Deborah Geffner Biography

Deborah Geffner is an actress, dancer, singer, writer, coach, mom, and now filmmaker. She burst onto the stage in "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" at Carnegie Mellon University at the age of five. The little boy who had been rehearsing for months got the measles, and Deborah stepped in on one day's notice and got to say lines, fight boys with swords, and eat cookies onstage. And at the end - they applauded! It was obvious to her that she had found her place in the world.

Her acting continued through moving to New York at 16 to study at Juilliard, working on and off Broadway, and ultimately winning the role of Kristine ("I Really Couldn't Sing") in the Broadway company of "A Chorus Line." While performing in the show, she auditioned for Bob Fosse who cast her in her first film, "All That Jazz." This is the role for which she is most often recognized, and possibly still the hardest and best work she's done professionally.

In New York, Deborah studied with wonderful teachers: Larry Moss, Sam Schacht, HB Studios, and then in Los Angeles with Peggy Feury, Peter Flood, The Groundlings and others. Soon after moving to LA she was cast as a regular in the pilot "Century Hill" with Richard Kiley, and in the TV movie "Legs," with Gwen Verdon.

Recently, Deborah discovered how gratifying it was to write and direct films as well as act in them. Her first, a 34 minute SAG short, "Guitar Lessons," is her baby, on which she taught herself to edit and everything else, and she is delighted by its success in film festivals so far - two Accolade awards: Leading Actor and Short Film, and two Indie Fest Awards: Leading Actor and Dramatic Impact. It has also been in Big Bear International Film Festival, NewFilmmakers Series in NY, Red Rock Film Festival and Queens International Film Festival with more to come.

Through "Guitar Lessons" Deborah discovered a natural affinity for directing. She was asked to direct her first play, the wonderful "Beggars in the House of Plenty" by John Patrick Shanley, which had a very successful six month run in Hollywood this year at Theatre 68. She also starred in several incarnations of Theatre 68's long running and much loved "Bill W.and Dr. Bob."

In August, in the car on the way to Colorado, a friend's phone call inspired her to write her second short. By October she had acted in, directed, and edited "Razz & Jo Wake Up," which is in post production, getting ready to send out in the festival circuit. She is looking forward to her next project, a feature film that she is writing.

For more info and movie trailer see: DeborahGeffner.com