatives. Inspiring playwrights, hilarious storytellers, and show-stopping headline performers make for an evening you won’t want to miss. Visit geffenplayhouse.org/backstage for more information.
2024 Backstage at the Geffen storytellers
Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathé. Photo by Jordan Strauss.
