Geffen Playhouse

Geffen Playhouse is a relatively small theater venue. It is just perfect to attend a show there with friends and family. Prices vary by show and seating area. But, really, I can't imagine a bad seat here. It's located within walking distance to do many wonderful Westwood restaurants. We saw Noises Off and it was hysterical. The actors were so talented. And at times, each one of the small cast individually carried the show. Literally every one of the actors was impressive. Some of our favorite parts were superbly choreographed scenes of slapstick physical comedy. The theater warned of sexually explicit content but I didn't think there was anything offensive. Maybe a few F-bombs but that's it. The atmosphere is for everybody. There were people of all ages, teenagers to seniors. And everything from jeans to cocktail attire. You can bring in your purchased drinks and that's nice. The play was 2 hours 30 minutes with two intermissions. The seats are comfy for a small theater. The lobby walls are lined with posters of past shows and it's something you'll want to see! The staff is always friendly and super helpful. The restrooms are clean and spacious. Highly recommended to anyone interested in live theater whether it's your first time or you're seasoned.

The Geffen was a lovely theatre and the seats were actually comfortable as well! We saw the recent production of Noises Off. We will definitely keep an eye on going to more shows there! FYI the parking structure they recommend that’s right next to the theatre is a little difficult to walk back into from the show, takes awhile to get through the line to pay for your ticket on only two little machines that are only on level 2, the elevator didn’t go to our specific floor so we had to get out and take the stairs, and takes a long time to drive out of when everyone is leaving. I would not necessarily recommend parking in that parking structure.

We absolutely love seeing plays at the Geffen. Ita always nice and clean. The shows are always great and they have some amazing cookies for sale in the lobby. A must for anyone who loves the arts!

We have been to many plays at the Geffen Playhouse throughout the years. It’s a beautiful theater with a nice outdoor patio. We like to get there early to look around.

I saw "Noises Off!" At the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. The set was amazing and provided lots of ways for the cast to enter and exit. The play was hilarious!! I would highly recommend going to see this show! The Geffen is a lovely theatre with excellent site lines even from the back row in the balcony! Not a bad seat in the house!

This an amazing venue to watch a show or play! I just saw the riveting Power of Sail featuring Bryan Cranston and it was absolutely phenomenal. The atmosphere of the theater made the play come to life and the lighting and set designs were top-notch! This venue has a bar, clean restrooms and a courtyard where you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with a light snack. The staff here are very professional, well-mannered and friendly! You must visit this theater and enjoy everything it has to offer, I’ll be coming back soon!

We saw the play The Inheritance and had an absolutely lovely time. The theater is charming, comfortable and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The concession area is very good, and the outdoor patio area is a lovely place to mingle with other guests. The play was incredible, with lessons that transcend generations, orientation and heritage. A touching storytelling of the human experience.

Playhouse with 2 different stages inside. Came here on a Sunday at 7pm to see Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and had a fantastic experience. There’s paid lot parking ($20 at the Ralph’s) or you can try finding street parking (free after 8pm). Masks were required and enforced regardless of vaccination status. The restrooms were in the back far right, and there were two water fountains. During intermission, note that the entire restroom will blackout during the 5 minute and 2 minute warning. There’s a small outdoor patio for people to enjoy their drinks. Inside, the seats were comfier than I was expecting. The theater was intimate and the view from Row N was still very close to the stage.

Attending the Geffen Playhouse's recent staging of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, even from the farthest reaches of the mezzanine, proved to be an utterly transformative experience. Directed with keen precision and profound sensitivity, this production of Beckett's masterpiece reminded us why his work endures as one of the cornerstones of modern theater. The cast delivered performances of staggering depth and nuance, imbuing Beckett's existentially fraught dialogue with a humanity that was as devastating as it was darkly humorous. Their command of the stage was such that even from our distant seats, we felt the full weight of their yearning, despair, and fleeting hope. Bravo to the Geffen Playhouse for their bold and masterful revival of Beckett's Waiting for Godot. This was an evening of theater that left us profoundly moved, both by its artistic excellence and its enduring message. It was a performance that not only honored Beckett's legacy but also reminded us of the importance of living authentically, regardless of the waiting.

