With love & gratitude to those who give:
The impact of your generosity on those served through the Geffen Playhouse’s Education & Community Engagement Programs
How your generosity brings the one-of-a-kind beauty and power of the arts, including
HOPE, JOY, UNDERSTANDING & MORE to youth and adults in need.
the difference you will make to youth:
Through your support of our
high school partnerships program, you will give youth living in neighborhoods of high poverty, childhood trauma and high school drop-out rates the opportunity to gain
perspective, fortitude, inspiration, empathy and life-long skills in creative and critical thinking that will help propel them to finish high school and live the life of their dreams through a year-long immersion in the arts.
What it’s not: A one-time “field trip” to see a play. “Exposure” to live theater. Teaching youth how to be actors or how to write a play.
What it is: Year-long, high-quality, rigorous learning and life experiences with artists and live theater, which include attending a year’s worth of plays and spending major time with teaching artists who, in safe and supportive environments, help young people unlock and develop their critical thinking skills, voices, and potential in life.
100% of the students
served last year
reported that they learned a lot from seeing the plays and working with the Geffen’s artists and teaching artists.
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I thank the Geffen’s donors for this experience. It was life-changing.
—10th grade student from Jordan High School
95% of the youth significantly inspired
reported that they were
by the plays and the program.
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I felt renewed and emotionally charged after seeing these plays.
—Roosevelt High School student
I was shocked by Barbecue. I left feeling very touched and inspired to make changes and help others. —Jordan High School student
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95% of the youth motivated to take action or make a change in their lives reported that they were
after seeing the plays and being in the program.
Jerry MacKinnon walks on the set for his performance in Actually.
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Seeing the play, Actually, made me think hard about the thin line between consent and non consent.
— Westchester High School student
The topic was one that isn't always openly discussed. This play was a great way to get us starting
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to talk about it.
— Westchester High School student
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The Legend of Georgia McBride was so beautiful and inspiring.
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It made me want to be myself more.
—10th Grade Student, Santee Education Complex
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made me think more about accepting people for who they are Seeing this play
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and not judging so soon.
—10th Grade Student, Jordan High School
95% of the youth the program helped open their eyes to new points of view
reported that
that they had never considered before.
How do we know your support matters?
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The feedback I get from the students, year-round. The level of discussion in the classrooms now. The way the students talk about the opportunities they get out of this program. The way they connect with me now.
We can barely afford math and English teachers here, let alone music and art teachers. As a musician
Before the Geffen came, it broke my heart not being able to offer the arts here. myself, I know that the arts are so important.
Not a day goes by when I don’t have a junior or a senior come up to me begging to continue the work with the Geffen Playhouse.
This has been, and continues to be such an incredibly positive experience.
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Thank you,
—Carlos Montes, Principal, Jordan High School, Watts
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I constantly have juniors — last year’s sophomores — coming up to me and asking me if they can be involved in the Geffen program again. They say something like, ‘Oh, I see that the Geffen people are here today,’ and then ask if they can join in. It clearly has just been an incredibly positive experience for everyone involved.
Some students were resistant at the beginning of the school year, but gained so much from the program that they really got into it. Everything that’s at the heart of English Language Arts is impacted by what the Geffen provides. It’s not just the experience of going to see the plays — which is phenomenal — it’s all the program does to help the students with their confidence, and expressing themselves, and their own viewpoints.
We have a lot of kids here who have been told that they don’t have a voice, or don’t deserve to have their viewpoint heard. But this has been such a core value of the program, that is continually emphasized, that we want to hear what you have to say — your voice is important. And that has helped with their self-efficacy, both as critical thinkers, as learners in general.
For me as a new teacher, it’s been a huge help to have this very, very supportive partnership, and it’s certainly helped me to grow in my educational practice as well. This program helps me to be more creative and use more creativity throughout the year, not just when our wonderful teaching artists and literacy coaches are here. It has helped me find ways to bridge the arts and education. The kids get really excited about the work that we do in these sessions and when the Geffen isn’t here, they ask me, “When are we going to do that again?” This is a reminder to me to bring the creativity into all lessons, so I am continually reshaping our curriculum to include what I’ve learned from this program.
I cannot provide enough thanks to the donors and others who make this phenomenal program possible. I cannot speak highly enough of everything that the Geffen has done and continues to do, and
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— Cait Cibulsky, English Teacher, Jordan High School
1 of 1,000 stories you make possible: (As told to Jessica Brusilow Rollins, Geffen Playhouse Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations)
felt connected to the characters and the issues in the play, even a year later. “I LOVED that play! The costumes, the music, the
When Jordan High School 10th grader Mariluisa Espinoza was first told she would be going to the Geffen Playhouse with her classmates, she imagined an indoor playground with slides to ride down and swings to enjoy. She had never seen a live play before and didn’t even know what this place was. “I’d never been to plays. My family doesn’t go to them. Like me, they thought they died out. That’s what I thought…because of movies and everything we have now. When I went to go see Barbecue last year at the Geffen Playhouse, my first play ever, it blew my mind. The scenery, how good it looked…I couldn’t believe how real it was. Me and the other kids in my class had huge conversations about it on the bus ride home and for days after. I’ll never forget that.” Mariluisa connected to the plays in meaningful ways by relating the themes to her own life. Having experienced bullying growing up and not being one of the more popular kids at school, she especially connected to The Legend of Georgia McBride. She still
characters, everything. They must have gone through a lot. They may have been picked on. I can relate to that. I was bullied when I was younger and didn’t have any friends. It’s hard. I really related to that play…it was my favorite.” In addition to coming to see plays at the theater last season, Mariluisa got a lot out of her sessions with Geffen Playhouse Teaching Artists. One of her most memorable experiences with her Teaching Artists, Ms. Wright and Mr. Guerra, was writing a monologue in class, which she had never done before. “I remember I did this monologue. Everyone was writing personal stories about themselves, but I decided to spice it up. I made up a story of this guy who was in an insane asylum…and I remember writing something about how the universe cradles me. I really liked my monologue a lot. I even had a daydream that you guys at the Geffen wanted to perform my monologue on your stage, make it into a play. That would be so cool!”
Mariluisa is committed to going to college and wants to become a software engineer. She dreams of working for the company Crypton, which developed one of her favorite anime characters of all time. She
seeing plays at the Geffen has sparked her imagination, and she wants to use that creativity as a software engineer — creating new characters, games and virtual reality that will inspire other kids the way she’s been inspired.
feels that
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To the donors of the Geffen Playhouse: Thank you
so much for supporting theater and keeping it alive. My friends and I don’t see this very often. I’m very humbled and grateful to be able to go see plays. I appreciate you for helping to make this possible, and I hope everyone at my school gets the chance to
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experience this.
