Los Angeles Theatres: Geffen Playhouse

10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024 | map |

The Geffen Playhouse is a legit theatre offering a varied season on both the main stage and the smaller Audrey Skirball Kenis Stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020

Phone: 310-208-5454 Website: www.geffenplayhouse.com

Seating: 512 in the main auditorium, originally a flat-floored space with no fixed seating. The Kenis Stage, added in 2004, can be set up in various configurations and has a maximum capacity of 149.

The building was constructed in 1929 as the UCLA Masonic Clubhouse. The location is a block east of Westwood Blvd. and just south of the UCLA campus. It was one of the first twelve buildings constructed in Westwood.

Architects: Stiles O. Clements of the firm Morgan, Walls & Clements. The 2002-2004 renovations and expansion were designed by Ronald Fink Architects.

A look at the front of the building that's on plans in the Morgan, Walls & Clements Archive at the Huntington Library. It's from their drawing #5961. Click on any of these images for a larger view.

For the full set that's in the Huntington's collection start at drawing #5950 and you can page forward to the end of the batch at drawing #5969. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating these. See his Index to the MW&C Theatre Drawings. There's also a 22 page overall index by Mike Callahan on Internet Archive.

A first floor plan, drawing #5951. For a second floor plan see drawing #5953.

A longitudinal section, one of several views on drawing #5969.

A cross section view toward the proscenium. It's also from drawing #5969.

The Masons sold it in the early 1970s to Donald and Kristin Combs. They restored some elements such as the courtyard and its fountain and the building was opened to the public in 1971. The lobby areas became a furniture store, Contempo Westwood. The auditorium started being used for shows in 1973 while the building was also still a furniture store.

An August 1973 ad for the house as the The Contempo Theatre, "Westwood's only legitimate theatre." In addition to offering a production of "The Last Pad" by William Inge, you could also check out the deals at their Summer Sale. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad.

You could browse for your new bedroom set during intermission. The theatre was later rebranded as the Westwood Playhouse. Stratton's Restaurant became part of the complex in 1976.

Later the furniture disappeared but the shows continued. The building was donated to UCLA in 1994 with the stipulation that it remain a theatre and it was incorporated as a separate non-profit entity. Gilbert Cates, dean of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television from 1991 to 1998, became the first artistic director and the venue had an official reopening in 1995. The theatre was later renamed the Geffen Playhouse as a result of a gift to the company by David Geffen.

Randall Armey, formerly of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, became artistic director in 1999. The complex got a major renovation in 2003-2005 and as part of that project added the smaller Audrey Skirball Kenis Stage, so named because of Ms. Kenis' gift to the renovation fund. The company used the Brentwood and Wadsworth theatres on the nearby VA campus during the renovations. From 2017 until 2022 Matt Shakman was the company's artistic director. See the Playhouse website's history page for more about the company and its productions.

Vintage interior views:

A 1931 look to the stage taken by Joseph E. Carter of the Dick Whittington Studio that's in the USC Digital Library collection. This and the three images below were commissioned by theatre equipment supplier Otto K. Olesen. Note that temporary footlight position in front of the apron.

Across the front of the stage. Photo: Dick Whittington Studio - 1931 - USC Digital Library

A view to the rear of the house. Photo: Dick Whittington Studio - 1931 - USC Digital Library

The dimmerboard. Photo: Dick Whittington Studio - 1931 - USC Digital Library

Recent interior views:

A lobby view from the theatre's website.

The lobby on a busier day. They were having a "Backstage Sale" of props and furniture from various productions. Photo: Bill Counter - August 2023

Looking in from house left. The 512 seat main auditorium is now called the Gil Cates Theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A look to house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

The rear of the auditorium -- and some of the "Backstage Sale" items. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A balcony view from the Geffen website's our theatres page.

A proscenium view. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

Peeking off right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

Checking out the rigging. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A closer look at one of the Vortek hoist units. They also have several battens on conventional chain motors. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A look off left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

A detail from the off left shot. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023

The 149 seat Audrey Skirball Kenis space. It's a photo from the theatre's website.

More exterior views:

1990s - Gil Cates and Kristen Combs in front of the building. Note the Contempo Furniture signage. It's a photo that appears on the history page of the theatre's website.

2007 - The Geffen from across the street. Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - A view from a bit to the west. Photo: Bill Counter

2020 - The lights were on for Red Alert Day on September 1 to call attention to the plight of arts organizations that had been devastated by the effects of the Covid shutdown. It's a photo that appeared on the Geffen Playhouse Facebook page.

2020 - The west end of the courtyard in front of the building. Photo: Bill Counter

2022 - A peek in toward the fountain from the street. Photo: Bill Counter

2022 - The new wing on the east end of the building that includes the smaller Audrey Skirball Kenis Stage. Photo: Bill Counter

2023 - A look to the east. Photo: Bill Counter

The Geffen in the Movies:

Gillian Anderson is directing a play at the Geffen in Willard Carroll's "Playing by Heart" (Miramax, 1998). We also visit the Laemmle Sunset 5 and the Mayan in the film. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for shots at those theatres as well as a shot in the Geffen courtyard.

Geffen Playhouse

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