Shakespeare Theatricum Botanicum

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum
A Repertory Theatre Company
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290
$, theatricum.com
$35 senior / student, $15 age 5-15 years (general admission)

Magic will abound as the wooded Theatricum stage transforms alternately into the captivating countryside of Bohemia (The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare), the enchanted woods of Athens (Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream), the imaginary isle of Neverland (world premiere of Wendy’s Peter Pan, a retelling by Ellen Geer of the 1904 play by J.M. Barrie), a television station in Baton Rouge, LA (Tartuffe: Born Again, translated and adapted from Molière by Freyda Thomas) and the United States of America in this contentious election year (world premiere of The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote by Bernardo Cubría).

The Winter’s Tale

Saturday, June 1 at 7:30pm

Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm

Saturday, June 15 at 7:30pm

Sunday, June 23 at 7:30pm

Sunday, June 30 at 7:30pm

Sunday, July 7 at 7:30pm

Sunday, July 14 at 3:30pm

Friday, July 19 at 7:30pm (Pay What You Will)

Sunday, July 28 at 7:30pm

Friday, August 2 at 7:30pm

Saturday, August 10 at 7:30pm (Prologue Discussion at 6:30)

Friday, August 16 at 7:30pm

Saturday, August 24 at 3:30pm

Saturday, September 7 at 3:30pm

Sunday, September 15 at 3:30pm

Monday, September 30 at 7:30pm (Pay What You Will)



A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Sunday, June 2 at 3:30pm

Sunday, June 9 at 3:30pm

Sunday, June 16 at 3:30pm

Sunday, June 23 at 3:30pm

Sunday, June 30 at 3:30pm

Sunday, July 7 at 3:30pm

Thursday, August 1 at 7:30pm

Thursday, August 8 at 7:30pm

Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm

Thursday, August 29 at 7:30pm (Prologue Discussion at 6:30)

Monday, September 2 at 7:00pm

Sunday, September 8 at 3:30pm

Monday, September 23 at 7:30pm (Pay What You Will)

Unlike most companies in L.A. that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum opens each play in rapid succession over the course of the season. By summer’s end, all five plays will be running concurrently — making it possible to see them all in a single September weekend.

Opening June 1 and running through September 30 The Winter’s Tale combines high drama, low comedy and romantic love in a rich theatrical feast that moves from a bitter winter of estrangement to a radiant summer of reconciliation and renewal, reminding us in our own era of deep social and political divide about the power of time and nature to heal all wounds.

 
 
Named “One of the 50 Coolest Places in Los Angeles” by Buzz magazine and “Best Theater in the Woods” by LA Weekly, Theatricum was founded in the ’50s by actor Will Geer as a haven for out-of-work performers during the Hollywood Blacklist. Incorporated as a non-profit in 1973, Will’s family continues his legacy, presenting theater and music as a means to shine a light on current social issues. Arts education programs include Academy of the Classics, providing lifelong learning opportunities that inspire and engage kids, teens and adults; the School Days field trip program, serving as many as 8,000 students from public and private schools who travel to Theatricum each spring and fall; and Classroom Enrichment, bringing Theatricum artist/teachers directly into the classroom. By the end of each summer’s unique Youth Drama Camp program, the kids are on their feet performing a complete Shakespeare production on the beautiful outdoor stage.

Theatricum is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. The School Days program is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga, midway between Pacific Coast Highway and the Ventura (101) Freeway. The amphitheaters are terraced into the hillside, so audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating. Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before a performance. Single tickets range from $15 to $60 and go on sale March 15. Low-priced subscriptions are available now. For more information, call (310) 455-3723, or go to theatricum.com.

Scroll down to view a full schedule of theater, music and family entertainment. Click here to download high-resolution photos of Theatricum's outdoor venue in the Topanga woods.


Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
2024 Summer Schedule At-A-Glance


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• Saturday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, June 2 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, June 16 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, June 23 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Sunday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale

• Friday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. – comedy improv with Off the Grid
• Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, June 30 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Sunday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale e

• Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, July 7 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Sunday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale

• Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, July 14 at 3:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan

• Friday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan (Prologue discussion 6:30–7 p.m.)

• Thursday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. – comedy improv with Off the Grid
• Friday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale

• Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Friday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again

• Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale (Prologue discussion 6:30–7 p.m.)
• Sunday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again (Prologue discussion 6:30–7 p.m.)

• Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan

• Saturday, Aug. 24 at 3:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Sunday, Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan

• Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Prologue discussion 6:30–7 p.m.)
• Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Friday, Aug. 30 at 7.30 p.m. – comedy improv with Off the Grid
• Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Sunday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Monday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Monday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Friday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. – Under the Oaks (classical music)
• Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Sunday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Monday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again

• Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. – Under the Oaks (classical music)
• Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Under the Oaks (classical music)
• Saturday, Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Monday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote

• Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. – Under the Oaks (composers’ series)
• Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, Sept. 22 at 3:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Monday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. – comedy improv with Off the Grid
• Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. – Under the Oaks: A Tribute to Bob Dylan
• Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Sunday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Monday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. – The Winter’s Tale

• Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
• Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. – Wendy’s Peter Pan
• Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again
• Sunday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote

• Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote (Prologue discussion 6:30–7 p.m.)
• Sunday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Tartuffe: Born Again

• Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote

• Saturday, Dec. 14 – Holiday Family Faire

Theatricum Botanicum is a 299-seat outdoor amphitheatre in wooded Topanga Canyon open during the summer months. Outdoor stage performances include several Shakespeare plays plus contemporary offerings that are offered in single ticket purchase or season packages. Most years you will find a few special dinner performance and other unique events and celebrations.

A wonderful theatrical setting for a variety of plays that include Shakespeare summer favorites, and some free special performances. Advised to dress warmly as the theater is outdoors and, in case of inclement weather, please call for alternate performance times.

Who is Will Geer? Will Geer was one of the many actors victimized by the McCarthy Era Blacklisting. He opened a theatre for Blacklisted actors and folk singers on his Topanga property back in the 1950's, creating a legacy remembered today.

Natural aesthetics the theatre mainstage amphitheater enhances the venue's comfort and accessibility. Theatricum has expanded the Botanicum grounds by purchasing an additional piece of property southwest of the amphitheatre. This expansion enlarges the theatre's park-like setting available to the community. In addition, new spaces for classes and workshops allowing Theatricum to serve an increased number of students through its educational programs in the years to come.

In 2002, Botanicum Seedlings: A Development Series for Playwrights was created to foster the growth of unproven plays and emerging artistic voices. Botanicum Seedlings hosts public readings and workshops in the summer, as well as during the "off season" as a means to keep company members challenged and artistically vital.