Went to see Waiting for Godot last Saturday'. Not only was the audience rude the staff didn't know what they were doing. When arriving I was told to go to a certain section to find my seat and it was on the other side of the playhouse. I sat next to a lady who wouldn't cover her mouth after coughing. I then asked for a new seat and 5 minutes later I was escorted back to the very same seat I had just given up. When I asked for a refund I was given a run around from one staff member to another. What a shabby operation

I managed to see Dragon Lady before the run ended. I grabbed one of the lower priced seats ($45 was the lowest and then $77 and $100+). Let me tell you, there is not a bad seat in the house. I sat on the orchestra, stage right. The theater is small enough where someone who has a slight stigmatism like me, can still see the performance on stage. The sound system is crisp and the acoustics are good. Gorgeous venue from the courtyard to the house. Comfortable chairs with ample room from the person you are sitting next to. Audience for the most part, can dress casual to cocktail evening wear. Overall, I enjoy this venue and am so thrilled that they are featuring diverse stories. I am for sure keeping my eye out on their yearly schedule and may even consider getting a subscription.

First timer at the Geffen and it's a really beautiful playhouse, especially with the outdoor courtyard and nice decor inside which houses a bar for drinks and snacks and the founders room. Parking is right next door which is $6 flat fee after 5pm. We arrived right at that time and there was plenty of parking. Since we had 3 hours before the play, it allowed time to stroll around to UCLA, visit the Hammer and eat at CAVA nearby. Haven't been to a two person play in a while but the dialogue, storyline, and acting did not disappoint and issues discussed such as racial disparities in birthing outcomes, premies, and your medical decision making will certainly have you thinking about them afterwards. Highly recommend coming here for some top notch theater!

So cute!! I will definately see a play here again. Yes seats are expensive but it's a high quality play in the intimate environment that you would expect from a community play

I liked that it was a small, beautiful venue. However, the seats are not comfortable and you feel squished. We saw Fat Ham and thought it was really entertaining.

I've been to a LOT of theaters in my life, and this is one of my favorites. The theaters are cozy and special attention was clearly paid to layout, so no seat is a bad seat. The productions are top notch, with talented playwrights and terrific actors. The bar area is beautiful, and the courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy a pre-theater drink with friends before the show. Parking is plentiful and easy. We park for $6 on Sunday evenings at the lot next door (owned by UCLA). This enables us to enjoy dinner in Westwood Village and see a great production afterward, all with one parking hassle. The only downside is that the steady stream of people walking out after the show can make it challenging to get out of the parking lot, but we manage. It's fine. I highly recommend subscribing to shows here. Subscriber services are terrific, the staff is wonderful, and I've always been able to switch dates without a problem when I have a scheduling conflict.

Playhouse with 2 different stages inside. Came here on a Sunday at 7pm to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and had a fantastic experience. There's paid lot parking ($20 at the Ralph's) or you can try finding street parking (free after 8pm). Masks were required and enforced regardless of vaccination status. The restrooms were in the back far right, and there were two water fountains. During intermission, note that the entire restroom will blackout during the 5 minute and 2 minute warning. There's a small outdoor patio for people to enjoy their drinks. Inside, the seats were comfier than I was expecting. The theater was intimate and the view from Row N was still very close to the stage.

There are always good vibes when visiting this venue. We were able to park nearby and catch a recent powerful play. The atmosphere was chill as we waited for the doors to open. The seats were pretty comfortable and the restrooms were very clean. They were very organized with the structure of safety protocols and everyone on the staff was so friendly. We had great seats and were able to see and hear the cast clearly. The performances were amazing and all transitions were smooth. It was eye-opening to see all settings within the play performed on just one stage with seamless execution. We are excited to see what is in store in the months to come!

Finally, I made it here! Cute decor, intimate setting, great sound. There really isn't a bad seat. Caught the incredible play The Mountaintop, both actors were phenomenal, and the Geffen was the perfect place to host it. I'll definitely be back.

