Fiona Moss / 13 December 2012 / Categories: Theatres

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, named for the English botanist John Parkinson's herbal, Theatrum Botanicum (1640), is an open-air theater founded in Topanga Canyon, near Santa Monica, California by Will Geer in 1973. In the 1950s Will Geer was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. He had to sell his large Santa Monica home and move his family to a small plot in the canyon where they could grow their own produce. Geer's friend Woody Guthrie had a small shack on the property. They unintentionally founded what became an artists' colony. Since its founding in 1973, the Geer family has continued to operate the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Geer's former wife, Herta Ware, helped develop the outdoor summer theatre and continued to appear in plays there after her husband's death in 1978. The company features Shakespeare, as well as modern and contemporary authors. The theater, set in the natural amphitheater of a mountain canyon, is also used for occasional concerts.

Will Geer combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, by making sure that every plant mentioned in Shakespeare was grown there.

SIX MONTHS OF THEATRE FOR ONLY $75

Plus pre entry, parking, one free drink and reserved seating. This is the student price but it's not much more for adults, $122 (seniors and veterans $92)

I cannot say how much I loved this venue last year. I got to see 5 or 6 full scale excellent performances, a mix of Shakespeare and other classics as well as Cherry Docs by David Gow which was just amazing. Also included in my subsciption were several invites to other events like talks and poetry readings so all in all great value.

The venue is a must see outdoor amphitheatre so a wonderful place to go if you are visiting Southern California. It has a warm and friendly, intimate atmosphere and children are very welcome, (although most of the prodctions I've seen are quite mature.)