Earnestine Phillips

Noël Coward's WAITING IN THE WINGS is Coming to Theatricum Botanicum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2026

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present Waiting in the Wings, a vibrant, funny, humane comedy by Noël Coward. Waiting in the Wings will run in rotation every weekend with Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Treasure Island.

Interview: Ellen Geer on STRIFE at Theatricum Botanicum
by Shari Barrett - Aug 30, 2025

Strife, a rarely produced play by Nobel Prize-winning writer and social activist John Galsworthy explores the complexities of labor relations, a theme that resonated with both Galsworthy and the Geer family of actors and theater directors. Here's my interview with Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer about presenting it at Theatricum Botanicum.

Photos: STRIFE By John Galsworthy Opens This Weekend In Outdoor Production At Theatricum
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 20, 2025

A new production of “Strife,” the rarely produced drama by Nobel Prize-winning writer and social activist John Galsworthy, is set to open this weekend in an outdoor production at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. Check out the photos, below.

STRIFE by John Galsworthy to be Presented at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 20, 2025

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present a new production of Strife by Nobel Prize-winning writer and social activist John Galsworthy. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

THE WINTER'S TALE & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to Kick Off Theatricum's Outdoor Summer Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 16, 2024

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will open its 2024 summer repertory season with two productions by the Bard. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum to Present QUEEN MARGARET'S VERSION OF SHAKESPEARE'S WAR OF THE ROSES
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 10, 2023

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will continue its 50th Anniversary Summer Season with Queen Margaret’s Version of Shakespeare’s War of the Roses, a new edit of Shakespeare’s best-known history plays — Henry VI Parts I, II and III and Richard III — compiled by artistic director Ellen Geer.

Photos: First Look At The World Premiere of TROUBLE THE WATER At Theatricum
by Grace Cutler - Jul 23, 2022

 Inspired by the little-known, larger-than-life true story of Robert Smalls, the first African American hero of the Civil War, Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum presents the world premiere of Trouble the Water, freely adapted by Ellen Geer from the 2019 award-winning historical novel by Rebecca Dwight Bruff.

World Premiere Of TROUBLE THE WATER Recounts Extraordinary Story Of African American Hero Robert Smalls
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 15, 2022

Inspired by the little-known, larger-than-life true story of Robert Smalls, the first African American hero of the Civil War, Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents the world premiere of Trouble the Water, freely adapted by Ellen Geer from the 2019 award-winning historical novel by Rebecca Dwight Bruff. Longtime.

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to Kick Off Outdoor Season at Theatricum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 4, 2022

Fans of Shakespeare, alfresco theater, old time rock’n roll and just plain fun— pack a picnic and head up to the spectacular, one-of-a-kind outdoor venue at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, where the 2022 repertory season, sponsored by the S. Mark Taper Foundation, opens with two buoyant comedies.

Theatricum Returns with Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 17, 2021

Two beloved plays by William Shakespeare are set to welcome audiences back to the spectacular outdoor venue at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum this summer.

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum Returns to the Stage
by Stephi Wild - Sep 19, 2020

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum plans to carry on the tradition of outdoor summer repertory theater by returning to the stage in 2021.

Photo Flash: Thornton Wilder's THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH Opens Tomorrow At Theatricum
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 12, 2019

The Skin of Our Teeth — The story of humankind told through the lives of the Antrobus family. Set in 20th century New Jersey and the Ice Age, Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a whirlwind of modernity and antiquity.

Thornton Wilder's THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH Celebrates Human Indestructibility Outdoors at Theatricum
by Sarah Hookey - Jun 18, 2019

The Skin of Our Teeth, the Pulitzer Prize-winning tribute to the indestructibility of the human race by Thornton Wilder, opens on the beautiful outdoor stage at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on Saturday,July 13, where performances continue through Sept. 29. 

Theatricum Botanicum Presents New Version of Henrik Ibsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
by Sarah Hookey - Jun 4, 2019

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum continues its mission to resist and struggle against the forces of inequality and injustice by presenting socially conscious classics that speak to today. A new version of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, freely adapted by artistic director Ellen Geer and co-directed by Geer and Melora Marshall, joins Theatricum's 2019 summer repertory season beginning Saturday, June 22.

NAACP Reveals Nominations For The 28th Annual Theatre Awards
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 28, 2019

Once again, the NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theatre Viewing Committee has spoken, and the nominations are in for the 28th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. This year's pedigreed list of nominees collectively represents a rich, extensive dossier of legacies and accolades for both stage and screen. These nominees include members of a legendary 'gospel royal family' as well as a Legend whose part of an elite group of artists in the EGOT winners circle. These, along with all their fellow nominees, will be honored for their excellence on the small and large stages during our annual awards dinner, slated to be held on Monday, June 17, 2019, 6:00 p.m.at the prestigious Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Theatricum Presents First-Ever Revival of HAITI
by Julie Musbach - Jul 3, 2018

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents the first-ever revival of a historical melodrama about the Haitian revolution that graced the stage at New York's Lafayette Theatre in Harlem in 1938 as part of the Federal Theatre Project. Haiti by William DuBois will join Theatricum's summer repertory season beginning July 28. Performances will continue at Theatricum's beautiful outdoor venue in Topanga through Sept. 29.

TROUBLE IN MIND by Alice Childress Comes to Theatricum
by BWW News Desk - Jul 29, 2017

Trouble in Mind, the scathingly funny backstage drama about interracial politics by pioneering African American playwright Alice Childress, will get a revival at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum beginning July 29.

TROUBLE IN MIND by Alice Childress Comes to Theatricum
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 5, 2017

Trouble in Mind, the scathingly funny backstage drama about interracial politics by pioneering African American playwright Alice Childress, will get a revival at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum beginning July 29.

Theatricum Botanicum Announces 2017 Summer Season Outdoors in Topanga
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 20, 2017

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum rises up and speaks out with a summer line-up of socially conscious classic and contemporary plays, music and performance. The 2017 summer season at the company's unique outdoor setting in Topanga will offer five mainstage productions in rotating repertory as well as a host of satellite events, June through October.

Theatricum Botanicum Presents the RE-PETE CELEBRATION 2017
by BWW News Desk - Mar 1, 2017

Audiences are invited to sing along at a tribute to late singer/songwriter and activist Pete Seeger in what has become an annual tradition at Theatricum Botanicum.