We've always enjoyed going here and have considered getting a season pass. The Geffen and Pasadena Playhouse always has a good line up. I do wish younger folks go to plays and to these playhouses to make sure they never close down. As for the Geffen? Love the decorations outside by the fountain. Tickets are not too expensive and the quality of the work presented is well worth it. Recently watched The Inheritance Part 1&2. That was the shortest 7hrs I spent in a Playhouse. ;-)

I will start by saying this theatre was extremely effective in terms of its procedures. Being welcomed by friendly staff, who clearly stated the necessary Covid-19 related rules. We waited in the beautiful patio before the show, and about 10 minutes before showtime made our way to our seats. The show itself--Power of Sail--was interesting and thought provoking. It was an absolute honor to see Bryan Cranston perform live, and the entire cast was stellar. I was amazed by the set, the transitions, and the professionalism of the stage crew. My issues with the show were not rooted in the performances, but rather the script and generalizations and caricatures the actors were asked to play. Those in my group of 4 all had different takeaways from the show, and while the impressions and opinions were varied, it led to wonderful discussion. As bonus treat, we waited outside the entrance doors for about half an hour with some very friendly staff members and were able to meet the cast--this is called "stage dooring" for those unfamiliar with this practice. We came specifically to see Bryan Cranston in Power of Sail, but another great show will likely draw us back in after this experience.

" Was here to see Daniel K. Isaac in "Every Brilliant Thing." Amazing show, wonderful space, talented actor! Our first time at the Geffen. Not a bad seat in the house! Can't wait to be back! " Quoting a Sept 18 review verbatim. Hard to capture Isaac's warmth, spontaneous brilliance and ceaseless ability to draw in the audience and make them feel part of the play. Nothing like theater in the round.

My friend invited me to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf during previews in April. It was our first time seeing a play here and we decided to be in Westwood by 3:30 p.m. to avoid risking being late due to traffic. The playhouse is literally across the street from UCLA and there's a parking garage right next to the playhouse off Le Conte and Westwood Plaza which is where we parked and they validated parking. If you're going to see Virginia Wolf I believe they are still checking for vaccine cards and also you must wear a mask the entire time you're there. The theater is really nice inside as it reminds me of a theater you would find in a English village? It use to be a Masonic Lodge and it still has that vibe to it. I would say it's a medium sized theater, the seats are comfortable and there are plenty of stalls in the restroom so you can make it back in time before intermission ends. The staff are all very efficient and polite and there is a bar in the lobby. We sat dead center, front row and I can tell you, there were a few times where I thought Calista Flockhart was going to land on us. They "smoke" cigarettes in this play and I'm sure they're fake but they still emitted the burnt nicotine smell. Also, Zachary Quinto threw a flower at me; that's my story and I'm sticking to it. This play is THREE HOURS with two intermissions, but the play was so good the time went by so fast. After the play everyone left to get their parking ticket scanned in the parking structure and there wasn't a huge line to exit, everyone got out fairly easily. Definitely a cool theater to see a play in!

I have been to the Geffen Playhouse several times over the past 15 years. There are two theaters, a medium size main room and a smaller theater. I like them both. The brick courtyard with ivy reminds be of Europe. The small bar in the foyer is always staffed with friendly help. The smaller theater does have tighter seating than the main theater, but I have never felt like it took away from the experience. There are multiple parking garages within a block of the theater. The selection of shows, many with big name talent is impressive. I love this place.

I love the Geffen Playhouse and always look forward to plays here. Contrary to what some of the other reviewers have mentioned, I really appreciate that they ask audience members to put on masks. The actors are maskless, and if they were to get COVID-19, the performances would be postponed/cancelled so I feel like it's an understandable precaution. I have seen many plays and shows here in the past years including Key Largo, Man of God, Trayf, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Engimatist, and most recently The Inheritance, and have always been really impressed. Despite the length of some of the plays (Virginia Woolf was 4 hours and The Inheritance was about 6 hours split into 2 parts), I never felt like they were dragging on and one of my friends even commented that he had no idea live theater could be so good after seeing Virginia Woolf. That said, I am taking off a star simply because more often than not there are chatty audience members. I've had the misfortune to be seated next to some and I wish that there would also be some reminders to not chat. I've not had this experience in other live theaters, so it seems particularly bad here. I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure how much management could do about it, but unfortunately it does affect the experience.

I went to the Geffen Playhouse recently to see "The Power Of Sail." I enjoyed seeing the play and enjoyed being at the Geffen. I parked at the Glendon Apartments (Trader Joe's) parking garage. Parking cost $5 with Geffen Playhouse validation.

Absolutely magical space with the most fantastic performances. LA is so blessed to have this luxury. Bonus is the bar isn't a rip off! The place is spotless, even the bathrooms. Seats are generously sized and very comfortable.