“Teaching artists
are the reason arts education programs have an impact. As artists
dedicated to educating others about an art form, they
results
turn programmatic intentions into
by guiding learners to engage with artworks, build knowledge, make meaningful personal connections
and express their own ideas. Geffen Playhouse Teaching Artists bring a wealth of expertise and passion to their work with our high school students. They empower students to work together as respectful ensemble members and excel as individuals. They help students get the most of out of the plays they see through carefully designed pre- and post-show sessions, give voice to their own experiences through writing and presenting monologues and scenes, and grow their critical thinking and communication skills as they share responses to the plays.
teaching artists model what it means to be open-minded, socially conscious, creative and caring community members.
Last but certainly not least, our
Because of your support,
the Geffen has been able to assemble a team of exemplary teaching artists who are committed to
We thank you on behalf of all the young people whose lives have been touched by these talented and generous human beings.
maintaining the quality and advancing the impact of our programming.
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— Jennifer Zakkai, Geffen Playhouse Director of Education & Community Engagement
Pictured left to right: Carissa Pinckney, Tecoyia Scott Littleton, Darien Battle, Robert Paterno, David Guerra, McKenna Kerrigan, Ramy El-Etreby, Celia Rivera, and Brian Allman.
Thank you for improving the lives and futures of youth who are living in some of los angeles’ most disadvantaged communities. Your generosity opened up a whole new world of possibility, creativity and life-long participation in the arts for each and every one of these young people.
1,000 high school students from public high schools across Los Angeles were able to participate in and benefit from the Geffen’s year-long High School Partnerships Program thanks to you including: Santee High School in South LA, Roosevelt Senior HIgh School in Boyle Heights, Jordan HIgh School in Watts, Van Nuys HIgh School and Westchester HIgh School.
the difference your generosity will make for youth who will participate in the Geffen playhouse Literacy project at Mendez High School
Thanks to you, Youth
living in an area of Los Angeles
where more than 50% of their peers drop out of high school, where less than 5% of the adults have a college degree and where over 60% of the adults have less than a high school degree
will Achieve this: Complete a year-long rigorous program (The Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project) through which they will develop solid skills in critical thinking, writing, and expressing their ideas that put them on a much more solid path to graduating from high school put them on a much more solid path to obtaining a higher education increase their understanding of their own strengths, humanity, potential and passions in life.
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When I started high schooI, I thought, I’m not going to pass these classes, I’m not going to graduate, but now with the help of this program it’s more
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like, ‘Oh, I can do it. I can make it.’ I believe in myself way more than I ever did before.
What The Literacy Project Is Not: Teaching youth how to read.
What it is: Helping youth discover, unlock and develop their critical thinking, creativity and writing skills — as well as their passion for the arts, for persistence, and for learning — through a year-long guided journey with plays, artists and expert writing coaches and a proven program the Geffen has built in collaboration with Mendez High School educators, the UCLA Graduate School of Education, and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.
19 17 18 11 9 16
10
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10. Emily Grijalva, Mendez High School Teacher; 11. David Guerra, Teaching Artist; 12. Heather Ward, UCLA Literacy Coach; 13. Cathy Coddington, Vital Research; 14. Zulema Sedano, Mendez High School Teacher; 15. Lois Clark, UCLA Literacy Coach; 16. Negretta Freeman, UCLA Literacy Coach; 17. McKenna Kerrigan, Teaching Artist; 18. Peter Olson, Mendez High School Teacher; 19. Robert Paterno, Teaching Artist.
What is the Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project?
through your support of the literacy project, Young people will gain: The opportunity to experience a season of plays at the Geffen Playhouse. Major time throughout the year with world-class teaching artists who help them discuss and respond to each play and who help them discover their own creativity and voices. Major time throughout the year with UCLA Literacy Coaches who will help them develop confidence and skills as writers, readers and thinkers. New levels of determination in their lives.
Wind in their sails from knowing that there are people out there who care about their lives and success. Time before each play to work in their classrooms with Geffen teaching artists.
Students In September: Gave few or no responses when asked a question.
Had zero to little confidence in their own thoughts about a play.
By the end of the year: Actively shared their ideas.
Responded to questions asking them to offer their own opinions and/or to provide evidence from a play to support their opinions.
With love & gratitude to
Adi & Jerry Greenberg
Weren’t willing to express their own thoughts about a play in front of the whole class.
Had very little ability to focus in the classroom.
Actively participated in meaningful and reflective discussions with their peers.
Had the ability to concentrate and focus significantly better.
Didn’t think they had the capacity to ever learn how to write.
Had new insights about themselves and their abilities.
Student writing was disorganized.
Students wrote essays that were thoughtful and coherent.
Student writing was simplistic.
Didn’t think they belonged at the Geffen Playhouse.
The details, depth and complexity of their writing increased significantly.
Now feel the Geffen (and the arts) are resources that they and their families have in their lives.
What the students want you to know:
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Before this program, I wasn’t able to write a paragraph. I would make
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them small. Now I know how to add evidence to my writing, and I can write whole essays.
Participating in theater activities (with the teaching artists) helped me understand the plays better. I learned to be less shy when participating in class. Before I was so shy to talk to people, but now this gave me confidence to express myself. I go in front of the whole class and present now!
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This gave me a
lot more confidence to finish high school.
This program made me realize that there is much more out there for me than just the bare minimum. I strive now for what is hard, but it is worth it.
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This program helped me become a lot more open-minded.
Thank you for what you made possible for so many young people like Valerie
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When I was in 10th grade, I was part of this program and I loved it and I loved the Geffen.
It’s been two years but I still remember every single play we saw — These Paper Bullets!, Outside Mullingar, Barcelona and Stage Kiss. The teaching artists helped us understand what the plays were about so we could really connect to them. These Paper Bullets! was my favorite because of the relationship between Ben and Beatrice, and I love rock music. Getting to see a play with a band playing music was a dream come true.
I get tears in my eyes when I think about my literacy coach Mr. Robins, because he helped me so much with my writing. Working with him also increased my confidence.
This year I am taking AP Literature, have a 4.1 average, and I am applying to four-year universities, including private ones like USC and Yale. I am determined to excel at whatever I do — schoolwork, sports and getting into a good college.
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I am so grateful the Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project was there to help me achieve my goals.
— Valerie, Senior, Mendez High School
to you from their principal:
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Thank you for all that you’ve done for our school and for our Boyle Heights community over the years. We are now in our sixth year with the Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project serving our entire 10th grade class. When we first piloted the program back in 2012, the students had no idea what to expect. They had never been to a theater before, they had never experienced the kind of intensive one-on-one coaching in writing and critical thinking before, and
they didn’t have high expectations for themselves as students. After five years of the Literacy Project on our campus, I have seen first-hand how the paradigm has shifted. Now, our 9th graders cannot wait to become 10th graders so they can participate in the Literacy Project. When they first enter the 10th grade, there’s now a heightened level of maturity and respect for one another that was not present in our 10th grade classes four or five years ago. This program has elevated students’ overall confidence and expectations of themselves as learners and leaders, so we now have more students choosing to take AP classes than ever before. This is extraordinary.
