Legendary Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award-winning artists Quincy Jones and Mel Brooks were honored Sunday, March 19 at the Geffen Playhouse’s 15th annual fundraiser, Backstage at the Geffen, which honors the accomplishments of leaders in the artistic community and supports the theater’s mission to produce original, quality works and engage the community in the live arts. Quincy Jones, upon accepting his Distinction in Service Award, reiterated the importance of art in young people’s lives and expressed a deep sorrow at the lack of it in today’s education system, while recalling a moving story of the day he discovered music and its influence on his life. The exclusive event raised more than $1 million for the theater’s artistic endeavors, including new play development, playwright commissions, second productions and adventurous artistic programming, as well as its award-winning education and community engagement programs, which bring the excitement of live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.