I haven't been to the Geffen Playhouse in a while. A friend told me about the play "King Liz". Since my 20 year old son has played basketball from the time he could walk and I was truly a "basketball mom" (spending weekends for years in a gym at practice/tournaments/camps), I decided to get some tickets. My son is going into his senior year in college, majoring in Business/Sports Marketing, minoring in Mandarin Chinese. He has aspirations of being a "Sports Agent". He is currently summer interning at a well known sports agency in Los Angeles. From beginning to end, the play captured our attention. First starting with music being played prior to the plays start. This great music had us "hyped" up for what was going to happen. The actor Sabrina Sloan was PHENOMENAL in the role as Liz Rico. Her acting as a ruthless female sports agent was believable. The young man who played Freddie Luna, reminded me of some of my son's misguided and taken advantage of teammates from his time of playing in the shark infested Los Angeles AAU Basketball Circuit. All of the actors in this play were WONDERFUL. I don't know if "King Liz" was based upon a true story, but it was spot on. I've watched some of my son's friends get taken advantage of by youth basketball organizations, coaches, school (high school & college) administrators, and people wanting to get a piece of a basketball player's potential earnings. A lot of these young men still are hopelessly chasing that ball that's deflating with every bounce. They have NOTHING (Education/Life Skills) to fall back on when the ball goes FLAT! My son and I talked about the play and who the characters reminded us about on the ride home. I asked him if he still wanted to go into the "Sports Management/Agent" business. He told me, "Yes!" He said that from what he's learning in college, his internship, and watching this play, it's a BUSINESS, that's about making MONEY! It's also about the CLIENTS who you have to look at as a whole investment. You have to make sure they are ready, willing, and mentally able to deal with being a Professional Athlete. The playhouse staff were very nice. The playhouse was as I remembered, is beautifully maintained inside and out. I definitely won't stay away so long. Can't wait to come back!

I really enjoyed this theater! It was a fun night and the ambiance it pretty chill. They don't allow food, but they sell drinks and snacks in the lobby. The seats aren't the most comfy, but we had a good time.

Was here to see Daniel K. Isaac in "Every Brilliant Thing." Amazing show, wonderful space, talented actor! Our first time at the Geffen. Not a bad seat in the house! Can't wait to be back!

The Geffen Playhouse, located in Westwood in Los Angeles, is a great venue to see a play. They have original plays and the best touring plays as well. You are also going to be able to see some of the best actors working at the Geffen. Andy Garcia was there this year, for example. The theater is small so get your tickets early. I suggest getting there very early and finding parking and then go have a meal or just walk the Westwood Village. It is adorable and some of the eateries are great. You can find the Geffen on line and buy for a single show are a series. You will not be disappointed. We saw the story of Nat King Cole there and it was magical. There is not a bad seat in the house. The prices are reasonable. Go there.

This was my first visit to the Geffen Playhouse, and we saw the most amazing program: The Enigmatist. Seriously, if you can get to see this before it closes in November 2021, you will thank me. If you do go, make sure to arrive as early as the doors open. It is mind blowing and just a great nerdy time. I loved every minute and was engaged the entire evening. The staff was kind and patient. There are protocols you will beed to follow regarding vaccines, etc. We made it through easily enough. Eating is only allowed in certain areas and not within the theater. Masks must be worn the entire time inside the theater but not while eating/drinking in the lobby. That's another reason you'll want to go early. I wound up gulping down my glass of wine to make the curtain call. I really enjoyed the layout of the theater. It's the kind where there really is no bad seat. Enjoy!!

Dissapointed in the management and staff. Being told not to move or laugh every 5 minutes by some guy sitting behind us... super sad for what we paid. What a disappointment, especially considering all the planning we made. Funny how the people the show reflects (Fat Ham) are not the people they cater to.

I love coming here. Two theaters inside and all the seats are great. I've sat in the first row, last row and somewhere in the middle. The Gil Cates theatre is the larger theater and the Audrey Skirball Theatre is the smaller theater. I really enjoy both venues. The acting is always amazing. They bring such talented actors from all over the country and world, many celebrities too. Located in the heart of Westwood, near UCLA, it's a lovely area. I really enjoy the outdoor patio here too. I don't feel like I'm in a college town when I'm here. It's very peaceful, beautiful, and serene with all the twinkle lights. Parking lot right next door (I think it's only $7) but I usually get lucky and find a free meter. They have beverages for purchase, including alcohol. I always have a great time here.