Over the past five years, our partnership with the Geffen Playhouse has played a huge role in not only improving students’ literacy skills and test scores, but also giving them a vision for a successful future beyond high school.
We’ve gone from a 52% graduation rate in 2012 to an 86% graduation rate in 2017. To me, those numbers speak volumes as to how our students’ motivation and determination to excel have grown year after year.
You’ve given our students rigorous academic, artistic and life experiences that are whole-heartedly changing how they see themselves in the world. Thank you for making all of this possible. —Mauro Bautista, Principal, Mendez High School, Boyle Heights
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to you from our partners at UCLA:
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I will never forget when I received a phone call from the Geffen Playhouse (almost seven years ago!), asking if I would participate in a series of strategy sessions with the theater’s leaders to help develop a brand new, high-level arts education and literacy program that had never been done before and that would deeply impact students in some of the most destitute, low-income neighborhoods of the city. The Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project was thus born, thanks to your extraordinary generosity and commitment to this organization and the communities it serves.
Our team at the California Reading & Literature Project at UCLA’s Center X is dedicated to providing high-quality, standards-based professional development in reading and language instruction to help ensure that every student, from Pre-K to 12th grade, achieves the highest standards of academic performance, regardless of what neighborhood they live in. We are grateful to work closely with the Education & Community Engagement team at the Geffen Playhouse year after year to help make this goal a reality.
Thank you for supporting this project and for giving our Literacy Coaches the opportunity to: • Coach 10th grade students in analyzing text, writing, revising and thinking critically •. Provide professional development to 10th grade English Teachers •. Develop rigorous literacy curriculum, in collaboration with the Geffen’s Education team, that uses the art of theater to inspire and challenge students
Your commitment to the arts, to the Geffen Playhouse, and to the youth of Los Angeles who are living in the most dire circumstances is beyond inspiring. We could not do this work without you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for enhancing the quality of education for these students, for engaging them in the arts and for helping them find suc-
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cess in their lives. Your gift is priceless.
—Shervaughnna Anderson-Byrd, Director, California Reading and Literature Project UCLA Graduate School of Education, Center X
from our partners at the partnership for Los Angeles Schools:
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On behalf of our entire staff and Board of Directors at Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, I wholeheartedly thank you for generously supporting the Geffen Playhouse education programs and partnerships with our high schools throughout the city. Our schools are among the highest-need in the entire Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Geffen's commitment the past six years to the students and teachers on each high school campus has been instrumental in helping our organization transform these learning communities throughout Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles.
We've seen graduation rates more than double (now at 81%), suspension rates significantly decrease, and major testing gains that are outpacing all other mid-to-large school systems in the entire state of California. We know that strategic partnerships with organizations like the Geffen Playhouse play a huge role in helping us achieve this kind of success for our students. For example, your Literacy Project has been instrumental in strengthening essay-writing skills and increasing ELA test scores well above the district average. Last school year, Partnership also recognized
As a loyal supporter of the Geffen Playhouse, you have helped make this powerful transformation at our high schools possible.
Geffen Playhouse as the Community Partner of the Year.
We cannot thank you enough for all that you've given the youth of Los Angeles who have, historically, been among the most underserved in the entire county. Thank you for believing in the power of the arts, the power of a high-
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quality education, and the great potential of these young minds - our future leaders.
—Joan Sullivan, CEO Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
One more story
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Just to share with you the amazing feedback that I got from one particular student that I spoke with at the Geffen Literacy Project culmination ceremony at Mendez...
What an extraordinary morning that ceremony is for the students and for all of us who are privileged to be there to witness it. After the joyous time in the school gym, and seeing their excitement, we went upstairs to some of the classrooms to hear them read their essays and hear them share some reflections on the season.
One student in particular really touched me deeply. She wrote an essay about her grandmother, who had raised her from the time she was a very young girl. Her mother had fallen into trouble, and was not around much, and her grandmother was everything to her. Her grandmother was not a very educated woman, she explained, and spoke little English having come from Mexico, but through her hard work and sacrifices, she was able to give her granddaughter the best life she could.
The young student suddenly stopped in the middle of her essay and could not continue through her tears. After the class, I approached her and asked if she was ok. She told me that she had gotten emotional because nobody in her family had ever completed high school, let alone gone to college. Due to the feedback and support that she had experienced, the first time after this course, she felt she could envision a chance to make it
Nobody had ever believed in her, besides her grandmother and for the first time in her life she was hopeful. This was the most heartto college.
warming and affirming message to me — that the work we do to support these kids is vital and must continue. Whether by the exposure they are getting to new art, the written word, or through the excellent mentoring of
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teachers and teaching artists seeking to help them further their education, this program MATTERS.
—Miranda Tollman, Chair, Geffen Playhouse Advisory Board
STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW IN COLLEGE, THANKS, IN LARGE PART, TO YOU
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really helped me the whole way through high school. I’m still using them now, as a student at UCLA. The program was so important to me. I’m tutoring at an after-school program in South Los Angeles
The writing techniques that the Geffen Playhouse literacy coaches taught us
right now to give back, and I know I want to keep working with kids!
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—Wendy, Mendez High School graduate who is now a 2nd year UCLA student majoring in Psychology
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I still remember all of the plays we went to see and the theater games and activities we did with the Geffen’s teaching artists. Thank you to the Geffen donors for making this program possible. If it weren’t for you all, we wouldn’t have
Because of the Geffen, I’m now going to see plays on the UCLA campus and concerts at
gone to the theater, wouldn’t have seen plays, and wouldn’t know that all of that even existed.
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Royce Hall. I wouldn’t be doing these things if the Geffen hadn’t introduced me to them in high school. Thank you!
— Maricsa, Mendez High School graduate who is now a 3rd year UCLA student majoring in Psychology
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What I remember the most about the Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project were the projects we did in class with our Teaching Artists before going to see all of the plays. It was definitely my first time to see plays, so I didn’t know what
It was cool that someone other than our teachers took the time to come teach us about something new we’d never seen before.
to expect.
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— Melissa, Mendez High School graduate who is now a 2nd year UCLA student majoring in Business Economics + Spanish
From mendez jaguar to ucla bruin, a student looks back on how the program helped
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I was in the Geffen Playhouse Literacy Project as a 10th grader at Mendez High School, about three years ago. My favorite play I saw was Choir Boy . . . it opened by eyes. It was really powerful for my school, too, and we talked about it a lot the whole year. I think theater is important because it’s another way to communicate about issues happening now.
The whole experience of having people come to our high school, the writing sessions, having a really cool, energetic Teaching Artist, the exposure of going to the plays at the theater… it was all so eye-opening. A lot of
I feel because of the Geffen’s donors, I was given the opportunity to experience so much. my friends (at other schools) didn’t have this.
