Mellody Hobson & George Lucas And David Furnish & Sir Elton John Honored At Geffen Playhouse Annual Fundraiser
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Mellody Hobson & George Lucas And David Furnish & Sir Elton John Honored At Geffen Playhouse Annual Fundraiser

LADY GAGA MAKES SURPRISE APPEARANCE - OPENS THE SHOW!

LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2015 — (PRNewswire) — Sunday (March 22) night's star-studded fundraiser at the Geffen Playhouse and the pre-show host committee dinner grossed over $1.5 million, a record, for the Geffen Playhouse's education, outreach and artistic initiatives. Multi-award winning composer and a Geffen Playhouse Board Founding Trustee Quincy Jones presented the Distinction in Service Award to Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson and distinguished filmmaker George Lucas.  Tony nominated director Jason Moore presented the Distinction in Theater Award to producer David Furnish and internationally renowned singer/songwriter and performer, Sir Elton John

Mellody Hobson & George Lucas and Sir Elton John & David Furnish Honored at Backstage at the Geffen Playhouse annual fundraiser. Lady Gaga opened the show with surprise performance.

Castle star Nathan Fillion served as Master of Ceremonies for Backstage at the Geffen, an irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories featuring personal "backstage" memories and musical performances by stars of the stage and screen including: Anjelica Huston, Samuel L. Jackson, Beau Bridges and Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director, Randall Arney.  Virtuoso violinist, Lee England, Jr. who, coincidentally, played for Mellody Hobson and George Lucas's wedding, performed his version of "All of Me" by John Legend.   The multi-faceted actress, singer, dancer and choreographer Toni Basil choreographed 12 dancers who performed a hip hop version of "Swan Lake."                       

David Geffen served as Honorary Chair of the event; Linda Bernstein Rubin and Loretta Everett Kaufman Co-Chaired the Backstage at the Geffen committee.  Pamela Robinson Hollander and Martha Henderson Co-Chair the Geffen Playhouse Board of Directors.  The evening was beautifully produced by Gil Cates, Jr. and directed by Randall Arney.

The curtain rose to wild applause as Lady Gaga, surprising everyone including the honorees, took center stage to perform "You and I" accompanying herself on the piano before joining the audience for the remainder of the show.

Monies raised benefit the Geffen Playhouse's artistic initiatives including new play development, playwright commissions, and second productions, as well as the not-for-profit's award-winning education and outreach programs which help bring the excitement of live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.

Backstage at the Geffen title sponsor City National Bank, returning for the sixth year, was joined by presenting sponsors Audi of America, Clay Lacy Aviation, Louis XIII, and Robert K. Kraft, with special thanks to UCLA.

Event Highlights:

ABOUT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and second productions, the not-for-profit organization continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates, and is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Geffen Playhouse Board Vice-Chair Gil Cates Jr. and Board Co-Chairs Martha Henderson and Pamela Robinson Hollander. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts.  For more information, please visit www.geffenplayhouse.com/backstage.

George Lucas & Mellody Hobson and Sir Elton John & David Furnish Honored at Backstage at the Geffen Playhouse Annual Fundraiser on March 22, 2015

Photo -  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150323/183823

Photo -  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150323/183824

 

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SOURCE Geffen Playhouse

Contact:
Geffen Playhouse
Katy Sweet/Pam Giangregorio, Katy Sweet & Associates, Inc., (310)479-2333 / Email Contact
Web: http://www.geffenplayhouse.com