The Geffen Playhouse News

The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist features Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain in the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin, respectively, as well as Broadway actor David Wilson Barnes as the troubled young priest Father Damien Karras, Tony Award nominee Harry Groener takes on the role of Chris' charismatic director Burke Dennings and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate Emily Yetter plays the young Regan MacNeil.

The Exorcist opened last night, July 11, in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse and runs through August, 12, 2012, starring Brooke Shields, Richard Chamberlain, David Wilson Barnes, Emily Yetter, and more. Check out the opening night party in the photos below!

The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist features Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain in the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin, respectively, as well as Broadway actor David Wilson Barnes as the troubled young priest Father Damien Karras, Tony Award nominee Harry Groener takes on the role of Chris' charismatic director Burke Dennings and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate Emily Yetter plays the young Regan MacNeil. The world premiere cast also includes Stephen Bogardus, Manoel Felciano, Tom Nelis and Roslyn Ruff. The play is written by John Pielmeier adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty, and is directed by John Doyle. The Exorcist just began previews and opens in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on July 11, 2012 and runs through August, 12, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

The world premiere of Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane has once again been extended four additional weeks with performances now running through August 19, 2012 in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. Adapted and directed by L.A. audience favorite Hershey Felder and featuring award-winning concert pianist Mona Golabek, this music-filled evening recounts the personal story of Ms. Golabek's mother in Nazi-occupied Europe.

The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist showcases an award-winning design team - including world-renowned creative consultant Teller and internationally acclaimed spiritual composer Sir John Tavener - to bring playwright John Pielmeier's script and Tony Award winning director John Doyle's vision to life on stage. The team also includes Tony Award winning scenic/costume designer Scott Pask, lighting designer Jane Cox and sound designer Dan Moses Schreir. Working with Doyle, the design team will be tasked with creating a theatrical experience that engages the senses in a way that is unique to live performance.

Last night's star-studded event at the Geffen Playhouse and the pre-show host committee dinner at Los Angeles' The Backyard restaurant grossed over $1 million for the Geffen Playhouse's education, outreach and artistic initiatives. The fundraiser, honoring Hollywood legend Carol Burnett and Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos, was co-chaired by Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger and his wife, journalist Willow Bay. See below for photos from the event, featuring Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, Warren Beatty, Jane Lynch, Annette Bening, Helen Mirren, Matthew Morrison and more!

Emmy Award winning actress Jane Lynch will host this year's Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising support for the theater's artistic and outreach initiatives, honoring Hollywood legend Carol Burnett and Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos. Ms. Burnett will receive the Distinction in Theater Award and Mr. Gianopulos will be presented with the Distinction in Service Award by entertainment icon and longtime colleague Warren Beatty. The star-studded event will be co-chaired by Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger and his wife, journalist Willow Bay. This irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories, which is sponsored by City National Bank, will be held tonight, June 4, 2012 at the Geffen Playhouse.

In addition to an accomplished cast, the Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist showcases an award-winning design team - including world-renowned creative consultant Teller and internationally acclaimed spiritual composer Sir John Tavener - to bring playwright John Pielmeier's script and Tony Award winning director John Doyle's vision to life on stage. The team also includes Tony Award winning scenic/costume designer Scott Pask, lighting designer Jane Cox and sound designer Dan Moses Schreir. Working with Doyle, the design team will be tasked with creating a theatrical experience that engages the senses in a way that is unique to live performance.

Earlier this month, it was announced that stage and screen stars Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain will take on the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin in playwright John Pielmeier's world premiere of The Exorcist at the Geffen Playhouse. Helmed by acclaimed director John Doyle, who won a Tony Award for his striking reimagining of Sweeney Todd, this stage adaptation of William Peter Blatty's famous 1971 novel transforms the unsettling battles of good versus evil, faith versus fact and ego versus ethos into a theatrical experience. This brings us to last week's poll: what other classic horror film would you like to see turned into a stage production? Your response was The Shinging (38%) and The Silence of the Lambs (25%).

The world premiere of Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane has once again been extended an extra month through July 22, 2012 in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. Adapted and directed by L.A. audience favorite Hershey Felder and featuring award-winning concert pianist Mona Golabek, this music-filled evening recounts the personal story of Ms. Golabek's mother in Nazi-occupied Europe.

It was announced yesterday that stage and screen stars Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain will take on the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin in playwright John Pielmeier's world premiere of The Exorcist at the Geffen Playhouse. Helmed by acclaimed director John Doyle, who won a Tony Award for his striking reimagining of Sweeney Todd, this stage adaptation of William Peter Blatty's famous 1971 novel transforms the unsettling battles of good versus evil, faith versus fact and ego versus ethos into a theatrical experience. This got us thinking, what other horror film would you like to see turned into a stage production?

Stage and screen stars Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain will take on the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin in playwright John Pielmeier's world premiere of The Exorcist at the Geffen Playhouse. Helmed by acclaimed director John Doyle, who won a Tony Award for his striking reimagining of Sweeney Todd, this stage adaptation of William Peter Blatty's famous 1971 novel transforms the unsettling battles of good versus evil, faith versus fact and ego versus ethos into a uniquely theatrical experience as sophisticated as it is suspenseful.

Many plays have been written about Europe in the throes of the Holocaust and its devastating effect on the Jews who lived not only in Germany, but in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Vienna. The future of those children was severely limited or drastically cut short. Mona Golabek is the daughter of Lisa Jura, a consummate concert pianist who, unlike many, was given a ticket to freedom via the Kindertransport... she was offered the chance to make a difference and did, as told in The Pianist of Willesden Lane, now onstage in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theatre backspace of the Geffen Playhouse. This is stunning theatre that will leave you emotionally breathless. Marvelously adapted and directed by Hersehy Felder, Lisa Jura's story is a theatrical experience not to be missed.

Acclaimed performer Hershey Felder returns to the Geffen Playhouse - but this behind-the-scenes - as adapter and director of a new theatrical event: The Pianist of Willesden Lane, featuring award-winning musician Mona Golabek. This world premiere is a new addition to the Geffen Playhouse's 2011/2012 season and marks the third production performed in the intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. The Pianist of Willesden Lane begins in previews on April 17, 2012 with an official opening night of April 25, 2012.

Emmy Award winning actress Jane Lynch will host this year's Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising support for the theater's artistic and outreach initiatives, honoring Hollywood legend Carol Burnett and Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos. Ms. Burnett will receive the Distinction in Theater Award and Mr. Gianopulos will be presented with the Distinction in Service Award by entertainment icon and longtime colleague Warren Beatty. The star-studded event will be co-chaired by Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger and his wife, journalist Willow Bay. This irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories, which is sponsored by City National Bank, will be held on Monday June 4, 2012 at the Geffen Playhouse.

The Shakespeare Educational Tour adapted version of "Twelfth Night" will be presented this coming Saturday, April 21 at 11 am at the Geffen Playhouse Gil Cates Theatre in Los Angeles, 10886 Le Conte Ave. The show is geared toward an elementary school audience and has been presented to 16 elementary schools in Ventura County this spring. The 16th season of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will feature performances of "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Romeo and Juliet" at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks beginning in June.

The Shakespeare Educational Tour adapted version of "Twelfth Night" will be presented this coming Saturday, April 21 at 11 am at the Geffen Playhouse Gil Cates Theatre in Los Angeles, 10886 Le Conte Ave. The show is geared toward an elementary school audience and has been presented to 16 elementary schools in Ventura County this spring. The 16th season of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will feature performances of "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Romeo and Juliet" at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks beginning in June.