The historic Topanga Canyon outdoor venue will anchor its multi-play lineup with two Shakespeare classics.
Shakespearean tragedy will take on a Gilded Age aesthetic this weekend as the historic Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum launches its annual summer repertory season in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The public opening for Romeo and Juliet is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m., with a dedicated press opening following on June 13. The production will run in repertory through Sept. 26 alongside A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Later this summer, the schedule will expand to include Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island (adapted by artistic director Ellen Geer), Noël Coward’s Waiting in the Wings, and the premiere of Bernardo Cubría’s latest work, The People of Pompeii.
Co-directors Ellen Geer and Willow Geer have deliberately framed their production of Romeo and Juliet within the stark industrialization and social inequality of late 19th-century New York. Through this historical lens, the creative team aims to present the classic love story as a contemporary warning regarding the societal costs of political division, economic disparity, and hatred, while emphasizing the critical importance of compassion and human connection.
Teenage actors Asher Hagler and Quinnlyn Scheppner star in the title roles of the star-crossed lovers. They anchor an ensemble cast featuring David Benne as Tybalt, Billy Walker as Lord Montague, Max Lawrence as Friar Lawrence, Jon Sprik as Lord Capulet, and co-director Ellen Geer as the Nurse.
The behind-the-scenes production team includes fight choreographer Cavin (CR) Mohrhardt, costume designer A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, lighting designer Geoff Barton, sound designer Irene Silbert, and production stage manager Karen Osborne.
The venue itself carries deep regional historical significance. Established in the early 1950s by actor Will Geer after he was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, the Topanga property originally served as a refuge for blacklisted performers and folk singers, including Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. Today, the site operates as a recognized historical landmark and has received multiple accolades, including the Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., positioned midway between the Pacific Coast Highway and the Ventura Freeway. Because the main amphitheater is carved directly into a rustic canyon hillside, theater operators advise patrons to dress casually, prepare for cooler evening temperatures, and bring cushions for the bench seating. Patrons are also welcome to arrive early to picnic in the campus gardens before showtime.
Standard ticket prices range from $15 to $63, while children aged 4 and under are admitted free of charge. A special “Pay-What-You-Will” performance has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3, which features a 30-minute pre-show discussion with the cast starting at 6:30 p.m. Patrons can secure these donation-based tickets online during the week of the performance or pay cash at the box office door.
Complete scheduling details, box office reservations, and community information can be accessed by calling (310) 455-3723 or visiting theatricum.com.
Performance Schedule for ‘Romeo and Juliet’:
- June: June 6 at 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night); June 21 at 7:30 p.m.; June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- July: July 5 at 7:30 p.m.; July 12 at 3:30 p.m.; July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
- August: Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. (Pay-What-You-Will); Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- September: Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