I’ve been wanting to come back to the Geffen, now that I’m a student at UCLA! My classes are HUGE, and it’s interesting being in classes with a lot of kids who aren’t like me. I think I would have been too intimidated to talk to professors before because the classes are just so big…but I feel more prepared after going through a freshman
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summer course and also after being part of the Geffen Playhouse Program at Mendez.
— Mauro, Mendez High School graduate who is now a 1st year UCLA student majoring in English
on behalf of each and every young person who is now much more solidly on a path to higher education and to the life of their dreams because of your generosity, thank you.
the difference you will make to the young people and adults served through the Geffen’s Lights Up Program
Lights Up members experienced Ginnifer Goodwin and Allen Leech in Constellations.
Geffen Playhouse Education Director, Jennifer Zakkai (above far right), and Education Manager Carolyn Marie Wright (far left) welcome representatives of the 25 social sevice organizations and 3,500 individuals served through the Geffen’s Lights Up Program. These meetings train Group Leaders in how to prepare their constituents for each play as well as how to engage them in creative pre- and post-show discussions about each play.
why lights up? It’s outrageous that so many young people and adults who would benefit from the opportunity to experience and connect through live theater are completely shut out:
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Seniors who fell in love with theater at an earlier age, and had it in their lives for decades, but who have been forced to completely cut it out because they are economically strapped;
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Adults who have recently experienced serious medical challenges, such as having a leg or arm amputated, or having reconstructive surgery after a catastrophic war-inflicted injury, or living with HIV/AIDS — all of whom would profoundly benefit from experiencing stories of perseverance, love, acceptance and more;
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Young people on the verge of becoming adults, fighting hard for a chance at the American Dream by being the first in their family to attend college, yet who have never been more than a few miles outside of where they live, and who need to feel part of a larger community and to be jet-propelled by the mind-opening experiences theater has to offer.
Thanks to your generosity, thousands of young people, adults and seniors experienced a year’s worth of world-class theater at the Geffen Playhouse through our Lights Up Program.
Front Row: (L-R): Taline Hanna (Aviva Family & Children Service Center); Doris Johnson (Stop Senior Scams Acting Program); Sylvia Gremson (Felicia Mahood Senior Center). 2nd Row: (L-R): Carolyn Marie Wright (Geffen Playhouse); Joni Arlain (Holman UMC Arts Council); Adrienne Scanlon (Silvercrest Senior Center); Kathy Wolf (Silvercrest Senior Center); Alexis Lampo (UCLA student & Aviva Family & Children Service Center); Austin Merrill (UCLA Pathway); Crista Casillas (Pasadena City College Upward Bound Math and Science); Elena Ruddy (St. Monica Senior Ministries); Jennifer Zakkai (Geffen Playhouse); Barbara Harrison (St. Monica Senior Ministries). 3rd row (L-R): Chaplain Dov (Veterans Home of West Los Angeles); Adrienne Omansky (Stop Senior Scams Acting Program); Antoinette Edwards (Holman UMC); Naomi Ackerman (The Advot Project); Cynthia Singleton (Oasis Baldwin Hills); Audrey Greenberg (Santa Monica Emeritus College); Hanna Harris (Get Lit – Words Ignite); Craig Taylor (Being Alive).
The difference your generosity makes to seniors:
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I am so delighted that I do not forget the plays that I see at the Geffen Playhouse. They stimulate me and At my age it's difficult to remember everything but
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keep my mind engaged and active.
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Attending the incredible performances at the Geffen Playhouse is one of the great joys of my life. As a very low-income person I absolutely would not be able to experience the high-caliber live theatre performances as those provided via the Geffen’s Lights Up Program.
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We may be old and some of us somewhat feeble, but we are vital. Our passion for theater is a major source of this vitality. The Geffen’s Lights Up Program provides us with the opportunity to continue to enjoy one of life’s greatest pleasures.
As the Mastercard commerical says, “Priceless.”
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Thank you.
Lights Up participants experienced our production of The Legend of Georgia McBride, starring Matt McGrath and Andrew Burnap.
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My life and perspective have immensely changed since being able to participate in the Geffen’s Lights Up
It is difficult to describe how lonely and solitary I was before being a participant. Previously having been able to attend plays and concerts, I was lost without this privilege before this Lights Up Program. My life and independence have been enhanced 100%. I am indeed very grateful. Program.
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Our group's favorite performance of this season was The Legend of Georgia McBride — superbly performed by an incredible cast. This play was an outstanding tribute to
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the courage and willfulness that often tends to outcast individuals with different sexual orientations.
The benefits that the Geffen’s Lights Up Program brings to the community are tremendous.
It allows the
community to maintain a forward moving stance because opportunities are provided to the least likely individuals allowing them to keep abreast of what makes a community a community rather than remaining stagnant in its thinking and creativity. Without the Lights Up program, there is simply no other way that our group participants would be able to experience live theater at the high caliber available at the
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Geffen Playhouse.
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Many grateful hearts stand in awe of the Geffen Playhouse and
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very precious gift.
its incredible donors for this
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On behalf of our senior participants,
that you give.
I thank the Geffen’s Board and patrons for all
You enhance and brighten the lives of so many known and unknown recipients of your
generosity.
Our participants are over age 50 with some being well into their seventies and eighties. Their funds are extremely limited. Some have little or no socialization beyond their spiritual lives. Venturing outside of their immediate community is often rare. Those who are able to drive are reluctant or unable to drive at night. They do not feel safe to venture out alone using public transportation. This year under the Geffen’s Lights Up Program, we've
This has allowed our members to enjoy live theatre, something that most have not been able to do for many years.
been fortunate to attend matinee performances.
The meetings the Geffen gives to Lights Up Group Leaders to equip us with tools to engage our members in the
incredible in-person discussions with playwrights, directors, and staff for upcoming performances.
plays are exceptional. At each Lights Up meeting we were privileged with
The Study Guides are an invaluable asset that I give to our participants who have been amazed at the depth and insightfulness put into each document. As a result, each person is better informed and able to understand and appreciate the performances.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enjoy wonderful plays and participate in the engagement programs
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of the Geffen.
—Barbara Harrison, St. Monica Senior Ministries
Cherise Boothe and Rebecca Wisocky perform in Barbecue.
How your support helps open minds:
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I loved how the play, Barbecue, turned stereotypes on its head.
— Urban Possibilities group member
Seeing plays at the Geffen Playhouse has
shaped the way I think about events that have happened
— High School Student from Upward Bound
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in the world and has caught my attention in other areas I did not know about.
I have always been a pragmatist in the way I live my life. I often do not think about the artistic and focus more on the practical. However,
this changed when I saw plays at the Geffen Playhouse through the Lights Up
Program. This Program gave me a place where I could explore art. I thank the Geffen and its donors for the
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wonderful opportunity you all give us.
