Previous SnoopOne Man, Two Guvnors Next SnoopPetit Palais, Paris 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 $75Plus 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.) Print Rate this snoop: No rating yet 6706 Rant or RaveRaveProsFree drinks and parkingConsTake a blanket, can get a little chillySourcewikiWebsitewww.theatricum.com/EntertainmentGoodOfferingsGoodPricingGood Fiona MossFiona Moss Other snoops by Fiona Moss Contact snooper Comments are only visible to subscribers. Contact author Message sent. Name: Please enter your name. Please enter your name. Email: Please enter a valid email address. Please enter a valid email address. Please enter your email. Subject: Please enter a subject Please enter a subject Message: Please enter the message. I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use. Please select if you agree. Please solve captcha Please solve captcha. Close x