Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

Topanga, California

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is a professional outdoor repertory theater located in Topanga, California, just north of Los Angeles. Through its Repertory Company, private Academy of the Classics, in-school Classroom Enrichment programs, and flagship School Days Field Trip Program, Theatricum is committed to bringing classic and modern texts to life for audiences of all ages, races, and cultural and economic backgrounds. Founded in the early 1970's by Will Geer, Theatricum has an over 30-year history of introducing audiences to some of our greatest playwrights, such as Shakespeare, Miller, Hellman, Wilder, and Orwell. Led by Artistic Director Ellen Geer, the organization is also a learning laboratory, introducing the next generation of students, artists, and audience members to heightened language and universal storytelling. Serving Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, Theatricum is a center for the arts, for culture, and for social expression.

Theatricum Botanicum's School Days and Classroom Enrichment programs offer an opportunity for Los Angeles–area youth to experience Shakespeare's language in an exciting, visceral way that makes a lasting impression. The School Days Field Trip experience begins with an in-class visit by a Theatricum artist-educator, during which students are given background information on the play they will be seeing (The Tempest or A Midsummer Night's Dream). On the day of their Field Trip, students travel to Theatricum's 300-seat outdoor amphitheatre to see a Living History presentation featuring Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare; take two technique workshops (juggling, combat, music, ensemble, etc.); see a full production of a Shakespeare play (original language intact, but edited slightly for length); and have the opportunity to ask questions of the actors. Our Classroom Enrichment Assemblies bring exciting abridged versions (original language intact, edited for length and smaller cast size) of The Tempest or A Midsummer Night's Dream directly to the school site. Using 6–10 actors and a 55-minute cutting of the script, these presentations are a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for those schools not able to travel to Theatricum and attend School Days. The combination of these programs will serve 15–20 schools in greater Los Angeles and surrounding areas over the course of 1½ months.

http://www.theatricum.com/