Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, retired NBA All-Star Chris Paul and entertainment attorney Harold A. Brown will be honored at Geffen Playhouse’s 24th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser in October, the theater announced Wednesday.
Neuwirth will receive the Artistic Impact Award, Paul will receive the inaugural Community Impact Award and Brown, a founding trustee of Geffen Playhouse, will receive the Founders Award, according to theater officials.
The Oct. 18 event at the Geffen’s Gil Cates Theater in Westwood will be hosted by Geffen Playhouse alum Marcel Spears, who appeared in the theater’s 2024 production of “Fat Ham” and stars in “The Neighborhood.”
The evening will feature unannounced performers and entertainment industry figures sharing stories from behind the scenes.
The annual fundraiser supports Geffen Playhouse productions and raises money for education and community engagement programs serving youth, seniors and veterans throughout Los Angeles, officials said.
Neuwirth made her Broadway debut in “A Chorus Line” in 1980 and won Tony Awards for her performances in “Sweet Charity” and “Chicago.” She also won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Lilith Sternin-Crane on “Cheers” and has appeared in films including “Jumanji,” “Green Card” and “Summer of Sam.” She was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2023.
Paul, a 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, will be the first recipient of the Community Impact Award, a newly established honor recognizing a leader outside the theater world whose contributions have benefited the Los Angeles community.
The honor comes ahead of the planned launch of the Geffen Playhouse Artist & Athlete Collaborative, which Paul will chair, officials said. The initiative will bring athletes, playwrights, performers and cultural leaders together to develop and stage original works in the years surrounding the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Paul retired from the NBA in February after 21 seasons, including seven seasons with the Clippers over two stints. Through the Chris Paul Family Foundation, he has supported community programs and educational initiatives around the country, officials said.
Brown, an entertainment attorney and longtime partner at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, will receive the Founders Award, which recognizes entertainment industry leaders who have made a lasting impact on Geffen Playhouse. Brown joined the law firm in 1976 and served as a founding trustee of the theater for 25 years.
During his career, Brown has represented artists, filmmakers, producers and executives including Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, Robert Zemeckis, Michael Mann, George Miller and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Brown is the fourth recipient of the Founders Award, following Frank Mancuso in 2020, Gene Block in 2024 and Frank Marshall in 2025.