About the Theatre
Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays as well as provocative world premiere productions, the not-for-profit organization 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 company was founded by Gilbert Cates and is currently helmed by Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr., Artistic Director Matt Shakman and Board Chair Adi Greenberg. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains extensive education and community engagement programs, designed to involve underserved young people and the community at large in the arts.Upcoming Shows
Purpose, directed by Phylicia Rashad, will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Geffen Playhouse from November 11 to December 13, 2026. This Pulitzer Prize-winning...
Liberation makes its West Coast premiere at Geffen Playhouse, following a successful run on Broadway. Written by Bess Wohl and directed by Whitney White, the...
The Monsters, written by Ngozi Anyanwu and directed by Awoye Timpo, makes its Los Angeles premiere at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. The story revolves...
Closing Costs is a world premiere comedy written by Grace McLeod, set to run at the Geffen Playhouse from March 31 to May 2, 2027....
Wine in the Wilderness, written by Alice Childress and directed by LaChanze, takes place during the 1964 Harlem riot in the apartment of painter Bill...
by Amanda Callas - March 30, 2026
Outrageously silly and positively contagious in its deranged fun, Spamalot is quite possibly the best night out you will have all year. ...
by Melissa Heckscher - March 30, 2026
Chalomot's debut production may not be flawless, but it marks a meaningful first for a new theater company willing to take risks, invest in artists, and bring emotionally-driven theater to smaller spaces....
by Harker Jones - March 27, 2026
While KIM'S CONVENIENCE is charming, the nutritional value may feel more like catching dinner at a 7-Eleven than a fully rounded meal....
by Gavin Glynn - March 26, 2026
Pow Thrust! Bam!! The is the best polished musical theater production currently on the boards in LA! Musical Theater god, James Lent, took a four piece hugely talented band with only a five piece orchestrations to sound magically like a full orchestra bringing a solid punch to every number! Crea...
by Harker Jones - March 24, 2026
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is an electrifying take on the last days of Jesus from one of the most underrated venues in Los Angeles....
by Shari Barrett - March 22, 2026
When Tony “accidentally” brings his conservative parents over for dinner a night too early, all hell breaks loose as the polished socialites clash with the chaos and disorder of the Sycamore clan, which raised the roof with laughter thanks to Cate Caplin’s spot-on direction and the impeccable ...
by Evan Henerson - March 23, 2026
Despite its title, its well-intentioned if cynical nod to diplomacy, Oz Scott’s production is a swift kick to the nether regions. You will probably laugh – hard and often, and you will emerge after 100 minutes with plenty to discuss....
by Shari Barrett - March 18, 2026
In this next chapter, Sara takes on many personas who interact with her mother during her lifetime, each one a standout as an individual through unique voice and movement thanks to Sara's great skill with improvisation....
by Harker Jones - March 17, 2026
What did our critic think of ALL MY SONS at Antaeus Theatre Company?With Miller’s prescient book and under Nguyễn’s precise and fluid direction, ALL MY SONS is another gem in the Antaeus crown....
by Shari Barrett - March 16, 2026
Directed magnificently by Elijah Green, with energetic choreography by Katie Powers-Faulk and musical direction by Miki Yokomizo, the totally entertaining and artistically brilliant production pulled me in from the moment it started....
Past Shows
SYLVIA SYLVIA SYLVIA is a world premiere from playwright Beth Hyland, set to run at the Geffen Playhouse. The story follows Sally, a former acclaimed...
In the West Coast premiere of Table 17, Jada and Dallas, former fiancés, reunite for dinner to confront their shared past. As they navigate the...
Littleboy/littleman is a world premiere play that explores the complex relationship between Nicaraguan brothers Fíto and Bastian as they navigate their differing visions of the...
Am I Roxie? is a world premiere showcasing the talents of Roxana Ortega, who both writes and performs this one-woman show. Through humor and resilience,...
In contemporary Manhattan, Eric and Toby are 30-somethings who seem to be very much in love and thriving. But on the cusp of their engagement,...
Distinguished Harvard professor Charles Nichols (Emmy & Tony Award winner Bryan Cranston) finds himself in hot water after inviting an incendiary white nationalist to speak...
Can you solve the enigma? From the creator and performer of the hit virtual production Inside the Box comes an immersive experience of puzzles and...
Obie Award-winning multimedia artist Jared Mezzocchi has a harrowing story to tell: his family's frightening, true-life haunting inside a 200-year-old New England house. Flip the...
Part musical, part adventure, this inventive new play is designed to take frustrated kids in quarantine on an outrageously fun journey. After entering a door...
Hanging on by a thread after her ex-husband gets engaged to a much younger woman, Jodi (Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, Rent, Wicked) retreats to...
Mischief is afoot in the sleepy village of Edmonton and the fate of the world is at stake in this smart modern fable. When the...
The most chilling test of faith come to life on stage. This world premiere adaptation of the famous 1971 novel documenting the terror and redemption...
Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts weaves a heart-warming and humorous tale of unlikely friendships in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods....
Playwright and provocateur Neil LaBute’s newest play takes off from George Bernard Shaw’s quote: “All truths begin as blasphemies.” And then we meet John Smith....
Videos