— High School Student from Upward Bound
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Thank you for inviting students from Upward Bound to be part of the Geffen Playhouse through your Lights Up Program.
I had never seen a play before going to the Geffen Playhouse and assumed it was something that only older people do. However, I was very mistaken. I recall the day we went to the Geffen Playhouse to watch the The Legend of Georgia McBride, written by Matthew Lopez. The play made me ponder on my values because it covered situations LGBTQ members face but in a scenario most wouldn't expect. I come from a traditional Mexican background where being a part of the LGBTQ community is frowned upon. I never either supported or opposed the choice, but after watching this play I understand that as long as you know you're happy with who you are, you should be proud. The play was important to me because it brings to light what most of society considers the topic of LGBTQ taboo and it connects with everyone no matter what your views are. Since I know a few people who are a part of this community it gave me a better understanding of what they may be going through.
All of the plays made me think and question things going on around me and what made it better was having my friends around to ask them their thoughts and opinions and being able to come up with possible meanings and answers to the hidden messages. It would be amazing if you continue inviting my program back. Although I'm not going to be able to attend these plays in the years to come since I am graduating from the Upward Bound Program, I am certain this would be a worthwhile experience for all the young people entering high school who are trying to find
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out who they are. I once again say thank you for so graciously inviting us to the Geffen Playhouse.
— Anthony Ramirez, High School Student and Upward Bound participant
Receiving a standing ovation for their performances in The Legend of Georgia McBride are Larry Powell, Nija Okoro, Andrew Burnap, Matt McGrath and Nick Searcy. Our production earned seven Ovation nominations, including Best Play!
Acclaimed actors Alfred Molina and Jane Kaczmarek helmed the cast of our production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, written by Eugene O’Neill and considered one of the finest American plays of the 20th century.
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My students are inner-city students, many of whom have not been out of the neighborhood or had the chance to see professional theatre. Their experiences are primarily from watching TV and movies. Their world is often an
seeing the humanity that permeates from your productions makes a profound difference.
ugly, violent place and
—Kelley Hogan, Professor,
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East Los Angeles College
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The high school students we serve are all from low-income families and they are all determined to go to college (as first generation college attendees). For all of these students, attending the plays is very meaningful. For most, this is their first experience venturing out of their communities, and witnessing a live performance. Our students share these rich experience with their families and friends. We know of program alumni who were so inspired that they completed their undergraduate degrees in performing arts and are coordinating plays in their communities.
What makes it so unique and rich is that the Geffen offers training through the Lights Up Meetings. This training helps us as educators truly appreciate the play and all the thought and expertise that goes into each one. The study guides help us have deep conversations with our students.
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This program makes a profound difference without a doubt. — Crista Casillas Upward Bound, Pasadena City College
How your support helps restore hope and lives:
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The biggest cost of being homeless is not losing your home or your possessions. It’s losing your belief in yourself. People describe themselves as if they are dead, walking around feeling dead inside. Our job is to help them change the way they think about themselves, to help them realize that they have worth, that they talented and valuable people, full of potential.
Getting away from Skid Row and coming to the Geffen gives them great hope. The Geffen’s plays are far more than entertainment for our students. They are a catalyst for personal empowerment and a window to a new world. Being welcomed through the Geffen Playhouse doors skyrockets self-esteem. After seeing Geffen plays, our students walk taller, stand prouder, and think in affirming ways.
A first-time theater goer who has lived through decades of abuse recently wrote,
‘This experience
gave me back a piece of my soul.’ Attending plays at the Geffen through your Lights Up Program is a critical part of our curriculum. It's a learning experience that is
vital to transforming lives in the Skid Row community.
Seeing plays at the Geffen is so much more than entertainment. It helps people get their lives back.
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Thank you to all who give to the Geffen and make so much possible.
—Eyvette Jones Johnson, Executive Diretor, Urban Possibilities
The stellar Icebergs cast included Nate Corddry, Rebecca Henderson, Keith Powell, Jennifer Mudge and Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Ovation-nominated as Best Featured Actor in a Play).
on behalf of each and every person who will be able to participate in the joy of theater arts because of your generosity, thank you.
The joy: • of experiencing first-hand the genius of a playwright or the awe-inspiring performance of an actor; • of experiencing that moment where you forget that you are even at a “play”; • of spending time with artists who want you to get as much as possible out of each play and who care about your responses to each play; • of expanding your mind through new ideas brought up by the play; • of challenging yourself to understand a point of view with which you disagree or had not thought of before; • of laughing; • of being with hundreds of others and going through something together; • of realizing that you are not alone; • of knowing that you are welcome at all times; • of knowing that this is your theater, too.
the difference your generosity makes to veterans
Thanks to the support and humanity of people like you, a select group of veterans each year are given the opportunity to learn how to write and perform their own stories from their military service. This past year, a group of nine brave veterans participated in the 4-month long series of Saturday workshops, and then blew away the audiences when they performed their stories, not once but twice on our Gil Cates Theater Stage.
L-R: Brian Majestic (US Marine Corps), August Dannehl (US Navy), Alan Takagi (US Army), Michael Bankston (US Army), Laticia Willie (US Marine Corps), Robert Michael Deville (US Marine Corps), Michael Williamson, (US Marine Corps), Karen Vasquez (US Navy), and Melissa Ritz (US Air Force).
When Laticia Willie faced sexism in the military workplace, an elderly, quiet civilian was the “she-ro� who took a courageous stand on her behalf, after others had counseled her to ignore the mistreatment or looked the other way.
What the veterans would like you to know:
“ “ “
Thank you for supporting this program, and for giving us a space to share our stories. I've been wanting to
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share my story for over 10 years, but didn't know where or how to do it. I'm so grateful.
Being able to reflect, write, then share my story was a
highlight of my life. To be permitted to tell my
story on such a prestigious stage as the Geffen's really showed me how much the donors, theater, and community
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care about veterans and our stories.
There is such a gap between what the public thinks of vets, and what we really are. This project taught me to build a bridge across the gap. There was something
I would like the donors to know how grateful I am to have the program.
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so healing about it for me.
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I intend to spend my life bringing the arts to vets (and vice versa) and this project has inspired me to do better and that the mission has validity. It is so important that we are able to communicate these stories and articulate them in
WILL save lives and make countless lives better in the veteran community. I thank you for making this show possible!
our own voice. It's something that
”
As Karen Vasquez drew upon her passion and skills as a manicurist to paint ships in the Navy, the lack of proper protective equipment while working with toxic chemicals left her with an autoimmune disease that affects her hands, feet and organs. The humor that infused her poignant tale is a testament to her resilience.
What those in the audience would like you to know:
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Seeing this was
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one of our best-ever theater experiences.
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I was blown away.
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A spectacular experience...moving...funny...heartfelt… eye-opening.
I loved their humor, their honesty and their courage.
fearlessly providing an evening that was captivating and inspirational. As I told my wife after the
I admire and applaud each person’s skills in both writing and performing and for
performance, this is what live theater is all about...
