If you've never been to Theatricum Botanicum, you're in for a treat! The wooded, ethereal setting of the outdoor theatre built into the side of the mountain makes it a unique experience. Enjoy a picnic beforehand on the picturesque grounds or come early and grab a drink from the snack shop to sip leisurely before the show starts. Enjoy performances throughout the summer; there are six to choose from this repertory season, and you could even see all six in one weekend. Bring your friends and/or children who can sit quietly for at least an hour. It's also a great way to spend date night with your significant other. It's one of the most uniques experiences you can have in Los Angeles during the summer.
While I'm not a Shakespeare fan per se, I've been known to always enjoy the performances I've seen at Theatricum Botanicum. This theatre has a way of bringing the beloved playwrights' works to life in a way I've never seen before. You feel like you're living in the 1600's watching your neighbors conspire. It's much easier to understand Olde English with the amazing acting and directing that's commonplace here, especially with Twelfth Night. The talented cast and the always amazing direction of Ellen Geer, make this a must-see summer theatre experience for the whole family! Interested? Read more about Twelfth Night below:
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Mischief, madness, and romance are in the air this summer when Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum presents William Shakespeare's rollicking comedy, Twelfth Night, in its magical, outdoor Topanga amphitheater. Twelfth Night opened Theatricum's summer repertory season on Saturday, June 1 and performances will continue through Sept. 28.
Shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, and fearing that her brother Sebastian has drowned, Viola must disguise herself as a man. She falls in love with the neighboring Duke Orsino — who loves the Lady Olivia — who loves the disguised Viola. But false appearances are the norm on this Island of Misrule, where the fool is king, the court jester is a philosopher, and hijinks among the servants are wickedly delicious. Ellen Geer directs with her usual flair, while original music by composer Marshall McDaniel lends the familiar words and songs a refreshing new sound, lifting Shakespeare’s elevated language to even greater heights.
Bringing the Bard’s tale to riotous life is a cast that includes Theatricum favorites Willow Geer as Viola, Christine Breihan as Olivia, Christopher W. Jones as Sir Toby Belch, Max Lawrence as Duke Orsino, Melora Marshall as Malvolio, Sean McConaghy as Antonio, Cavin Mohrhardt as Sebastian, Elizabeth Tobias as Maria, Frank Weidner as Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Time Winters as Feste.
Twelfth Night was first seen in the Inns of Court shortly after Christmas (hence, the title). In Shakespeare's Renaissance, this holiday was celebrated as a festival, in which everything was made delightfully topsy-turvy — much like the world of the play's Illyria. Scholars believe that William Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night in 1601, near the middle of his career. Considered one of his finest comedies, it rivals his others in character development and plot sophistication. A play about infatuation and the outrageous things it causes us to do, Twelfth Night makes use of illusion, deception, disguise, and even madness, mixing in darker qualities often associated with more serious drama.
Costume design for Twelfth Night is by Amy Mazzaferro, lighting design is by Zach Moore and props are by Leah Haynor. Elna Kordijan is the production stage manager.
Unlike most theaters in the L.A. area that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum, using a company of actors, will perform each of the plays in repertory, making it possible to see all six plays in a single summer weekend.
The season will also see the opening of Theatricum’s signature production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the same stage. Also, Moby Dick–Rehearsed — a “whale of a tale” adapted by the great Orson Welles from Herman Melville’s novel. Ellen Geer’s new, freely adapted version of Henrik Ibsen's powerful An Enemy of the People joins the season; and Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Skin of Our Teeth kicks off on July 13. All five productions will play in repertory through Sept. 29. A sixth production will open Aug. 17 on the smaller stage in the theater’s intimate S. Mark Taper Pavilion: The GinGame by D.L. Coburn — another Pulitzer Prize winner — will star long-time Theatricum company members and real-life husband-and-wife team Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James in a co-production with the Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Theatricum Botanicum has been named “One of the 50 Coolest Places in Los Angeles” by Buzz magazine, “One of Southern California's most beguiling theater experiences” by Sunset magazine, and “Best Theater in the Woods” by the LA Weekly. “The enchantment of a midsummer night at Theatricum Botanicum [makes it] crystal clear why audiences have been driving up into the hills since Theatricum’s maiden season way back in 1973. Summer Shakespeare doesn’t get any better than this,” writes StageSceneLA. Says Los Angeles magazine, “The amphitheater feels like a Lilliputian Hollywood Bowl, with pre-show picnics and puffy seat cushions, yet we were close enough to see the stitching on the performer's costumes. Grab a blanket and a bottle and head for the hills.” In 2017, Theatricum was named “one of the best outdoor theaters around the world” by the Daily Beast.
Theatricum’s beginnings can be traced to the early 1950s when Will Geer, a victim of the McCarthy era Hollywood blacklist (before he became known as the beloved Grandpa on The Waltons), opened a theater for blacklisted actors and folk singers on his property in Topanga. Friends such as Ford Rainey, John Randolph, and Woody Guthrie joined him on the dirt stage for vigorous performances and inspired grassroots activism, while the audiences sat on railroad ties. Today, two outdoor amphitheaters are situated in the natural canyon ravine, where audiences are able to relax and enjoy the wilderness during an afternoon or evening's performance. Theatricum’s main stage amphitheater sports a new and improved sun shade for increased audience comfort, installed with support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Ralph M. Parson’s Foundation. Theatricum is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Margaret Harford Award for “sustained excellence,” which is the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's highest honor.
The amphitheater is 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 and picnic before a performance.
Twelfth Night opened June 1st and continues through Sept. 28. Tickets range from $10 – $42; children 4 and under are free. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga, midway between Malibu and the San Fernando Valley. For a complete schedule of performances and to purchase tickets, call310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com. Visit Theatricum on facebook:www.facebook.com/theatricum. Follow us on twitter: @theatricum and Instagram:@theatricum_botanicum.
Bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds beforehand. You'll love spending some quality time in nature. The theatre also has snacks and drinks for purchase.
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