Theatricum’s Summer Season Begins

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum celebrates its 40th anniversary with a lively summer season of theater, music and performance under the stars and live oaks of Topanga Canyon.
Leading up to the  2013 summer repertory season are an array of celebratory events beginning May 4 with a free open house anniversary party (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) featuring a full day of food, games and theater for the whole family and a sneak peek at the upcoming repertory season.
Theatricum’s annual Mother’s Day presentation on May 12 features Lexi Pearl’s Momentum Place, an uncommon, family-friendly afternoon of performance delights including modern dance, aerial acts, juggling and performance art. On Friday, May 24, celebrated actor John C. Reilly helps Theatricum celebrate with a benefit concert by John Reilly and Friends of classic songs from folk, country and roots music.
On June 1, Theatricum’s annual summer repertory season opens with Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” directed by Ellen Geer and starring Willow Geer as Kate and Aaron Hendry as Petruchio. On June 2, Theatricum’s signature production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” co-directed by Willow Geer and Melora Marshall, brings Shakespeare’s fairies and rustics back to the theater’s enchanted wooded grounds. Opening June 22, “The Royal Family” by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber is directed by Susan Angelo and stars Topanga’s own theatrical family—the Geers.
“Merlin: The Untold Adventures” opens on July 20. The tale written and directed by Ellen Geer, features an original electronic score by composers Marshall and Kellen McDaniel.
Beginning September 5, “A Celebration of Joyce Carol Oates: ‘Tone Clusters’ and Selected Monologues,” featuring company members Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James, will open in Theatricum’s intimate second performance space.
Additional 40th anniversary programming includes Under the Oaks, featuring poetry, music and comedy improv with Theatricum’s Off the Grid. Family Fundays, offering children’s theater from Creative PlayGround and music from Peter Alsop’s Kids Koncerts (every Sunday and select Saturdays at 11 a.m., June 2-October 27); Botanicum Seedlings: A Development Series for Playwrights featuring free readings of new plays (August 25 and September 1 at 11 a.m.); and Theme Dinner Buffets in the idyllic Theatricum gardens.
On Saturday, October 5, homegrown Topangan and acclaimed singer/songwriter Inara George will close the season with “Unsung Heroes: A Tribute to Eleni Mandell,” sharing the Theatricum stage with an eclectic musical lineup.
For tickets, subscriptions, group discounts and a full schedule of theater, music and family entertainment, call (310) 455-3723 or visit  theatricum.com.