Photo Flash: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Host 'FORBIDDEN SHAKESPEARE' Benefit in L.A.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks hosted The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit September 18, 2017, at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!

The hilarious Forbidden Shakespeare The Tempest offered an evening of improvised Shakespeare and song featuring three-time Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Ben Harper. Charles Richard Lester wowed the crowd with his theremin instrument and was joined by an intergalactic star-studded cast which included Rita Wilson (Ariel), Tom Hanks (Stephano), Alfred Molina (Prospero) William Shatner Gonzalo), Kyle MacLachlan (Alonso), Michael Chiklis (Caliban), Evan Handler (Antonio), David Cross (Trinculo), Sheldon Donenberg (Boatswain) Finn Wittrock (Sebastian), Susannah Fielding (Miranda) and Glenn Howerton (Ferdinand) who improvised their way through a condensed version of The Tempest. Thomas Dunbar of Louisville, Kentucky was the eBAY winning bidder of a once-in-a-lifetime walk-on role.

The evening was sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and included a pre-show wine reception provided by the Gallo Family of Wines, followed by a post performance reception with the cast. All proceeds from the event support the SCLA and its arts-based employment programs for chronically unemployed veterans and urban youth, that blend White House award-winning immersive arts engagement for youth living at the poverty threshold, chronically unemployed vets and award-winning professional productions supported by a veteran workforce.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Bright Future Award to US Army Veteran Ariel Bell, SCLA Veterans in Art Programs Coordinator. The Bright Future Award was proudly presented by BBVA Compass, a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 651 branches in the United States, including 61 branches in California.

Under the direction of SCLA founding Artistic Director Ben Donenberg, William Shakespeare's endearing tragic comedy not only gave the bard's words additional hilarity through the on-stage delivery and antics of its all-star cast, but wove in six songs from Ben Harper. Met with wild applause from the 500 guests, Harper's renditions included "Glory and Consequence," "Waiting on an Angel," "Forever," "Don't Talk About Murder While I'm Eating," "Having Wings," and "Rock and Roll is Free."

Photo Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Tom Hanks, Ben Donenberg, SCLA Founding Artistic Director, Rita Wilson, Jaclyn and Ben Harper

Tom Hanks, Ariel Bell, SCLA Veterans in Art Program Coordinator and Bright Futures Award Nominee , Rita Wilson and Everett Orrick, CEO of BBVA Compass California

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Actors Alfred Molina and Kyle MacLachen

William Shatner

Actors Evan Handler and David Cross

Actor Michael Chiklis

Actor Susannah Fielding

Actor Finn Wittrock

Actor Glenn Howerton

Ben Donenberg, SCLA Founding Artistic Director, and Sheldon Donenberg

Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Thomas Dunbar, walk-on role winner of Louisville, Kentucky