Will Geer News

The course of true love never did run smooth, Lysander tells his distraught lover Hermia at the beginning of A Midsummer Night?s Dream. Mischief, mayhem, moonbeams, and magic potions abound as four young Athenian lovers encounter more than they imagined possible in one of Shakespeare?s best known romantic comedies.

An old Southern family desperately clings to tradition in a newly updated version of The Cherry Orchard. Anton Chekhov's poignant comedy, freely adapted by Heidi Helen Davis and Ellen Geer, opens on June 27 on The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor stage in Topanga. Davis directs, and Geer takes on the role of Lubov Andreyevna Ranevsky - 'Lillian Randolph Cunningham' in this adaptation.

The course of true love never did run smooth, Lysander tells his distraught lover Hermia at the beginning of A Midsummer Night?s Dream. Mischief, mayhem, moonbeams, and magic potions abound as four young Athenian lovers encounter more than they imagined possible in one of Shakespeare?s best known romantic comedies.

For its sixth season, the NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble will present Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors in repertory with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, at the Lebanon Opera House from June 18 through July 4. These two classic plays will showcase the versatile talents of NESE's acting Company: Comedy is a fast-paced popular delight, full of puns, wordplay and slapstick humor, and one of the funniest plays the Bard ever wrote; in contrast, Godot is a tragicomedy, where 'nothing' happens, but audiences still stay glued to their seats.

A comic tale of greed, lust... and 'American values,' Moliere's The Miser opens on the outdoor stage at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum on Saturday, July 25, rounding out Theatricum's five-play 2009 Summer Repertory Season.

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum brings back its award-winning, signature production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, an audience favorite set against an enchanted forest backdrop unrivaled by any other theater - because it's the real thing. Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor stage, the most magical setting in Los Angeles, is once again transformed into an enchanted fairy forest July 4 through September 7.

An old Southern family desperately clings to tradition in a newly updated version of The Cherry Orchard. Anton Chekhov's poignant comedy, freely adapted by Heidi Helen Davis and Ellen Geer, opens on June 27 on The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor stage in Topanga. Davis directs, and Geer takes on the role of Lubov Andreyevna Ranevsky - 'Lillian Randolph Cunningham' in this adaptation.

For its sixth season, the NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble will present Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors in repertory with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, at the Lebanon Opera House from June 18 through July 4. These two classic plays will showcase the versatile talents of NESE's acting Company: Comedy is a fast-paced popular delight, full of puns, wordplay and slapstick humor, and one of the funniest plays the Bard ever wrote; in contrast, Godot is a tragicomedy, where 'nothing' happens, but audiences still stay glued to their seats.

The Topanga Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) celebrates its gala 30th anniversary with a concert of family fare to benefit programming at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Conductor Guido Lamell of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by musicians of the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Philharmonic Orchestras, and Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer weaves theatrical magic into the music with selections from the upcoming Mainstage Repertory Season that includes Julius Caesar and Cymbeline by William Shakespeare, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov and The Miser by Moliere. The benefit performance to support the non-profit theater's repertory and education programs that entertain, inspire and educate thousands of Angelenos each year, will take place at Theatricum Botaniucm's rustic outdoor amphitheater in Topanga on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm.

Friendship turns to betrayal, murder, and ultimately war in Julius Caesar, opening at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum's outdoor amphitheater on Saturday, June 6.

Through its ongoing development series for playwrights, 'Botanicum Seedlings,' The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum presents public readings of new works on June 7, 14 and 21. The plays presented are Robin Rice Lichtig's The Power of Birds on June 7, How to Shoot a Bull Moose by Jonathan A. Goldberg on June 14, and Michael David's Awake on June 21. The playreadings take place Sundays at 11 am, and admission is free.

Fidelity and loyalty triumph over treachery to assure that love will prevail in one of Shakespeare's most complex plays. The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum's 2009 Summer Season opens with the romantic Cymbeline, directed by Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer. Performances take place every Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm, May 31 through September 27, in the Theatricum's 299-seat outdoor amphitheater carved into the Topanga Canyon hillside.