The greatest thing about their stories was
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the truth of their voices.
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about themselves, in a very personal way. Mesmerizing.
They were really telling us
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I laughed, cried, and was
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amazed at the bravery on and off the battlefields.
their courage to share intimate stories about their experience in the military.
I acknowledge
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To me, this is theater at its best: honest, real and thought-provoking.
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The performances moved me to laughter and tears.
I'm sure it took a lot of courage
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to stand up in front of everyone to tell their stories.
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One of the best theater-going experiences I've ever had.
It was
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a very rewarding experience to have attended.
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I was inspired by their stories of courage and persistence.
In his portrait of the interpreter he befriended while deployed in Iraq, Michael Bankston showed how he and “Adam� bonded deeply while enjoying each other’s company and discovering they shared similar values about serving their countries. Since Adam disappeared and then was found executed by Iraqi citizens who likely considered him a traitor for assisting U.S. troops, Michael felt moved to honor Adam as a hero, by telling his story.
Growing up on the bayous of Alabama, Robert Deville was inspired by his father to persevere in the face of all challenges — “Get back on it!” — as life took him from the segregated South, to the Marine Corps and all the way to his life and work in California.
100% of the guests in the audience reported that the performance increased their understanding of
the value in helping veterans uncover stories of resilience, hope, and support in their lives.
88% of the audience reported that they learned something new about veterans.
86% said the performance changed their understanding of veterans’ experiences.
100%
reported that the performance
increased their understanding of the value in helping veterans develop their skills and strengths as writers and performers.
98%
reported that the performance
inspired them to help veterans. 100% of veterans in the audience said the performance was moving to them.
mission continues fellow joins geffen family
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When I met Ramon Garcia in 2016, I knew he would bring something special to the Geffen Playhouse. He had an eagerness to learn, not just theater itself but the purpose behind the art, why we were choosing to create it, and how each play was impacting our community. Ramon grew up in Miami in a neighborhood of lowerincome immigrant families. His father was brought here as an unaccompanied minor as part of Operation Peter Pan. Ramon decided as a young boy that he would take an untraditional path in life – he wanted to operate in the intelligence community. The Army offered him multiple top-secret clearances upon successful completion of its Counterintelligence Agent Program. He was on the verge of graduating when 9-11 happened, which lead to eight years of counter intelligence deployments. “I was on a Tactical HUMINT team that deployed to the least developed countries to assist foreign nationals, prioritizing their needs and communicating this to Washington. I became a better person because I got to experience different cultures first-hand by living in remote villages. I went through 29 countries throughout six combat tours, but spent the most time in Afghanistan and Iraq. The people of Afghanistan were so embracing and loving. We embraced their aboriginal culture which was so different from ours. They threw parties for us every day because they saw us as liberators. They wanted to celebrate and thank us for helping to bring back art and music again. One of my proudest moments of comradery was when a tribal leader refused payment for his role in a successful mission. He told me that friendship based on money is temporary, but one established without it is forever and that he would
always consider me as one of his brothers.” Ramon worked for three more years as a forward deployed analyst out of the National Ground Intelligence Center in Virginia. He found himself back in the same small village in Afghanistan, reuniting with tribal leaders. While he saw advancements for U.S. military camps, he was saddened by the lack of progress that had taken place for the people of the village. “The military camps seemed to have everything they needed, but there was still a mile long line of children who would wait all day, literally, to fill one bucket of water at the well to take back to their families. I reunited with my Afghan Brothers who were now leaders in the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command. They had lost the indigenous traits of their distinguished heritage and wore US Army uniforms. Their primary interests were now to position themselves into the lucrative corporate endeavors of the newly established Afghan government. I saw how our original intentions weren’t fulfilled, and I realized I needed to get out. I actually remember that day in Afghanistan, March 23, 2006, when I ordered a brand new video camera and Final Cut Pro and decided I was going to learn how to use them. I want to tell stories based on my experiences in Southwest Asia.” President Obama’s GI service bill offered three years of free college tuition which Ramon took advantage of while attending the Los Angeles Film School, Video Symphony and The Art Institute of California. Ramon shared his military stories with the Writers Guild Foundation, worked on projects for Disney, Paramount, PBS, We Are the Mighty, and eventually joined the Mission Continues Organization in 2016. Through the Geffen’s partnership with Mission Continues, he spent his six-month fellowship working in our development and marketing departments.
We learned so much from the unique perspectives he brought to our organization, which all stemmed from his diverse roles serving in the military and traveling the world to help people. He was such a superstar during his Mission Continues fellowship that the Geffen Playhouse has now hired him as a permanent staff member! We’ve never before had an in-house videographer or editor who can help us capture the impact of our art on the community. This has opened up new opportunities for us to use online media to strengthen communication with our long-time patrons and engage new audience members in meaningful ways, improving the overall vision, visibility and growth of our organization. He is invaluable…and you have made it all possible.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to bring such a talented, creative, thoughtful, compassionate soul onto our staff. He is helping us transform how we engage with
”
humanity in ways we had only dreamed of.
—Jessica Brusilow Rollins, Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations, Geffen Playhouse
Jessica and Ramon
Thank you for making so much possible for so many veterans, for their families, and for us all.
Pictured left: Veterans rehearse in the Gil Cates Theater with Project Artistic Director April Fitzsimmons, Project Alum and Assistant Hermie Castillo, stage manager Kristen Osborn and Geffen Education Team members Jennifer Zakkai and Carolyn Marie Wright.
the impact of your support on college students
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The Practicum provided by the Geffen, at the Geffen, fueled my love for all aspects of theater. Truly every guest lecturer from the Geffen introduced information that I did not previously know. Being able to learn from the experiences of theater professionals
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and to create a relationship with the people at the Geffen was invaluable.
Charles E. Young (left) with Geffen Playhouse Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr.
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To the most exceptional Geffen Playhouse donors: Thank you for your philanthropic investment in our cultural future. Because you donate, thousands of UCLA students experience meaningful, thought-provoking theater at the Geffen Playhouse during their most formative years.
Due to your belief in the importance of the arts, these students have access to high-quality arts education opportunities both by viewing and analyzing plays on the Geffen stage, but also through master classes run by exceptional Geffen Playhouse arts teachers on the UCLA campus.
Moreover, due to your support, these students are given professional theatrical employment and internship opportunities at the Geffen Playhouse.
I am proud to have discussed these ideals with my great friend, Gil Cates, when we first envisioned the UCLA-related theater which is now known as the Geffen Playhouse. On behalf of his memory, the Geffen Board, and the greater UCLA community, thank you for your incomparable generosity, without which this inspiring institution would not exist.