The two Geffen theaters are very pleasant and great cultural editions to Westwood and Los Angeles. The currently playing "The Ant" is either a pioneering presentation of the soaring homeless population, or making us again aware of this sad subject, or a way too noisy show with many puzzling dark scenes and over drawn out ending without a specific message.

If you like Nazi Germany, you would like the management here. The performance was rich, the theaters is nice. But not worth the discriminatory behavior towards the patrons.

My husband and I usually love going to the theater, but of course everything is closed right now because of COVID-19. Luckily I found Geffen Playhouse, which is doing their performances online over Zoom! They offer a wide variety of shows: traditional plays, a murder mystery, a magic show, a cooking demonstration, etc. The tickets are kind of expensive, but you only need to buy one and everyone in your household can participate. I was really worried about getting bored, but the shows are designed well and some are interactive. Some include audience participation or breakout rooms, where you can talk to some of the other participants. Some also include special materials which get shipped to your house in advance or they e-mail you documents that you should print out. You should book your tickets in advance. Some of the weekend times fill up quickly. All of the times are Pacific and you usually need to "check-in" to the meeting about 30 minutes before the performance start time. I've been to two performances so far and everything went well. I kind of wish they would limit the number of participants a little more though. It it hard to see all of the participant videos on Zoom and of course someone always forgets to mute their mic. LOL

Love the Geffen. It's a wonderful venue and we have been many times. Went last weekend to see the play The Engagement Party and it was excellent.

Just had the worst customer service ever. First time trying to go and the ticketing people are horrible. They are not helpful and completely all about getting your money. Disgusting and very disappointing.

Extremely poor, unprofessional handling of an emergency situation. We have Season Tickets but based on this experience do not plan on renewing. I will update as we go along.

There are two theaters here: the Gil Cates (larger) and Skirball. The Geffen offers a riveting season at an affordable price for those who love theater. I strongly recommend a subscription. For those not ready to commit, often deeply discounted tickets are available onGoldstar. There is parking next to the Geffen in the garage. It's on the corner next to Chikfila. They offer validated $4 parking at the Glendon apartments which is behind the theater next to Trader Joe's. They offer a range of nice snacks and drinks that are reasonably priced. Ask for my friend Adam and he will be sure to serve you something nice with a smile. There are local restaurants that do a lot for the playhouse that are worth visiting and thanking. They include Napa Valley Grill, Skylight Gardens and STK. Some offer a discount with your ticket stubs. They all have great happy hours before the show and sometimes, at Skylight you can spot a celeb or two before the performance. Dress to impress, sit back and enjoy quality theater at a price point that suits most budgets.

This was my first time at the Geffen and I was very impressed. I bought my ticket online for the play "The Legend of Georgia McBride" so I didn't interface with the box office at all. The building opened an hour before curtain time and there was plenty of space to sit and people watch, have something to drink, and enjoy conversation. The building consists of two theatres. I was in the "large" one--the Gil Cates Theatre. The seats are very comfortable and there was good leg room. My only problem with theatres designed like this is they do not have a center aisle. I know this is to allow more seats but the law of theatre that the person(s) who are in the middle always come the latest takes hold. Sure enough, a patron tried to get to his seat by going past us and then changed his mind and went around to the other side of the aisle. A center aisle would take some of this pain away. Sound was good, the staff was very polite and helpful, and the theatre is otherwise great! Parking is $5 at an apartment complex a block away and it's very easy in and out. The theatre is not far from the 405 and I was back in DTLA after the show in amazingly fast time. I will be back if there's something I want to see here.

Wonderful local theater company with some great shows. Keep your eye on the lineup as you'll often see some A-list film/TV actors or Tony-award winning actors pop up on the bill. The first time I came here was in the early 2000s to see Nancy Travis (a big TV star at the time) in the stalker-story-play Boy Gets Girl and I recently came back to see the award-winning Jefferson Mays in a one-man-show version of The Christmas Carol. There is a lovely courtyard out front that is enclosed with bushes, giving you the night's theater goers some serenity away from busy Le Conte avenue. If you're a student, I highly recommend signing up for their mailing list as they do promotions for full-time students. The deal is often $10 for a ticket including a free concession item. It's a pretty small venue, so your seats will be decent. Parking is off site in a structure near the Target/Trader Joes for around $7. Even though it's off site, it is very quick to get to the theater. Most people walk through the alleyway that is adjacent to the Playhouse.

