A bold new chapter for Geffen Playhouse—bringing Los Angeles’ artistic spirit to the global stage in 2028 and beyond. Theater is happening here. And it’s moving outward.

WHY NOW

Los Angeles is entering a defining moment. With the 2028 Summer Games arriving in our neighborhood—and a new era of artistic leadership underway—Geffen Playhouse is poised to reimagine what theater can be: intimate, civic, and globally resonant. This moment calls for ambition. It calls for imagination. And it calls for a cultural invitation that begins right here in West Los Angeles and reaches far beyond our walls.

THE VISION

We believe theater is a universal human impulse—one that thrives on proximity, participation, and shared experience. Through Theater Up Close, Geffen Playhouse is advancing a vision of theater that:

• Brings audiences closer to the work and to one another
• Breaks down barriers between artists, audience, and community
• Activates spaces inside and beyond our building
• Reflects the vitality, complexity, and generosity of Los Angeles

This is theater designed for closeness—emotional, physical, and civic—at a moment when the world will be watching our city.

THE WORK (TAKING SHAPE)

The Theater Up Close campaign will support a dynamic range of artistic and community-driven work, including:

• Reimagined classics experienced in bold, immersive ways
• New play development and commissioning
• Performances that spill into public spaces and invite passersby in
• Expanded access through language, design, and technology
• Collaborations with leading artists and cultural partners

Specific projects and partnerships will continue to be announced as the campaign unfolds. What remains constant is the commitment: to create work that is muscular, visceral, and deeply human.

JOIN THIS MOMENT WITH US

Moments like 2028 don’t happen overnight. They are trained for—with intention, discipline, and belief in what’s possible. Through Theater Up Close, Geffen Playhouse is preparing for a global moment by investing in the work, the artists, and the infrastructure that allow theater to meet the world at its highest level. This work is already underway. The scale of what we can achieve will be shaped by those who choose to train alongside us. Leadership support fuels the preparation—and ensures we step into this moment ready. If this vision resonates, we would love to begin a conversation.