Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

1419 North Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Topanga CA 90290

Phone: 310-455-2322

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Description:
Mission

We at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum are motivated by the belief that theatre, music and art are as necessary to the living of a full life as food and shelter. We must have the latter to survive, but the former are basic for fulfillment of the inner person. Therefore, we continue to make available to our community, at affordable ticket prices, productions of the classics and new works, presented in repertory through the use of a resident acting company. Along with the rep, we offer a children’s concert series. Our Academy of the Classics and educational programs offer exposure to the classics and Living History plays, fostering a love for literature and helping to create the audiences of the future.

History

The beginnings of the Theatricum Botanicum stretch back to the early 1950s when Will Geer, one of the many actors victimized by the McCarthy Era Blacklisting, opened a theatre for Blacklisted actors and folk singers on his Topanga property. He also cultivated a large garden and, unable to find work in Hollywood, Will and his family earned a living by selling vegetables, fruit, herbs, and theatre.

With the advent of television's "The Waltons" and subsequent popularity of Will's portrayal of Grandpa, in 1973 Will Geer re-gathered his family (who were now working actors at theatres across the country) and together they formed a non-profit corporation, The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Audiences flocked to free workshop performances of Shakespeare, folk plays, and concerts featuring such well-known artists as Pete Seeger, Arlo Gutherie, Della Reese & Burl Ives, among others.

At the death of Mr. Geer in 1978, the family and a small band of players decided to work towards becoming a professional repertory theatre, incorporating educational programs and musical events. The local community and surrounding environs encouraged the theatre's artistic goals and proved their support by donating the labor and materials to begin a campaign which would expand and improve the theatre's facilities.

The first of many educational programs to follow was School Days, created in 1979. Each spring this educational program serves as many as 8,000 students from the LAUSD and other public and private schools in the Southern California area. The field trip to the outdoor theatre consists of a living history with William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth or characters from American history, followed by workshops of theatre games and stage techniques. A performance of a Shakespeare or American History play follows, and the day is concluded by a question and answer session with the actors.