THERE IS A REASON THE GEFFEN HAS FAILED MORE THAN ONCE: BE WARNED: THEY DO NOT FOLLOW CITY & COUNTY GUIDELINES 1) You still MUST be fully vaxxed "with booster" and all in order to get in. 2) Your original vaxx card is not acceptable it must be the electronic online county issued one. 3) You will be masked through the entire performance even though some of the staff IS NOT MASKED, i.e. box office staff and manager, AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND UNMASKED. That said, the house manager made quick business of escorting me to the box office for a full refund because my vax card wasn't good enough and I dared to question their continuing policy where I was told by an extremely unprofessional box office female, I don't know her true pronoun and don't care, that they do not do refunds. The house manager said the box office manager will do it and the ticket person just wanted to argue and fight even when the manager was talking at the same time. I had to ask her to be quiet so I could hear the manager. She was offended, again I don't care. The manager took my tickets, refused to give me a receipt for them because she was just too busy and said it would be mailed. This was my 1st and definitely my last time there. The #1 thing in Los Angeles theatre that has killed theatres is the staff. Poor management doesn't help. They are rude, extremely arrogant and come right out of the "I'm better than you playbook." They don't get that their patrons are what keep them employed. They have a snippet of power and it spews at you as you walk onto the property. Covid was just a minor snip in there issues but they are going to carry it on until once again, they fail. AGAIN, I don't care. Stay away from the Geffen unless you are a masochist at heart.

Great venue to see interesting productions. My husband and I had season seats for a few seasons, and we saw some great productions...and a few clunkers. The Playhouse is actually houses two theaters - the larger Gil Cates Theater offers more mainstream fare often featuring television actors, and the smaller Kenis Theater that offers smaller offbeat productions. Both venues offer great sightlines and there us not a bad seat in either house. Come early for a pre-show cocktail, and relax in the beautiful courtyard at the front of the theater. Turn off the Netflix and support live theater!

Intimate setting with fabulous actors. Comfortable seats with nice views and good acoustics. Saw new play with Tyne Daly and it was awesome! Sufficient bathrooms and nice outdoor patio. Highly recommended!

The Play was amazing. I stuck around after for some Sri me and ambiance. Tony, one of the servers, made my night. Highly recommended!

The Geffen is a lovely playhouse complex for relevant Los Angeles Theater. There are two spaces a larger and smaller house. The main stage is worthy space of often newer works and modern presentations. The smaller space is intimate and often the quality of shows ar bigger than the stage. A classic building with comfortable residence feeling and garden patio. You really feel separate from the UCLA Westwood bustle just outside. Like all theater you win some you lose (the audience) some but overall The Geffen staff, performers and Creatives have a winning record worthy of community patronage.

I had to update my review if the Geffen after seeing POWER OF SALE starring Bryan Cranston. This play might just be the best live theater play I've ever seen! This is the highest level of entertainment I'm previously accustomed to at the Geffen. What an amazing play - totally relevant to today's political climate with stellar performances by the entire cast.

Wow, such a wonderful space. I was enchanted when we first walked in and saw the beautiful garden out front, where one can escape to ponder the deepest thoughts of theatrical brilliance. We saw a number of celebrities here, which was kinda fun and unexpected. They have a bar, the seats are comfy, and overall the place just feels homey and welcoming. Look forward to seeing other pieces here!

I have been to many shows at the Geffen I went this evening without checking reviews I left at intermission the paradise had great acting but there was no music and i was disappointed in the Paradise Jazz Café and I was expecting like Ma Rainey's live instruments on the stage it was kind of set up that way but there's no live music the lead actresses that play pumpkin and silver or fantastic. I also left at intermission because the seats are exceedingly uncomfortable my back was in agony an hour into the show. Unless they renovate the seats I probably won't go back for a show at least in the Gil Cates theater

