OUR DOORS ARE OPEN — WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS DISTRIBUTED TO FIREFIGHTERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE RECENT WILDFIRES
It’s been three months since wildfires devastated communities across Los Angeles—including Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades—leaving destruction in their wake and displacing countless families.
As recovery efforts continue, we at Geffen Playhouse remain committed to supporting those affected. We believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together, and in times like these, that sense of connection is more important than ever.
To be in support of our community, we distributed over 200 complimentary tickets to our production of Noises Off to firefighters, first responders, volunteers, and those personally impacted by the wildfires. This gesture is a small token of our gratitude for those who have risked and lost so much during this unprecedented tragedy.
Our commitment doesn’t end there— Geffen Playhouse will continue to offer
complimentary tickets for the remainder of our 2024/2025 Season for these communities. Whether as a moment of respite, as a chance to share in laughter, or simply as an evening away from the weight of recent events, we hope our theater can provide a place of comfort and connection.
To our first responders, volunteers, and neighbors facing loss and hardship, we see you, we support you, and we stand with you. Theater has always been about community—and we are honored to be a part of yours.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the wildfires and would like to attend an upcoming performance, or if you’d like to support our outreach efforts by making a contribution, please visit geffenplayhouse.org
REMEMBERING MARGUERITE HARRIS
Geffen Playhouse is deeply saddened to share the passing of our dear friend and longtime front desk receptionist, Marguerite Harris. A beloved presence at the theater for 29 years, Marguerite welcomed every guest with warmth, kindness, an everpresent smile, and was an integral part of the Geffen family.
Born in Kansas City, KS, Marguerite moved with her family to the Watts community in Los Angeles in 1954 following the Brown v. Board of Education decision. She attended Manual Arts High School and later UCLA before embarking on a career spanning multiple industries. She worked as a lab assistant at Hawthorne Community Hospital and held executive assistant positions at TRW Inc., Thrifty Corporation, and Big 5 Sporting Goods. In 1996, Marguerite transitioned from the corporate world to the arts, joining Geffen Playhouse as the daytime front desk receptionist. From day one, she became the heart of our lobby, offering kindness and professionalism to every artist, staff member, and audience member who walked through our doors. Her love for the arts and the Geffen community made her an essential part of our theater’s history. We will miss Marguerite deeply, but her legacy of grace, kindness, and dedication will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Photo by Isaak Berliner.
APR 16 – MAY 18, 2025
GIL CATES THEATER
Written by a.k. payne
Directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden Featuring Kacie Rogers as Mina DeWanda Wise as Sade
This production is made possible, in part, by support from Cast Iron Entertainment. 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. Audience Engagement initiatives for Furlough’s Paradise are supported by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. This project is supported in part by:
A.K. PAYNE AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS SUSAN SMITH BLACKBURN PRIZE
On March 10, playwright a.k. payne was awarded the 2025 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Furlough’s Paradise The prestigious international award, which has honored women+ playwrights since 1978, was announced at a ceremony at Playwrights Horizons in New York.
The play, first staged at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre in 2024, will make its West Coast debut at the Geffen Playhouse this April under the direction of Tinashe Kajese-Bolden. Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney praised payne’s poetic and searing storytelling, calling them “one of the most powerful writers” he’s encountered.
Past winners include Katori Hall, Julia Cho, Lynn Nottage, Sarah Ruhl, Benedict
FROM PAGE TO STAGE...
MAY 2022: a.k. payne writes the first draft of Furlough’s Paradise as a graduate student at the Yale School of Drama.
MAR 2023: Furlough’s Paradise is selected as the winner of the prestigious Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition.
Lombe, and Paula Vogel. “I am so grateful to receive this award and join a list of some of my favorite writers whose plays have shaken how I understand the world,” said payne. “They made it possible—through their words transcending space and time and/or their caring and abundant mentorship—for me to write.”
