geffen playhouse 2015/2016 season brochure

LANDMARK 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary season, we invite you to make time, make space and make your own mark by joining the conversation. Our hope is that the art will have as great an impact on you as you have on us.”

In this age of home entertainment on demand, the theater experience is evermore unique, intimate and necessary. While from home we can binge-watch, pause and re-wind at will, the Geffen offers a home for theater created by living artists — a once-in-a-lifetime, un-rewindable experience.

Indeed, live theater impacts the artists as much as it impacts us in the audience. The conversation that begins when the lights go up continues after the show — into the lobby, through the ride home and, if remarkable, in our memories for years to come.

This season’s productions offer glimpses of life from the Taj Mahal in 1648 to Barcelona’s beautiful La Sagrada Família in the present. And like all provocative plays, they promise to carry us somewhere else to help us better understand the places we call home.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary season, we invite you to make time, make space and make your own mark by joining the conversation. Our hope is that the art will have as great an impact on you as you have on us.

Welcome home.

Randall Arney Artistic Director

Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney stands in the foreground of the dressing room hallway in front of artist signatures from his 2011 staging of Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts. Since the not-for-profit’s 2005 remodel, Arney has directed 10 (including Speed-the-Plow, cover) of the 75 productions marking these walls.

Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography

The Yale Repertory Theatre Production of

THESE PAPER BULLETS!A MODISH RIPOFF OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINGWritten by ROLIN JONES Songs by BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG Directed by JACKSON GAY

SEPTEMBER 8 – OCTOBER 18, 2015 WEST COAST PREMIERE

Ready, steady, go! There is much ado about everything when the Quartos come to town. These four lads from Liverpool arrive to wow and woo the ladies of London, but in true fashion, true love makes fools of them all. Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rolin Jones and acclaimed director Jackson Gay riff on Shakespeare’s randy tale — with a serious backbeat.

Co-Produced with Atlantic Theater Company

GIL CATES THEATERAT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

“One of the top ten reasons for theater lovers to leave New York.”

— TIME

MAKE MUSIC

GUARDS AT THE TAJ Written by RAJIV JOSEPH Directed by GIOVANNA SARDELLI

OCTOBER 6 – NOVEMBER 15, 2015 WEST COAST PREMIERE

Ambition, philosophy and absurdity spill-over in Rajiv Joseph’s violently beautiful new play about two lowly guards handed the grueling task of protecting the Taj Majal. Wildly comic and astoundingly tragic, the journey of these two friends asks if perfection comes at too great a cost.

AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATERAT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

“One of the most provocatively talented American playwrights.”— Los Angeles Times

“A real stage poet not afraid to debate the cosmos. His voice is a major one.”

— New York Magazine

MAKE HISTORY

OUTSIDE MULLINGAR Written by JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY Directed by RANDALL ARNEY

NOVEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 20, 2015

Family farms, feuds and fences have separated neighbors Rosemary and Anthony since childhood. But as the heather blooms in the Irish countryside, unexpected charms are unearthed. Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Academy Award winning playwright John Patrick Shanley’s wry, romantic comedy reminds us that love, early or late, always arrives on time.

Recipient of the 2014 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award


“Shanley’s finest work since Doubt.”— The New York Times

“A tender paean to rural life, to the Irish spirit and to the enduring belief that love will find a way.”

— The Hollywood Reporter

MAKE A MOVE

BARCELONA Written by BESS WOHL Directed by TRIP CULLMAN

FEBRUARY 2 – MARCH 13, 2016 WEST COAST PREMIERE

When a young American tourist has a wild night out with an elegant Spaniard, what begins as a drunken fling becomes a searing and seductive look at two lost souls seeking solace in each other. Bess Wohl’s biting humor uncovers the individual tragedies and triumphs that build us up as well as tear us down.


“It has been a long time since a new work has challenged the very core of existence.”

— The Philadelphia Inquirer

“How do we distinguish between ‘difference’ and ‘danger?’”

— Playwright Bess Wohl

MAKE PEACE

SEX WITH STRANGERS Written by LAURA EASON Directed by KIMBERLY SENIOR

MARCH 1 – APRIL 10, 2016

When frustrated novelist Olivia meets fast-talking blogger Ethan — known more for his sexual prowess than his prose — she worries she will become just another chapter in his little black book. Their funny and flirty union blurs the lines between rewrites, romance and royalties — proving you can’t judge a book by its author.


“A compelling, comic drama. An incisive look at the double edged quest for artistic validation in the digital era.”

— Newsweek

MAKE A NAME

STAGE KISS Written by SARAH RUHL Directed by BART DeLORENZO

APRIL 5 – MAY 15, 2016

When long-lost loves are cast as long-lost lovers, two squabbling actors are slow to learn their lines but quick to ignite an old flame. MacArthur “Genius” Sarah Ruhl leads us on-stage, back-stage and out the stage door as reality collides with fiction in this raucous and revealing play-within-a-play.


“Suffused with warmth and humor... Ruhl frothily whips together a romantic comedy and backstage farce.”Critic’s Pick!— The New York Times

MAKE UP

[ ]Untitled, Derek DelGaudioMAY 3 – JUNE 12, 2016 WORLD PREMIERE

Derek DelGaudio, critically acclaimed writer/magician of Nothing to Hide (directed by Neil Patrick Harris), returns for a world premiere. This radically new show traverses uncharted regions of imagination by way of impossible happenings, poetic interactions and awe-inspiring gestures.


