Franc Ross

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: Re-imagined Chekhov Classic THE SEAGULL: MALIBU at Theatricum Botanicum
by Emmy Rice - Jul 12, 2025

The world premiere of “The Seagull: Malibu,” an evocative retelling of Anton Chekhov’s timeless masterpiece as re-imagined by Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum artistic director Ellen Geer, opens this Saturday at the company’s beautiful outdoor venue in Topanga.

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.

THE SEAGULL: MALIBU to be Presented at Theatricum Botanicum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 4, 2025

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present the world premiere of The Seagull: Malibu, an evocative retelling of Anton Chekhov’s timeless masterpiece as re-imagined by Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer. Learn more.

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.

Photos: THE WINTER'S TALE Opens Outdoor Summer Season At Theatricum This Weekend
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 1, 2024

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum opens its 2024 summer repertory season in rustic Topanga Canyon this weekend with “The Winter’s Tale,” William Shakespeare’s sweeping romance of passion and forgiveness. Check out the photos, below.

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.

Review: QUEEN MARGARET'S VERSION OF SHAKESPEARE'S WAR OF THE ROSES at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
by Tracey Paleo - Jul 10, 2023

Ellen Geer’s new compilation of Shakespeare's best-known history plays does nothing to address the misogynistic, xenophobic views that have led to Margaret of Anjou’s historical presentation (or any other woman’s) as a stereotypical villain. But in other ways, it succeeds in illuminating Margaret as what she actually was - a force to be reckoned with.

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.

MACBETH and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to Kick Off Theatricum's 50th Anniversary Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 26, 2023

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will open its 50th Anniversary Summer Season with two of William Shakespeare’s most mystical offerings: the thrilling supernatural tragedy, Macbeth, and that most magical of romantic comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

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.

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.

Theatricum Botanicum Presents MOBY DICK--REHEARSED By Orson Welles
by Sarah Hookey - May 16, 2019

A celebration of one of the greatest novels ever written and a triumph of theatrical imagination. Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents Moby Dick-Rehearsed by Orson Welles.

BWW Review: Politics and Power Clash in Theatricum Botanicum's CORIOLANUS
by Ellen Dostal - Jun 8, 2018

Theatricum Botanicum takes on Shakespeare's stinging drama CORIOLANUS this summer on its outdoor stage in Topanga Canyon and offers an intriguing look at the cynicism of politics and power. The work includes a massive cast of 45. Some are seasoned veterans and many are young actors in the early stages of their careers, including a sweet Geer granddaughter (Quinnlyn Scheppner). Together they bring forth the early days of Rome when democracy was in its infancy and mob mentality could turn the tide in the blink of an eye.

Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE Hits Close to Home at Theatricum Botanicum
by Julie Musbach - May 17, 2018

A parable of mass hysteria that draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch hunts of 1692 and McCarthyism, which gripped America in the 1950s, The Crucible by Arthur Miller remains eerily timely in today's climate of fake news. Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum, its own history firmly rooted in the McCarthy-era Hollywood blacklist - when actor Will Geer and his wife, Herta Ware, created the theater as a haven for blacklisted actors - opens a new production of Miller's modern classic onJune 30. Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer, Will's daughter, is at the helm, with family members Thad Geer,Willow Geer and Melora Marshall featured in the cast.

Theatricum Opens 2018 Summer Season with Shakespeare's CORIOLANUS
by Julie Musbach - May 8, 2018

William Shakespeare'sCoriolanus, a tragedy based on the life of legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, opens the summer season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on June 2.

Photo Flash: Theatricum Opens Summer Season with MERCHANT OF VENICE
by Julie Musbach - Jun 3, 2017

William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice opens the summer season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on June 3.

BWW Reviews: EQUIVOCATION, It's all in the Details and Theatricum Gets Them All Right
by Ellen Dostal - Sep 12, 2014

Throughout two thirds of Bill Cain's political thriller EQUIVOCATION, a confused Shagspeare (known to us otherwise as Shakespeare and played by Ted Barton) keeps asking questions and getting answers that don't make sense. Finally a circumspect Father Garnet (Franc Ross) tells him to look for the question beneath the question and suddenly the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place.

Photo Flash: First Look at EQUIVOCATION at Theatricum Botanicum
by BWW News Desk - Sep 4, 2014

According to the history books, the infamous Gunpowder Plot was a conspiracy by England's marginalized Catholics to blow up Protestant King James I and his entire Parliament. Or was it? What if the official story concealed a darker truth? And what if King James had commanded William Shakespeare to write a play -- a "true historie" -- on order to further cement the government's account? These are some of the questions asked in Equivocation, Bill Cain's witty exploration of political power and artistic integrity. Winner of the prestigious 2010 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, Equivocation opens on Sept. 5 at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!