Special commendations went to 49 Days by Haruna Lee and An Oxford Man by Else Went. Other finalists included works by Chris Bush, Keiko Green, Isobel McArthur, Suzie Miller, and Anna Ziegler.
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize continues to amplify the voices of women+ playwrights, ensuring their groundbreaking stories reach audiences worldwide.
JAN 2024: Furlough’s Paradise receives its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and playwright a.k. payne. Photo by Birdie Thompson.
L-R: Kai Heath and Asha Basha Duniani in the Alliance Theatre world premiere production. Photos by Greg Mooney.
ACTORS KACIE ROGERS & DEWANDA WISE ARE READY TO FIND THEIR UTOPIA
In Furlough’s Paradise , cousins Sade and Mina used to be inseparable. Now leading very different lives, they return to their childhood town for the funeral of their mother and aunt. While Sade is on a three-day furlough from prison and Mina experiences a brief reprieve from her career and life on the West Coast, the two try to make sense of grief, home, love, and kinship. As the clock ticks down, the cousins grapple with their conflicting memories of the past and their shared hopes for the future. Poetic and theatrical, Furlough’s Paradise explores family dreams of a utopia yet to be realized.
Geffen Playhouse is thrilled to welcome Kacie Rogers and DeWanda Wise to the West Coast premiere of Furlough’s Paradise
Two-time NAACP Award–winning actor and writer Kacie Rogers trained at AMDA College and has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Grace & Frankie Her acclaimed one-woman show, I Sell Windows, has played in New York, Los Angeles, and Edinburgh.
DeWanda Wise is a critically acclaimed actor and filmmaker. Known for Jurassic World Dominion , The Harder They Fall , and Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It , she champions mental health advocacy as a NAMI Ambassador.
Together, they’ll bring to life the gripping story of Sade and Mina—two “sister-cousins” reunited under extraordinary circumstances as they navigate family, loss, and the search for freedom.
MAR 2025: Furlough’s Paradise awarded the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for playwriting.
APR 2025: Furlough’s Paradise receives its West Coast premiere in the Gil Cates Theater.
Geffen Playhouse production set design concept rendering by scenic designer Chika Shimizu.
Photo by Birdie Thompson.
event on February 16.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ANNOUNCED FOR MAY 2 BLACK PARTNERS APPRECIATION NIGHT
TICKET PROCEEDS FROM THE PERFORMANCE WILL BENEFIT FIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
On February 16, 2025, Geffen Playhouse hosted five community partner organizations for a Black Partners Kick Off event to introduce them to the Furlough’s Paradise cast and creative team. Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney, along with playwright a.k. payne, director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, and actors Kacie Rogers and DeWanda Wise, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the production and dug deep into the themes and topics of the play.
Black Partners Appreciation Night for Furlough’s Paradise will be held on May 2, 2025, and Black audiences are invited to experience this powerful Black family drama alongside passionate community partners in a celebratory environment. These five organizations— Black Rebirth Collective, California Black Women’s Health Project, Coco Coalition, Mass Liberation, and Moon Child Collaborative have partnered with the Geffen to further their non-profit missions and will receive 100% of single ticket proceeds from the performance.
Visit geffenplayhouse.org/blackpartners for more information.
perform Act 1
GODOT AT VICTORVILLE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
This past December, the cast of Waiting for Godot—Rainn Wilson, Aasif Mandvi, Conor Lovett, and Adam Stein—performed Act 1 of Samuel Beckett’s iconic play at the Victorville Women’s Federal Correctional Institution. As part of the Geffen’s Theater as a Lens for Justice initiative, this special performance continued the play’s long history of reaching incarcerated audiences, dating back to the legendary 1957 San Quentin performance.
Waiting for Godot has long resonated deeply with prison populations around the world, owing to its themes of waiting, existential reflection, and the search for meaning in the face of uncertainty.