“Captivating! Dazzling! Wondrous!”— The New York Times

“Clever! Surprising! Incredible!”

— Entertainment Weekly

“Remarkable! Skillful! Masterful!”

— Time Out

MAKE BELIEF

BIG SKYWritten by ALEXANDRA GERSTEN-VASSILAROS Directed by JOHN RANDO

JUNE 7 – JULY 17, 2016 WORLD PREMIERE

Five-star amenities and family fallout are on the itinerary as Jack races to land a life-changing deal during an Aspen getaway. But wide open spaces offer no place to hide as Jack’s family fails to keep the truth and elements at bay. Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros and Tony Award winning director John Rando offer a funny and poignant cautionary tale about the perils of pretense and fragility of family.

Major support for this world premiere production provided by

the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund


“Maybe marriage was a better idea when life expectancy was lower.”—Jack, from Big Sky

MAKE THE DEAL

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR IMPACT AT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/OUTREACH

GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE HAS NOT ONLY CREATED LANDMARK ART FOR THE STAGE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT HAS ALSO SHARED IT WITH THE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED IT MOST.

Geffen Playhouse has introduced hundreds of thousands of the most disenfranchised youth, low-income seniors, rehabilitating veterans, homeless adults and other isolated community members to the theater so they experience the extraordinary beauty and restorative power of the art onstage.

Your commitment to the art and to the underserved people of our community whom we introduce to it is the core of our not-for-profit’s mission-driven community engagement programs. Your gift today will not only make its mark on the art, but also on expanding landmark partnerships and service to the community.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Cast members of Choir Boy with high school students attending a student matinee performance through the high school partnership program.

Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography

BECOME A DONOR TODAY! GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/DONATE

*View benefits for each level of giving online at geffenplayhouse.com/benefits.

MAKE A DONATION

DONATE TODAY AND JOIN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY THEATER.

Experience our premium donor concierge service at $1,000 and up, and incomparable, customized service from our development associates at all levels of giving.*

“I have been a Geffen Playhouse subscriber for many years now. I always look forward to each show. The services offered to members I find particularly uncommon in that they give new meaning to the word ‘convenience’ and the staff is always terrific. In fact, I have yet to find a situation where I was not taken care of with pleasantness and ease when dealing with any individual at the Geffen Playhouse.

Through conversations with the development associates about the Geffen’s Education and Outreach programs, I decided to make a larger contribution. I believe in the work that is being done in these programs, and the staff supporting donors is a big part of bringing this to my attention and enhancing my overall comfort level with the theater. To me, creating a belief in donors that good things are being done at the Geffen and in the community is no small thing.

I felt it important enough to share that the Geffen staff is out there, helping to make these good things happen. I believe it matters.”

Christopher Gorelik Longtime Geffen Playhouse subscriber and donor

High school students attend a student matinee performance of Choir Boy.

Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography

Subscribe into orchestra seats for all eight plays in the Gil Cates and Audrey Skirball Kenis Theaters for as little as $54 per ticket!

Five play subscriptions in the Gil Cates Theater start as low as $29 per ticket!

Click or call for all packages and prices: geffenplayhouse.com/subscribe or 310.208.2028.

MAKE A SELECTION2015/2016 SEASONSUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES

MAKE MORE OF YOUR NIGHT OUTJoin Geffen Playhouse artists and friends at a variety of Signature Series events

throughout the run of each production. Ranging from the cerebral to the

celebratory these include TGIF at the Geffen, Talk Back Tuesdays (audience

Q+A with artists), Girls Night Out, Lounge Fridays and Wine Down Sundays. Thanks to the support of Geffen Playhouse partners and sponsors, all elements

of Signature Series evenings are complimentary as part of the ticket price.

Dates and more information online at geffenplayhouse.com/signatureseries.

PLUS ALL SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE:• COMPLIMENTARY PARKING TWO BLOCKS FROM THEATER

• EASY TICKET EXCHANGE AND DONATION PRIVILEGES

• RESERVED SEATS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE SEASONS

• FIRST ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT EVENTS

• DISCOUNTS ON ADDITIONAL TICKETS

ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONGeffen Playhouse is fully committed to ensuring a satisfying theater experience for patrons with special needs or disabilities. Please contact our audience services line at 310.208.2028 for details.

NOVEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 20SEPTEMBER 8 – OCTOBER 18 FEBRUARY 2 – MARCH 13OCTOBER 6 – NOVEMBER 15

MAY 3 – JUNE 12MARCH 1 – APRIL 10 JUNE 7 – JULY 17APRIL 5 – MAY 15

PROUDLY AFFILIATED WITH GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/SUBSCRIBE OR 310.208.2028

Untitled, Derek DelGaudio

Non-ProfitPostage

PAIDLos Angeles, CA

Permit #250

SUBSCRIPTIONS START AS LOW AS $29 PER TICKET!

WEST COAST PREMIERE BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8

WRITTEN BY

ROLIN JONES

SONGS BY

BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG

DIRECTED BY

JACKSON GAY

10886 LE CONTE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90024

geffen playhouse 2015/2016 season brochure

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