Gil Cates, Jr.

Nick Ullett’s The Birthday Party: A Theatrical Catastrophe world premiered March 2, 2024 at the Rogue Machine at the Matrix. Lisa James directs Nick in his real-life account of the cancellation of The Birthday Party in 2014. After a successful opening weekend, Nick found some time to answer a few of my queries.

Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney has been appointed artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse. Learn more about McCraney here!

Geffen Playhouse celebrated its 25th Anniversary and raised $1 million for the theater’s education, community engagement and artistic initiatives at its signature Backstage at the Geffen annual fundraiser held June 4, it was announced today. 

The 25th Anniversary season will launch September 14, 2021, and run through July 24, 2022. Learn more about all of the upcoming productions.

Geffen Playhouse raised more than $1.3 million for the theater's education, community engagement and artistic initiatives at its 17th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser held May 19, it was announced today. Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon franchise, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls) presented the Artistic Impact Award for Harry Belafonte, which was accepted by daughter Gina Belafonte on his behalf, and Jane Fonda (Grace & Frankie, Book Club, 9 to 5) presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Lily Tomlin.

BroadwayHD, the world's premiere online streaming platform delivering more than 250 premium live productions to theatre fans globally, today announced that the Geffen Playhouse production of the Drama Desk Award-winning piece The Lion will debut on the platform December 6.  The Lion will join Pulitzer Prize-winning show Long Day's Journey Into Night, and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Play Thom Pain, as the third title to stream on the platform, in partnership with Geffen Playhouse.  The show is directed by Kevin S. Bright, an Emmy Award Winning Executive Producer of the hit television series Friends and produced by Gil Cates Jr (Executive Director of Geffen Playhouse) and Eva Price (Tony-Winning Broadway Producer), and Executive Produced by Bright, Candice Abela Mikati and Fouad Mikati.

The Geffen Playhouse will honor legendary stage and screen performer Dick Van Dyke and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda at its 16th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser. The event recognizes the accomplishments of leaders in the artistic community, supports the theater's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its award-winning education and community engagement programs, which bring live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.

'Backstage at the Geffen,' fundraiser gathers superstars from the worlds of stage and screen to share irreverent, behind-the-curtain stories of the struggles and surprises that memorably shaped their lives and careers. Always a sold-out show, the event has raised millions to support education and the arts. David Geffen will serve as 20 th Anniversary Honorary Chair.

Having broken Geffen Playhouse season production box office records, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin will return to the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse for two weeks only (tonight, August 4-16, 2015) following its other pre-booked engagements.

The Geffen Playhouse Board of Directors today announced that Vice Chair Gil Cates, Jr. will serve as the permanent Executive Director for the not-for-profit theater after leading in an interim capacity since February, 2015.

Next year's eagerly awaited 'Backstage at the Geffen' will honor Mellody Hobson and George Lucas with the Distinction in Service Award and Sir Elton John and David Furnish with the Distinction in Theater Award at the 13th annual fundraiser, slated for Sunday, March 22, 2015. The irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories featuring personal 'backstage' memories and songs by a cavalcade of stars precedes the award ceremony in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse and will be produced by Vice Chair of the Board, Gil Cates, Jr. David Geffen is Honorary Chair. The event also launches the 20th anniversary of the founding of the not-for-profit theater.

Ashton Kutcher (No Strings Attached, 'Two and a Half Men') gives the performance of a lifetime in Jobs, a riveting story of a true American visionary, a man who let nothing stand in the way of greatness. Jobs will be available on Digital HD starting today, November 12, 2013, two weeks before it's available on store shelves. Fans can own the movie on Blu-ray and DVD as well as rent it On Demand starting November 26, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Ashton Kutcher (No Strings Attached, 'Two and a Half Men') gives the performance of a lifetime in Jobs, a riveting story of a true American visionary, a man who let nothing stand in the way of greatness.

On March 20, the production team and cast of Life After Tomorrow held a discussion, performance and signing at Barnes and Noble. Life After Tomorrow, a documentary about the trials and tribulations of several dozen women who were on Broadway and in the road companies of Annie, was co-directed and co-produced by Gil Cates Jr. and Annie alum Julie Stevens. Stevens created the film after starting the website AnnieOrphans.com

On March 20, join the production team and cast of Life After Tomorrow for a discussion, performance and signing at Barnes and Noble. Life After Tomorrow, a documentary about the trials and tribulations of several dozen women who were on Broadway and in the road companies of Annie, was directed and produced by Annie alum Julie Stevens. Stevens created the film after starting the website AnnieOrphans.com, which reunited many of the former child stars. They quickly discovered a sisterhood and many found that their post-Annie lives and experiences could only be understood by their fellow alumni. For some, like Broadway Annie Sarah Jessica Parker (who appears in the film) and touring orphans Alyssa Milano and Molly Ringwald (who do not appear), Annie was a springboard to teen and adult stardom. For others, they found themselves overwhelmed by trying to return to the normalcy of home and school. Over 40 women appear in the film, relaying the perks that came with starring in a cultural phenomenon and the hard knocks of growth spurts, stage mothers and the fear that their careers had peaked before adolescence. The film won Best Documentary and Best Director at the Phoenix Film Festival before debuting on Showtime on Christmas Day. It came out on DVD on February 26, 2008.

Enter now to win a copy of Life After Tomorrow, the highly acclaimed documentary film by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr., which reunites more than 40 women who played orphans in the Broadway show Annie and reveals the highs and lows of their experiences as child actresses in a cultural phenomenon.

A One-Day Commercial Acting Workshop will take place on Sunday, September 30, 2007 from 11AM- 3PM.

Annie creators Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, as well as former stage orphan Sarah Jessica Parker, are among those appearing in Julie Stevens' new documentary film Life After Tomorrow, which will air on Showtime in December

On Friday, February 17th, Julie Stevens and Gil Cates Jr. debuted their new documentary about the Annie orphans called 'Life After Tomorrow'

The posters include autographs from Allison Smith, Mackenzie Phillips, Marissa O'Donnell, Sarah Jessica Parker and Annie's direct-lyricist Martin Charmin and composer Charles Strouse. The auction is held on Ebay throughout November 15th.