The cast’s visit to Victorville offered the women an opportunity to engage with this timeless work in a personal and impactful way. This performance exemplified the power of theater to connect, inspire, and provoke thought, transcending barriers
by bringing the transformative experience of live performance to those who may otherwise never have access to it.
Established by playwright and Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney, Theater as a Lens for Justice provides access to theater at Geffen Playhouse for populations impacted by incarceration, and is supported, in part, by Jayne Baron Sherman.
Visit geffenplayhouse.org/justice for more information.
L-R: Playwright T.Tara Turk-Haynes, Moon Child Collaborative’s Angela Lewis, and director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden mingle at the Black Partners Kick Off event.
Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney hosts a discussion with the Furlough’s Paradise cast and creative team at the Black Partners Kick Off
L-R: Aasif Mandvi and Rainn Wilson
of Waiting for Godot at the Victorville Federal Correctional Institution. Photo by Jeff Lorch.
THE RESERVOIR ENJOYS CO-WORLD PREMIERE ACROSS THREE THEATERS
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE WILL PRESENT THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION FOLLOWING STOPS AT DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND THE ALLIANCE THEATRE
The highly anticipated co-world premiere of The Reservoir is bringing laughter and heartfelt moments to stages across the country, thanks to a collaboration between the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Alliance Theatre, and Geffen Playhouse. Playwright Jake Brasch’s award-winning new play explores the complex dynamics of family, memory, and healing.
The play follows Josh, a recent NYU dropout whose life is spiraling, as he finds unexpected guidance from his four grandparents. While their advice is not always welcomed, their no-nonsense tough love and inappropriate humor steal the show—and just might help Josh find his way. In a sharply funny, deeply poignant narrative, The Reservoir highlights the complicated bonds that tie
us to our families, no matter how chaotic or imperfect.
Premiering in Denver on January 17, The Reservoir has already earned rave reviews. The Denver Post described the play as “a remarkably layered and intricate work from a young playwright who is already being recognized for his gifts of timing, wit, and emotional frankness.”
After the Denver run, the play will move to the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta with performances beginning March 29. Finally, the production will arrive in Los Angeles at Geffen Playhouse starting June 18, featuring an all-new cast for the final leg of its three-city world premiere journey.
Don’t miss this incredible, multifaceted new work—The Reservoir promises to resonate long after the final curtain.
THE RESERVOIR
JUNE 18 – JULY 20, 2025
GIL CATES THEATER
Written by Jake Brasch
Directed by Shelley Butler
In Partnership with Denver Center for the Performing Arts & Alliance Theatre Geffen Playhouse casting to be announced. Production Sponsor
Cast of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts production of The Reservoir.
Photos by Jamie Kraus. Geffen Playhouse casting to be announced.
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 “Forming a Farce: Noises Off Tech Rehearsal Visit,” where donors were invited to attend a technical rehearsal of Noises Off, just days before the first preview performance. Going behind-the-scenes of the play’s play-withinthe-play, donors witnessed first-hand how the cast and creative team refined lighting and sound cues, entrances and exits, costume quick changes, and the essence of farce itself—sardines, sardines, and more sardines.
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 Geffen Playhouse as a special thank you to the people who keep our theater open and thriving.
UPCOMING DONOR EVENTS
2025/2026 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT PREVIEW
Monday, April 14, 2025
Get a sneak preview of the 2025/2026 Season with Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney. You’ll be the first to hear what’s coming to our theater for next season and beyond.
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
Guests will experience a behind-thescenes look at props with prop master Rich Gilles, including a tour with insight on notable props from past productions.
THREE NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TAKE ROOT IN THE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER
Supporting artists is central to Geffen Playhouse’s mission, and new play development is a cornerstone of that support. In addition to producing world premieres of groundbreaking new plays, Geffen Playhouse is proud to collaborate with playwrights and directors to workshop new plays for our stages and beyond. Over the past months, our Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater has been utilized as a space for exploration, collaboration, and creativity.
