LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The silent auction at this year's Backstage at the Geffen, the playhouse's annual star-studded fundraiser, offers ultimate experiences and luxury items including a Danube cruise, trips to Moorea and Maui, an Ultimate Simpsons Experience, Disney Maleficent world premiere and more.  This year's event honors multi-talented entertainer Steve Martin and The Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.  With national and local luxury brands donating items worth more than $250,000, these exclusive high-end "lots" provide bidders with an opportunity to enjoy unique and exclusive experiences while contributing to the arts.  All proceeds from the Backstage at the Geffen silent auction are 100 percent tax deductible and benefit the Geffen Playhouse and its programming, including presentation of new works and musicals, the theater's playwright commission program and education and outreach initiatives.

The online auction opens to the public on February 28 and will close March 21 at 6:00 pm PST.  Visit www.geffenplayhouse.com/backstage to view a complete list of donated auction items.

A sampling of offers include:

• 4 tickets to the star-studded World Premiere of Disney's Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie in Los Angeles
• Ultimate Simpsons Experience – attend a live table read of The Simpsons, receive a signed script and a Hank Azaria personalized voicemail message
• Bette Midler's signed, silver-plated cigarette box from I'll Eat You Last
• Diamond and Sapphire bracelet by jeweler-to-the-stars Martin Katz – value $17,000

The Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and second productions, the Geffen Playhouse 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, it is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Managing Director Ken Novice and Board Chairs Martha Henderson and Pamela Robinson Hollander.  The Geffen Playhouse 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 in the arts. Visit www.GeffenPlayhouse.com.

SOURCE Geffen Playhouse

RELATED LINKShttp://geffenplayhouse.com