Theater, fans both in expansive mood

“WHERE we’re standing is going to be a 120-seat theater,” Gil Cates said of the courtyard of the Geffen Playhouse, where nearly 500 theater angels gathered Monday night for the third annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser. “There’s gonna be new dressing rooms, bathrooms, a donor’s lounge, the whole geshrai. Hey!”

Cates, producing director of the Geffen, opened his arms to Tom and Dick Smothers. “These guys are so great, they flew in all the way from Kansas City to be here.”

“And boy, are my arms tired,” said Dick, fingering the material on Cates’ lapel. “You clean up nice.”

Besides helping to raise the $25 million needed for the renovation, as well as construction of the new Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, the night honored Karl Malden. “He’s a workingman’s actor, a blue-collar actor. I couldn’t think of a better person to give it to,” Cates said.

Malden, on the arms of his wife, Mona, and longtime friend Monty Hall, moved through the courtyard engulfed in admirers.

“The first time I saw him was in ‘On the Waterfront,’ ” said Beau Bridges. “He still gets me, every time. He’s grounded, honest, salt of the earth.”

“I saw him first in ‘Streetcar Named Desire,’ ” said James Farentino, one of the actors reading in the evening’s performance. “He was dynamic, he had charisma. He had a big nose, like me.”

“I’m just accompanying my wife,” said director Tommy Schlamme, who was in fact honorary co-chair of the event with wife Christine Lahti. “It’s important in this town to support live theater. You’d think it would be natural, but it’s not. And yet the culture of theater is how we all started. My high school drama coach would be very proud of me tonight.”

Others presumably bitten early by the theater bug included Leonard Nimoy, Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin, Debbie Allen, Amy Brenneman and Willie Garson from “Sex and the City.” Garson had to strip down to his boxers and socks for one of a panoply of skits and reminiscences about the actor’s life, which also featured Nancy Travis, Annette Bening, Sharon Lawrence, a scene-stealing Amy Pietz and a hugely pregnant Geena Davis.

“Karl Malden was always there. He was never not there,” said Tom Hanks in an encomium that encapsulated Malden’s career, from a four-line debut in a 1937 Broadway production of “Golden Boy” to 21 years pitching American Express Travelers Cheques.

Looking utterly at ease on stage, Malden said that he liked making movies and doing TV and “even the commercial,” but the theater was his love. “The Geffen theater will become the talking theater of the country, I think. I know.... And I’m gonna be here when you do it.”

Cates kissed Malden on the cheek, and said, “I’m gonna hold you to that.”