Geffen Playhouse is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Los Angeles through plays and educational programs that inform, entertain, and inspire. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays as well as provocative world premiere productions, Geffen Playhouse presents a body of work that garners national recognition. Our artistic programming reflects our bold commitment to transforming the landscape of contemporary American theater by prioritizing creative storytelling, new artistic perspectives, and advanced technical requirements and production design, making the Geffen Playhouse a haven for playwrights and a world-class laboratory for new plays. Geffen Playhouse is led by Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney and Executive Director/CEO Gil Cates, Jr.

Supporting artists is central to the Geffen Playhouse’s mission, and new play development is a cornerstone of that support. To date, Geffen Playhouse has produced more than 45 world premieres and has active commissions with 20 playwrights/writing teams.

Each season we produce plays in our 500-seat proscenium Gil Cates Theater and in our flexible black box space, the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. More than 80,000 traditional theater goers attend productions annually, and over 5,000 non-traditional theater goers attend through our education and community engagement programs, which inspire students and community members to develop a lifelong relationship with theater.

We provide year-long access for over 1,000 Los Angeles high school students and community members, immersing them in rigorous learning experiences, artistic exercises, and powerful dialogues that give them a voice through theater.