Matt Shakman News

Geffen Playhouse today announced the full cast for its world premiere production Mysterious Circumstances, written by Michael Mitnick (Drama Desk Award nominee for Fly by Night, The Siegel) and directed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Matt Shakman.

The world premiere of world-renown magician Helder Guimarães' INVISIBLE TANGO has already begun previews at the Geffen Playhouse. A World Champion of Magic (among other titles), Helder has enlisted the directing talents of Frank Marshall and the musicality of Moby for his TANGO of storytelling and sleight-of-hand. Helder agreed to reveal some secrets of his magic success. (No, he didn't, but I was just hoping he would!)

Geffen Playhouse and Audible will co-produce Nightfall for the Los Angeles theater's 2019/2020 season, it was announced today. Written by Marisela Treviño Orta (The River Bride, Braided Sorrow, Wolf at the Door) as part of Audible's Emerging Playwrights Fund, Nightfall will make its world premiere in Geffen's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater in February and marks the completion of the Geffen Playhouse 2019/2020 season lineup.

Geffen Playhouse is now accepting applications for the 2019/2020 cycle of The Writers' Room playwrights group, it was announced today. Now entering its second year, the next group of playwrights chosen will begin their residency in September 2019. The Writers' Room initiative was first developed and launched in 2018 under the direction of Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Matt Shakman.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld, and Happy Friday! Finish off your week right by catching up on the latest Broadway news before you kick back for the weekend!

Geffen Playhouse today announced eight productions that will make up its 2019/2020 season, with one additional production to be announced. This marks the second lineup curated by Artistic Director Matt Shakman and the 24th season for the Los Angeles theater. The season will launch Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and run through Sunday, July 19, 2020.

Deadline reports that Bohemian Rhapsody's Gwilym Lee will star in Hulu's The Great.

Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays (and his many characters) will grace the Gil Cates Theatre stage of the Geffen Playhouse for his one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, already in previews, with opening night set for November 7, 2018. I had the chance to pick Jefferson's witty mind for some very fun answers to my semi-serious inquiries.

More than $100,000 was raised at the exclusive one-night-only reading of Terms of Endearment presented by Berlanti Productions and Jessica Queller at the Geffen Playhouse, it was announced today. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Stand Up To Cancer and Geffen Playhouse's New Play Development Program.

Geffen Playhouse today announced its selection of six local writers to participate in the launch of the inaugural cycle of The Writers' Room, a forum for engagement and collaboration between Los Angeles playwrights. The participants for 2018/2019 are Angelica Cheri, Dipika Guha, Chelsea Marcantel, Brian Otaño, Liza Powel O'Brien and Matt Schatz.

Berlanti Productions and Jessica Queller will present an exclusive one-night-only reading of Terms of Endearment at the Geffen Playhouse, it was announced today. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Stand Up To Cancer and Geffen Playhouse's New Play Development Program.

Geffen Playhouse today announced the full cast for its production of Academy Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning Jose Rivera's (Motorcycle Diaries, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot) The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona, directed by Obie Award- and Drama Desk Award-winning Jo Bonney (By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Cost of Living). This world premiere marks the launch of Artistic Director Matt Shakman's inaugural season for Geffen Playhouse.

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The Geffen Playhouse today announced that it has added three directors to its upcoming 2018/2019 season, the first from new Artistic Director Matt Shakman. Tony Award nominee Michael Arden will direct Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by and starring Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays; Obie Award winner Jo Bonney will direct the world premiere of Jose Rivera's The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona; and Obie Award-winner Robert O'Hara will direct the world premiere of Inda Craig-Galvan's Black Super Hero Magic Mama.

Chrissy Metz, the Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominated star of the NBC drama This Is Us, will make her stage debut in Neil LaBute's critically acclaimed play Fat Pig at the Geffen Playhouse.

Last night's star-studded event, Backstage at the Geffen, at the Geffen Playhouse grossed more than $1 million for the theater's education, outreach and artistic initiatives. The fundraiser, which recognizes leaders in the artistic community, supports the theater's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its education and community engagement programs, honored legendary stage and screen performer Dick Van Dyke and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Comedian Jim Carrey presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Van Dyke and EGOT award-winning actress Rita Moreno presented the Education Impact Award to Miranda.

Backstage at the Geffen, the Geffen Playhouse's annual fundraiser event, has launched its online auction featuring luxury vacations, one-of-a-kind artwork and VIP experiences. Proceeds will benefit the Geffen's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its award-winning education and community engagement programs, which bring live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.

The Geffen Playhouse today announced the full cast for its world premiere production of Amanda Peet's Our Very Own Carlin McCullough. The play will feature Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife, True Detective) as Cyn, Abigail Dylan Harrison (The Affair) as Carlin at 10, Caroline Heffernan as Carlin at 17, Tyee Tilghman as Saleef and Joe Tippett (Rise, Broadway's Waitress) as Jay. Tyne Rafaeli (Geffen's Ironbound, Actually) will direct.

After a successful Off-Broadway and Broadway run, Joshua Harmon brings his affecting and hilarious play about finding and lacking love to The Geffen Playhouse. Significant Other follows Jordan, a single, young professional with a close group of female friends who slowly drift away as they each get married while he searches for his own 'Mr. Right.'

The Geffen Playhouse today announced the launch of the inaugural cycle of The Writers' Room, a forum for engagement and collaboration between Los Angeles playwrights. The program marks the next step in the Geffen's growth under Artistic Director Matt Shakman, whose vision for the theater emphasizes world premiere productions and the development of bold, relevant work by the local artistic community.