The Topanga Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) celebrates its gala 30th anniversary with a concert of family fare to benefit programming at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Conductor Guido Lamell of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by musicians of the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Philharmonic Orchestras, and Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer weaves theatrical magic into the music with selections from the upcoming Mainstage Repertory Season that includes Julius Caesar and Cymbeline by William Shakespeare, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov and The Miser by Moliere. The benefit performance to support the non-profit theater's repertory and education programs that entertain, inspire and educate thousands of Angelenos each year, will take place at Theatricum Botaniucm's rustic outdoor amphitheater in Topanga on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed repertory theatre company, concludes its 18th Season with Jean Anouilh's The Rehearsal, which opens Saturday, April 18 and closes Sunday, May 24, 2009 (previews begin Saturday, April 11). One of the celebrated French playwright's most critically acclaimed plays, it is directed by ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and the cast includes Steve Coombs (Villebosse), Susan Angelo (Countess), Robertson Dean (The Count), Jill Hill (Hortensia), Mitchell Edmonds (Damiens), ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Geoff Elliott (Hero), Lenne Klingaman (Lucille) and Chris Roessner (Footman).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed repertory theatre company, concludes its 18th Season with Jean Anouilh's The Rehearsal, which opens Saturday, April 18 and closes Sunday, May 24, 2009 (previews begin Saturday, April 11). One of the celebrated French playwright's most critically acclaimed plays, it is directed by ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and the cast includes Steve Coombs (Villebosse), Susan Angelo (Countess), Robertson Dean (The Count), Jill Hill (Hortensia), Mitchell Edmonds (Damiens), ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Geoff Elliott (Hero), Lenne Klingaman (Lucille) and Chris Roessner (Footman).

This summer, audiences can forget their troubles and escape to Theatricum's bucolic outdoor stage in Topanga to enjoy a timeless romance, a political thriller, a poignant comedy, a social satire, and a magical fantasy. Theatricum's amphitheater is terraced into the hillside of the rustic canyon, so dress casually - and bring a picnic to enjoy before or after the show on the idyllic grounds.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2008. The 40th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 16 at the El Portal Theatre, thanks to the generous donation of the El Portal's management. The theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood. Tickets are $40; $5 off if purchased in advance via PayPal. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a catered reception (with no-host bar) and silent auction. The show commences at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Awards show can be reserved from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fourth production of its 2008 - 2009 season, CANDIDA, written by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Kathleen F. Conlin. CANDIDA will preview on Wednesday, February 4; Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center. CANDIDA is the delightful, light-hearted classic from George Bernard Shaw, writer of Major Barbara and Arms and the Man, winner of the Academy-Award for writing Pygmalion, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Reverend Morell thinks he and his wife, Candida, have the perfect marriage, but when a passionate young poet also declares his love for her, Morell begins to doubt whether his wife loves him after all. Written over 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw shows that marriage hasn't changed all that much. Directed by Kathleen F. Conlin, from her acclaimed production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fourth production of its 2008 - 2009 season, CANDIDA, written by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Kathleen F. Conlin. CANDIDA will preview on Wednesday, February 4; Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center. CANDIDA is the delightful, light-hearted classic from George Bernard Shaw, writer of Major Barbara and Arms and the Man, winner of the Academy-Award for writing Pygmalion, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Reverend Morell thinks he and his wife, Candida, have the perfect marriage, but when a passionate young poet also declares his love for her, Morell begins to doubt whether his wife loves him after all. Written over 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw shows that marriage hasn't changed all that much. Directed by Kathleen F. Conlin, from her acclaimed production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

A boy's struggle with grief turns into a magical, musical journey for him, his family, and the teacher who tries to save him. Moving Arts presents the World Premiere production of Song of Extinction, written by multiple award-winning playwright E.M. Lewis, directed by Heidi Helen Davis and with original music by Geoffrey Pope.