Thad Geer News

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.

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.

ANIMAL FARM, Orwell's brilliant political satire about the corrupting influence of power, charts the fall of idealism and the rise of tyranny after the animals of Manor Farm rise up against their oppressive human owner in a struggle for rights, equality, gaining the right to make their own choices on how to live their lives. Onstage, the story is read by two children, the girl (Sierra Rose Friday) and boy (Shane McDermott), keeping the audience informed as to the action taking place or what has gone on off stage leading to that particular scene. It all begins as the animals, led by Snowball, an idealistic pig (Christopher Yarrow), take over the farm from Mr. Jones (Steve Fisher). Their plan goes well at first; all the animals are equal and content. But eventually, several of the other pigs, led by Napoleon (Mark Lewis) and Squealer (Melora Marshall), yield to the lure of power and start to make decisions that serve their own interests best, eventually leading them to proclaim that some animals are more equal than others. The quote, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely,' certainly applies to Orwell's masterful work.

How do lies become truths? An acclaimed stage adaptation of Animal Farm, the classic novel by George Orwell, opens at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum on June 17, part of the company's "Rising Up" Summer 2017 Repertory Season.

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents TOM, a world premiere stage adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' that offers a new look at the power of Stowe's most famous novel and at the true grit of its title character. Written by artistic director Ellen Geer and featuring folk music of the period, TOM joins the repertory season at Theatricum's spectacular outdoor amphitheatre in Topanga on June 18. BroadwayWorld has an inside look at the production - scroll down for photos!

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents TOM, a world premiere stage adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' that offers a new look at the power of Stowe's most famous novel and at the true grit of its title character. Written by artistic director Ellen Geer and featuring folk music of the period, TOM joins the repertory season at Theatricum's spectacular outdoor amphitheatre in Topanga on June 18.

A poignant look at justice and the human spirit as told through the eyes of a young girl, Christopher Sergel's stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, continues this summer's 'Americana' season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum, opening tonight, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

A poignant look at justice and the human spirit as told through the eyes of a young girl, Christopher Sergel's stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, continues this summer's 'Americana' season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum, opening June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum kicks off its 2015 'Americana' season with an all-American staging of William Shakespeare's As You Like It, re-set in the divided South of the post-Civil War era and featuring traditional American folk music and dance from that period. As You Like It opens on Sunday, June 7 at 3:30 p.m.

Theatricum Botanicum will present Deborah Brevoort's The Women of Lockerbie beginning June 30 on Theatricum's outdoor stage in Topanga Canyon, and continue through the end of September.

Theatricum Botanicum will present Deborah Brevoort's The Women of Lockerbie beginning June 30 on Theatricum's outdoor stage in Topanga Canyon, and continue through the end of September.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way. Melora Marshall and Chad Jason Scheppner alternate as the thrilling schemer audiences love to hate in William Shakespeare's Richard III, closing October 2 at the outdoor Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way.

It's the battle of the sexes this summer when Theatricum Botanicum pairs two of the Bard's most foolishly romantic plays. Kicking off Theatricum's six-play repertory season during the first weekend of June, artistic director Ellen Geer directs The Merry Wives of Windsor, opening on Saturday, June 4 at 8 pm.

Kick back under the stars at Theatricum and enjoy powerful tributes to people who have shaped the history of the world, our nation and our music. On Friday, July 16 at 8 pm, James Cromwell, Amy Madigan, Michael O'Neill, Jordan Belfi and Christina Pickles headline a benefit performance of CARRY IT ON! Great American moments in word and song. On Friday, July 23 at 8 pm the Geer family, including Ellen Geer, Peter Alsop, Thad Geer, Willow Geer, Melora Marshall, and Ian Flanders, presents Theatricum's annual The Woody Guthrie Story. On Saturday, September 4 at 3 pm, singer/songwriter Inara George and Friends present A Tribute to Dolly Parton. Finally, in August and September the Theatricum Summer Repertory Company presents eight additional performances of CARRY IT ON! as part of the summer repertory season. Proceeds raised from the benefit performances will help support Theatricum's repertory company and arts education programs.

Kick back under the stars at Theatricum and enjoy powerful tributes to people who have shaped the history of the world, our nation and our music. On Friday, July 16 at 8 pm, James Cromwell, Amy Madigan, Michael O'Neill, Jordan Belfi and Christina Pickles headline a benefit performance of CARRY IT ON! Great American moments in word and song. On Friday, July 23 at 8 pm the Geer family, including Ellen Geer, Peter Alsop, Thad Geer, Willow Geer, Melora Marshall, and Ian Flanders, presents Theatricum's annual The Woody Guthrie Story. On Saturday, September 4 at 3 pm, singer/songwriter Inara George and Friends present A Tribute to Dolly Parton. Finally, in August and September the Theatricum Summer Repertory Company presents eight additional performances of CARRY IT ON! as part of the summer repertory season. Proceeds raised from the benefit performances will help support Theatricum's repertory company and arts education programs.

'Voices of America in Story and Song' - Amy Madigan, Peter Alsop, Ellen Geer, Melora Marshall and members of the Theatricum Botanicum Repertory Company present selections from Theatricum's 'Americana' series, integrating poetry, dialogue, music and songs from various periods during the on-going evolution of our nation.