Ben Donenberg News

Tickets for 'Henry IV,' staged by Tony Award winning director Daniel Sullivan, featuring Tom Hanks in his Los Angeles stage debut as Shakespeare's greatest comedic character Sir John Falstaff, with Harry Groener as Northumberland, Hamish Linklater as Hal, and Joe Morton as Henry IV, will be available to patrons registering at

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the West Los Angeles VA Campus with a new production - 'Henry IV' - condensing two of Shakespeare's plays and staged by Tony Award winning director Daniel Sullivan.  The world-class acting company includes Tom Hanks as Falstaff and Rita Wilson; with additional cast members to be announced shortly, as confirmed.  Tom Ware is the executive producer.

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!

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit Monday, September 18, 2017 at 8:00pm at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. 

He walked from Cincinnati to Los Angeles in 1884 and then he built a castle in Highland Park with stones from the nearby arroyo. Charles F. Lummis, first editor of the LA Times, knew how to make an entrance. Now the historic site will get a starring role in one of Shakespeare's most dramatic plays, MACBETH, for two weeks in September, when Benjamin Pohlmeier and his Junction Theatre Company mount a site-specific production using the castle as its backdrop.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 26th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit Monday, September 19, 2016 at 8:00pmat the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. 

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 26th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit Monday, September 19, 2016 at 8:00pmat the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. 

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with actress Cece Suazo-Augustus. Ms. Cece is many things: an Honduran/Cuban adoptee, transgendered, driven. 'I won't stop until I win a TONY. If you can perfect theatre, everything else comes easily.' She goes down a list of African-American TONY award winners. It's this goal, she says, that keeps her in theatre and keeps her humble.

Every year, a galaxy of stars join Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks to support the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to catch your favorite stars in an irreverent, impromptu reading of one of Shakespeare's comedies with musical accompaniment from the world's musical stars. This year's edition was held last night, September 22, and featured legendary musician Paul Simon. Below, check out photo coverage from the event, featuring appearances by Wilson, Colin Hanks, Martin Short, and more!

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to the Japanese Garden at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Campus for the third consecutive summer, with a Los Angeles-centric summer production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet- directed by Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre alum Kenn Sabberton - for seventeen performances only, tonight, July 8 to July 26 (press opening July 13). Scroll down for a first look at the star-crossed lovers in action!

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to the Japanese Garden at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Campus for the third consecutive summer, with a Los Angeles-centric summer production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet -- directed by Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre alum Kenn Sabberton -- for seventeen performances only, today, July 8 to 26 (press opening July 13).

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to the Japanese Garden at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Campus for the third consecutive summer, with a Los Angeles-centric summer production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet -- directed by Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre alum Kenn Sabberton -- for seventeen performances only, July 8 to 26 (press opening July 13).

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center campus for the third consecutive summer with a Los Angeles-centric summer production of William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'- directed by Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre alum Kenn Sabberton - for seventeen performances only, July 8, through July 26 (press opening July 13).

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) presented its 23rd Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit reading of 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona,' last night, September 25, 2013 at The Broad Stage, Santa Monica. The evening featured a star-studded cast including Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and William Shatner. Check out a look back at the starry red carpet arrivals below!

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center campus with a rollicking summer production of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' with live music and directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artist Kenn Sabberton - beginning July 9, through July 28 only. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is presented by SCLA in conjunction with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center campus with a rollicking summer production of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with live music and directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artist Kenn Sabberton - beginning July 9, through July 28 only. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is presented by SCLA in conjunction with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) presents its 22(nd) annual Simply Shakespeare reading of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' September 27 at the Freud Playhouse, UCLA Campus. This event features a star-studded tie-dyed cast of hilarious hippies for an evening filled with peace, love reading a psychedelic 1960's adaptation of Shakespeare's play that includes iconic music of the era. Directed by SCLA's Artistic Director Ben Donenberg, the groovy participants include Billy Crystal, William Shatner, Martin Short, Topher Grace, Gillian Jacobs, Eddie Redmayne, Cedric the Entertainer, Paul Dooley, Olivia Thirlby, Alan Tudyk and co-chairs Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks and more!