OCTOBER 2024 WORKSHOP
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
Written by N’yomi Allure Stewart
Directed by Tramaine Raphael Gray
FEBRUARY 2025 WORKSHOP
LITTLEBOY/ LITTLEMAN
Written
by Rudi Goblen
Directed by Nancy Medina
littleboy/littleman tells the story of two Nicaraguan brothers who clash over their visions of the American Dream. This workshop provided a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of cultural and personal dreams, and to bring Goblen’s powerful narrative to life.
Somewhere Between follows a Black family forced to remember the forgotten, when history repeats itself. Through poetic language, movement, and sound, Somewhere Between is a deeply moving exploration of identity, love, and belonging.
MARCH 2025 WORKSHOP
SYLVIA SYLVIA SYLVIA
Written by Beth Hyland
Directed by Jo Bonney
SYLVIA SYLVIA SYLVIA follows Sally, a writer navigating the challenges of following in Sylvia Plath’s footsteps while balancing her career and marriage. Hyland explores ambition, identity, and love— offering a fresh perspective on the pressures faced by women in the literary world.
L-R: N’yomi Allure Stewart and Tramaine Raphael Gray. Photo by Isaak Berliner.
L-R: Nancy Medina and Rudi Goblen. Photo by Joseph Lynn.
L-R: Jo Bonney and Beth Hyland. Photo by Isaak Berliner.
HIP HOP THEATRE COLLABORATION
This past fall, Geffen Playhouse partnered with UCLA’s Center for Justice and Prison Education Program for a 10-week hip hop theater residency in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. Students explored the intersection of art and social justice through WHAT IT IZ: The Spoken Wordical , a play originally created by formerly incarcerated artists. The workshop culminated with two performances on December 6 and 7.
Geffen Playhouse Director of Education & Community Engagement Brian Allman and teaching artist/veteran BJ Lange accept award.
VETS PERFORM ON USS IOWA
This past Veterans Day, veteran playwrights from Geffen Playhouse’s Veterans Writing & Performance Workshop performed their powerful monologues aboard the Battleship USS Iowa. Geffen Playhouse was also awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for the program, which is open to U.S. military veterans.
Visit geffenplayhouse.org/veterans for more information.
THE WRITERS’ ROOM WORKSHOPS CULMINATE WITH READINGS
Geffen Playhouse’s Writers’ Room celebrated its 2023/2024 cohort with a series of workshop readings, showcasing the bold, relevant, and diverse voices of these Los Angeles-based playwrights. This residency program provides playwrights with a oneyear opportunity to gather monthly at the Geffen to share their works-in-progress, receive invaluable feedback from their peers and the Geffen’s artistic staff, and to refine their plays in a collaborative environment.
This year’s cohort featured a wide range of new plays that explored a variety of themes and genres. Each play was brought to life by talented directors and actors, providing a platform for these works to evolve and grow. The Writers’ Room continues to be a vital part of the Geffen’s commitment to nurturing new plays and fostering the vibrant artistic community in Los Angeles.
We can’t wait to see what these artists will bring to the stage in the future!
THE WRITERS’ ROOM 2023/2024
BOTH
Written by Paloma Nozicka
Directed by Stefanie Black
BRB
Written by Alexis Roblan
Directed by Katie Lindsay
CHASING GODS
Written by Paris Crayton III
Directed by Malika Oyetimein
BEER!
Written by Jennifer Chang & Inara George
Directed by Jennifer Chang
Music Direction by Jennifer Lin
HEHE, HAHA!
Written by Ashley August
Directed by Zhailon Levingston
NIAGARA: BEACON HILL
Written by Christina Ham
Directed by Hayley Finn
Cast of WHAT IT IZ: The Spoken Wordical. Photo by Isaak Berliner.
Musicians and actors perform Beer! by Jennifer Chang and Inara George in the Cynthia P. Stafford Education Room. Photo by Isaak Berliner.
KACIE