Onward and upward with the next generation of great arts leaders and compassionate thinkers. —Charles E. Young
”
Chancellor Emeritus, UCLA Chairman Emeritus, Geffen Playhouse Geffen Playhouse Board Member for 22 years and counting
Thank you for making all of this possible for UCLA students: A Professional Theater Practicum — a 10-week course for credit that gives students a detailed understanding of what it takes to run a non-profit, LORT B Regional Theater.
College Nights at the Geffen — college students are invited to attend pre-show receptions, access discounted tickets, and attend exclusive post-show Talk Backs with the artists on stage.
Master classes with world-class actors, playwrights and directors who are part of Geffen Playhouse productions during the year.
Resume-building professional internships in directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, acting, stage management, production management, lighting, sound, public relations, arts education, development, marketing and more. (To date, 250+ UCLA students have interned at the Geffen.)
Special access to the art on stage. Complimentary tickets to dress rehearsals and preview nights, low-cost tickets to all other regular Gil Cates main stage shows, invitations to special readings and workshops of new plays, and performance space for showcases. (Annually, more than 2,500 UCLA students attend performances at the Geffen, thanks to your generosity.)
Employment. At least 25 students a year are employed by the Geffen in positions that give them paid, resumebuilding experiences as members of our Production, Front of House, Box Office and other teams.
your generosity helps make a 10-week, fully-credited class possible
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The Geffen Playhouse UCLA Practicum course, now in its fourth year, has been an exciting addition to the list of ways our students can get involved at the Geffen and learn about theater in a creative, real-world environment
Together, we provide a vibrant, one-of-a-kind education for our students — the next generation of theater leaders.
that exists outside of the university.
Thank you to the Geffen Playhouse for offering these incomparable learning experiences to our students. Thank you for your collaboration and for sharing your passion and expertise about each area of the theater.
You have infused each student with a real entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring them to dive into their classes, their jobs and their art forms with abandon.
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With gratitude to your donors for making this partnership possible. —Brian Kite, Chair Department of Theater UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
your generosity helps college students experience and fall in love with live theater
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For me, theater is usually a very, very rare experience. Its cost usually puts it far out of my mind as an affordable way to spend an afternoon or evening. To be so close to actors, to be able to feel their energy, it’s such an amazing
It’s so different from a book or film; it turns on different parts of your brain. It's great. Thank you for allowing students like myself this unique chance to be inspired and influenced by such amazing art and storytelling. experience.
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“
I know a lot of people at UCLA who had not attended shows at the Geffen before, but with the free tickets for college students, funded by Geffen donors, they were able to experience incredible shows, and
are now
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motivated to come back and do student rush for more performances. —Anonymous UCLA student
A UCLA student is greeted by Quinn Francis, a recent graduate of UCLA who is now working at the Geffen as our Outreach Coordinator.
Thanks to donations from you and others, college students were able to experience plays like ACTUALLY, a world premiere production at the Geffen that starred Jerry MacKinnon and Samantha Ressler.
student responses to being able to see the play, actually at the geffen:
“ “ “
Being a college student, (consent) is a hot button topic that a lot of people talk about, and it's an important issue
I've never seen it explored like this; laid out, with all of its complexities.
that impacts many college students.
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Wow. With ACTUALLY, I felt like I was able to be alive through theater, and to explore a journey that couldn't be told as powerfully through any other medium.
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I'm quite familiar with Title IX, as our schoolwide education is quite thorough about things like this, but it was
The play allowed us to explore questions that we're too afraid to ask. It peeled back the layers and left a
moving to see it presented in a way that was so engaging and powerful.
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raw mark. I was very moved by the play, and afterwards sat with my friend in a deep conversation about it.
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touched a part of my heart that hasn't felt this strongly about something in years. Without
I am so lucky that I was able to see ACTUALLY. It made me feel something, and it
the kindness and generosity of others, this is something that I wouldn't have been able to experience. I am so
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grateful to have had this eye-opening experience.
your generosity helped make quality time with world-class artists possible for UCLA Students
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‘You wanna write a good song? Write what you don’t want other people to know about you. You wanna write a GREAT song? Write what you don’t wanna know about yourself.’
This was told to me by a songwriting teacher, and
something I shared with the UCLA
students during the songwriting masterclass I taught, on my day off from performing THE LION at the Geffen. I love teaching as much as I love writing; it’s another kind of performance, another kind of sharing that which is urgent. Songwriting is an art of leaving things out. It’s also an art of character-development, motivic development,
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humor, rhyme, three-act structure. All in two minutes. With a catchy tune.
— Benjamin Scheuer, American songwriter, performer and playwright.
He wrote and performed in The Lion, a one-man musical and Drama Desk Award winner. During his sold-out performances of the Geffen’s production of The Lion, he took time out during the day to teach a master class in songwriting at UCLA.
Regina and Annika
your generosity helps us secure outstanding and heaven-sent interns
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I can’t imagine the Geffen Playhouse surviving and
I often hear our Development Team speaking about
existing without the energy and contributions of
Annika as if she were on the staff already, and I often
outstanding young people like Annika Patton.
wonder, ‘How did we get so lucky?’ How did we get this
She had just barely started her freshman year at
young person, who has so much going on in her life with
UCLA when she walked over to the Geffen and asked if
school and other passions, willing to come here, twice a
she could volunteer. We imagined that we’d see her
week and become an essential member of our team and
once or twice a month, and that she’d be here just for
our work?
“the fun stuff” like Opening Nights and other events. Boy, were we wrong. Religiously, twice a week, Annika comes in for four
Annika just shrugs when we bring it up. And then she blurts out something eloquent like this: ‘Theater is so needed right now, and more important than ever. We
hours, no matter how many term papers or tests she has
need empathy and theater has a power to unlock a
due the next day, and dives into the million and one
wonderful energy and connection between us, reminding
projects we throw at her like pulling together urgently-
us that we are all human and have a variety of human
needed research for a grant application, or combing
experiences.’
through hundreds if not thousands of surveys submitted
We want to thank UCLA for sharing incredible
by students served through our Education Programs to
young people like Annika Patton with us. We want to
find trends in their responses and needs. She puts as
thank Annika and all of the volunteers who play a role in
much attention and thought into these projects as she
keeping our nonprofit theater alive and well, quietly
does in helping us with the tedious but essential office
behind the scenes. They are fundamentally
work that most volunteers (and even staff members)
us all.
would love to run far away from, at all costs.
”
— Regina Miller, Chief Development Officer, Geffen Playhouse
a gift to
What you make possible for the next generation: An even deeper appreciation for the arts and for the generations before them who have supported and championed the arts
One-of-a-kind time with one-of-a-kind artistic geniuses
The joy of being part of a theater, no matter what a student’s background, age, or major is
Quality job opportunities, internships and classes
Thank you Students from UCLA’s Pathway Program gained internships and jobs as Front of House Team Members through your genersoity
2
3
1
4
Geffen Playhouse Education & Community Engagement Team 1 Jennifer Zakkai, Director 2 Carolyn Marie Wright, Manager 3 Brandon Drea, Assistant 4 Jessica Brusilow Rollins, Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations
With gratitude to all of the artists
Nija Okoro takes the microphone from Andrew Burnap to answer questions from students after a special student matinee performance of The Legend of Georgia McBride.