WORLD-CLASS THEATER. LA is famous for movies, London, for theater. And while London lives up to its reputation for world-class theater, LA has some world-class theater of its own. The top two are the Center Theater group at the Music Center and Kirk Douglas, and the Geffen Playhouse, in Westwood. The venue is beautiful, a 1929 Spanish style building with a charming courtyard where you can have a drink before the show and during intermission. The largest of the theaters is an intimate state-of-the-art auditorium with 512 seats. Even the balcony feels close and has good sightlines. But even more than the venue, it's the quality of productions that makes this the theater lovers' theater. I recently saw the World Premiere adaptation of "A Christmas Carol." You're probably thinking, "Oh, please, not another production of that weary old chestnut!" But no, this stunning one-man show, featuring the truly astonishing Jefferson Mays, made it feel like the old story was brand new--and scary. May's energy borders on mystical, as he narrates and plays all the characters, jumping instantly from an all-too-human Scrooge, to an all-too-ghostly Marley. It's hard to believe one person can perform with such energy, exuberance, and heart for the 90 minutes of the show--much less that he can accomplish this magical feat almost every night (and four times on weekends!) The direction, production design, lighting are all first-rate, stunning, beautiful, scary. The ability to see this level of talent in a theater in Los Angeles is a true gift. As is the fact that seats are available for as little as $30. The staff is all very friendly and helpful. And, last, but not least in LA, ample validated parking is only $4 under the Trader Joe's a block away. If you love theater you'll LOVE the Geffen.

This is a terrific playhouse. The playhouse is has a very intimate setting. The seats are very comfortable and I didn't feel uncomfortable at any time. The staff were great in getting everyone in and out safely. I went to see the play Emergency by Daniel Beaty. The play was was a one man show Beaty performed by beautifully weaving several characters into one powerful and moving story! I loved this venue and I would definitley visit this place again!

We have season tickets to this lovely playhouse and so far we've loved every show we've seen. There are two smaller theaters inside, and every seat is a good one! The chairs are comfortable and everyone is very helpful. Parking is definitely a challenge but the playhouse validated parking making it affordable if you park in the garage by Trader Joe's. Be prepared to wait about 45 minutes to get out though because it's a rush! The best part are the amazing and unique productions they choose. The most recent play we saw was Skintight with Idina Menzel and it was a wonderful and interesting show. There is a sitting area where you can enjoy a snack or drink before the show, and plenty of space to sit. The line for the bathroom gets crazy! So make sure you fast walk otherwise you'll be in the line for the while intermission. All in all we have had many great experiences and will continue to see one of a kind shows there!

Gettin' some Geffen theater-culture with "The Country House" ~ * YES - Cute quaint venue in the Westwood area (Le Conte and Westwood Ave) * YES - Circulates some great plays here * YES - Bar serving alcohol & snacks to right upon entry, Concierge desk to left * YES - Small outdoor patio outfront with heatlamps and a water fountain "The Country House": * YES - Particularly enjoyed performances by Blythe Danner, Scott Foley and Sarah Steele * YES - Pretty entertaining play * YES - Intermission left 1st half on dramatic note (dun dun duuuun) * WOA (words of advice): - Validates parking for Palazzo structure for $4 (a block away) - Parking on-site for $7 - Bathrooms available downstairs

Despite lifting of mask mandate, Geffen is still enforcing Vaccine and Mask requirements. I can deal with this, as I am vaccinated, boosted and willing to (mostly) wear a mask. However, the staff is obviously required to vigorously police the mask mandate to the Nth degree. I observed ushers inside the auditorium constantly walking around with mask reminder signs, some raising their voice to seated audience members prior to the start of the performance to remind them to fully cover their nose (including my husband) and ushers tapping audience members on the shoulder DURING the performance to remind them to cover their nose. For me, this seemed excessive and RUINED an expensive special night out.

One of the best damn theaters in Los Angeles and some truly great theater! If you've never been, sign up for a season and enjoy!

Great little theater right across from UCLA, it was very easy to find parking, there are so many places to park nearby. We pulled in to a parking lot just a few hundred feed from the entrance a it was only $5 for the whole night. We say Skintight on September 10th and sat in the front row center stage, and it was a really great play, great actors and actresses. The venue itself was the perfect size to accommodate the people who came to see the play. The theater was completely full and we sat outside and drank bubbly champagne and relaxed, the weather was perfect, ambiance was wonderful, and even though we only got a 15 minute intermission and there was a long line for the bathrooms, the lines went very fast. Great place!