Our thanks to every one of these artists: for everything they gave to support our Education & Community Engagement Programs including adding performances during the week for youth, and giving the students the opportunity to ask questions after each performance — A PRICELESS GIFT!!! Anna Ziegler
Samantha Ressler
Jerry MacKinnon Cherise Boothe
Robert O’Hara
Colman Domingo
Travis Johns
Tyne Rafaeli
Alena Smith
Dale Dickey
Elyse Mirto
Frances Fisher
Heather Alicia Simms
Lucas Near-Verbrugghe
Jennifer Mudge
Rebecca Wisocky
Yvette Cason
Kimberly Hebert Gregory
Omar J Dorsey Keith Powell
Nate Corddry
Randall Arney
Rebecca Henderson
Alfred Molina
Jane Kaczmarek
Angela Goethals
Jeanie Hackett
Colin Woodell
Estate of Eugene O’Neill Stephen Louis Grush
Benjamin Scheuer
Sean Daniels
Andrew Burnap
Paul McGill
Larry Powell
Nija Okoro
Matt McGrath
Allen Leech
Ginnifer Goodwin
Matthew Lopez
Mike Donahue
Nick Searcy
Giovanna Sardelli
Nick Payne
with appreciation to you from the board of the geffen
Howard Tenenbaum Patricia Kiernan Applegate Chair
Secretary
Robert A. Daly
Merle Dandridge
Beth Behrs
Dr. Gene D. Block
Kevin Bright
Harold A. Brown
Gil Cates, Jr.
Michael Centeno
Executive Director
Dr. Brad Edgerton
Mark Fleischer
Sue Fleishman
David Geffen
Herbert M. Gelfand
Mary Ann Cloyd
Patricia L. Glaser
Sam Gores
Martha Henderson
Quincy Jones
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Glorya Kaufman
Chair Emeritus
Ginny Mancini
Frank G. Mancuso
Victoria Mann Simms
Barry Meyer
Loretta Everett Kaufman
Jason Delane Lee
Dr. Gerald S. Levey
Carla Malden
Jerry Moss
Steven A. Olsen
Ron Meyer
B. Scott Minerd
Leslie Moonves
Linda Bernstein Rubin
Teri Schwartz
Matt Shakman
Steve Tisch
Marc Weinstock
Chair Emeritus
Jerry Perenchio
Bruce Ramer
Holly Rice
Pamela Robinson
(In Memoriam)
Founding Chair
Education Chair
Chair Emeritus
Steven Spielberg
Lorraine Spurge
Fred Specktor
Cynthia P. Stafford
Richard Sherman
Artistic Director
Dr. Charles E. Young Chair Emeritus
Adi Greenberg Vice Chair
Chair Emeritus
Arthur Greenberg
Kirsten Combs
Treasurer
Crystal Zehetner
Andy Spahn
Susan Mallory
and from our advisory board:
Miranda Tollman
Ali M. Banki
Natasha Barritt
Annette Blum
Stephanie Carson
Lori Collins
Ellyce R. Cooper
Eric Heer
Melina Kanakaredes
Wendy Kurtzman
Yvonne Lee
Hannah Linkenhoker
John McCrite
Debra Davis
Ann Gianopulos
Priscila Giraldo
Chair
Kirsten Hansen
Danny Passman
Eric Rollins
Allen Shay
We are a non-profit organization John Sonego
Laurie Ziegler
dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Los Angeles through plays and educational programs that inform, entertain and inspire.
We are very proud of our formal affiliation with UCLA, including our partnerships with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and the UCLA Graduate School of Education.
We are also very proud to be a Four-Star Charity, receiving the highest possible rating for fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities.
Special Thanks to Jeff Lorch, Jeff Lorch Photography for his outstanding contributions to this report and to the mission and programs of the Geffen Playhouse.
To you from our Board education Chair, Holly Rice You may have seen the articles coming out recently from scientists who have been studying the benefits of “awe.” According to UC Berkeley scientist Dacher Keltner,
Because of you, young people growing up in some of Los Angeles’ most soul-crushing neighborhoods experienced the awe of theater arts and artists for the
“Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of
first time in their lives. Because of you, young people
something vast, something that transcends our current
attending schools where arts programs have been
understanding of things. People often talk about awe as
slashed finally discovered what the arts can bring to
seeing the Grand Canyon or meeting Nelson Mandela.
their lives and communities. Because of you, youth who
But our studies show it can also be much more
were hanging on by a thread in school gained the skills,
accessible — a friend is so generous you are astounded,
motivation, belief in themselves and grit to graduate
or you see a cool pattern of shadows and leaves.”
from high school. Because of you, youth who barely
Awe is now thought to be a basic part of being human
believed they would make it though 10th grade are now
that we all need. According to the research, awe helps us
enrolled in AP classes. Because of you, youth who have
see things in new ways. Awe helps shift our thinking from
never been west of Downtown LA or more than a few
me to we. Awe binds us together. Awe makes us nicer,
miles out their neighborhoods not only got to visit
and happier. Awe can be healing.
another part of the world, they now understand that they
The youth of Los Angeles — especially those living in
are part of a much larger community — a community
areas of high poverty, crime and other oppressive
that cares about and believes in their success. Because
circumstances — need to experience awe in their lives,
of you, thousands of disadvantaged youth, seniors,
perhaps more than any of us. They need to experience
veterans and adults experienced first-hand the genius of
the awe of human creativity, the awe of artistic mastery,
a playwright or the awe-inspiring performance of an
the awe of feeling that a large group cares deeply not
actor.
only about their immediate well-being, but also about their futures. I assure you that the youth who were part of the Geffen this past year because of your generosity
Thank you for investing in the youth and adults we serve and in the power of the arts to connect us all to much higher levels of hope, humanity, opportunity, insight, joy, success and — awe.
experienced a great deal of awe — the positive kind of awe — including the one-and-only awe that comes from experiencing art and the compassion of strangers.
— Holly Rice, Geffen Board Member & Education Chair
Holly Rice with Geffen Executive Director, Gil Cates, jr. and Education Director, Jennifer Zakkai.
With love and gratitude to you and yours, from your fans and family at the Geffen Playhouse
With love and gratitude to
Jerry Perenchio December 20, 1930 - May 23, 2017
An Angel from Above who was with us from day one, helping to lift this organization up from a dream of a few to a treasured place of art and humanity for all of us, and for generations to come. Founding Trustee of the Geffen Playhouse in 1994. Served for over 23 years. Forever in our hearts. Forever a large part of the soul and success of the Geffen Playhouse.
onward and upward with the arts!