The Theatricum Botanicum lives not only as a cultural center of Topanga Canyon but also as a beloved haven for people throughout the city, attracting audiences from around Los Angeles who are drawn to its outdoor spaces and artistic expressions. Rooted in the ancient, verdant verses of Shakespeare, the space has provided theatrical immersion for students, actors, playwrights, and artists for 52 years and counting.
“It’s a sanctuary for artists,” described Bianca Akbiyik, Education & Teen Programs Coordinator. “A place to gather and create art, freely.”
The Theatricum offers a plethora of classes for youth and teens throughout the summer and school year. August wraps up the annual Young People’s Camp, introducing young thespians (ages 4-7) to the world of theater and Shakespeare. Coming up in September is a Youth Improv and Shakespeare program (ages 8-13), a creative way to spend Saturday mornings in the flow of spontaneity and humor. Private coaching is available to both youth and teens; the teen sessions are specifically geared towards the college theater audition process. Other workshops include a Teen Musical Theater Intensive beginning on September 6, as well as a two-day College Audition Workshop in late November.
In conjunction with the youth courses, the Theatricum offers a six-week Improvisation for Adults class, providing parents and their children the opportunity to easily attend their respective courses at the same time. Join actor Tim Simek in Improv for a comedic and creative Saturday morning, or join Artistic Director Ellen Geer, beginning in September, in her Condensed Classical Intensive, an opportunity to work with a master on the speech of classical theater. A bimonthly Playwriting class, guided by playwright Bernardo Cubría, will begin in October, culminating with a showcase of staged readings on the Main Stage in December. Actress Susan Angelo will lead a virtual Scansion & Rhetoric class, available to anyone on Zoom, providing comfortable, at-home opportunities for working on monologues, practicing and understanding Shakespeare, and learning to interpret the vintage language.
“We have opportunities for adults of all ages to come to our theater and learn about all aspects of performing and writing,” commented Michelle Merring, Adult Education Manager. “I love to see students come in and take our classes, become revitalized, get to be on stage, get to talk the language of Shakespeare.”
The Main Stage itself is currently swept up in Much Ado About Nothing, a Shakespearean soundbath of hilarity and foolishness, featuring uproarious performances by Willow Geer as Beatrice and Aaron Hendry as Benedick. The physicality of their performances are as agile and limber as their language. Additionally, the seasonal classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues through the end of summer, with this year’s final charming performance on September 15.
Other offerings include John Galsworthy’s Strife, a nineteenth century commentary on economic imbalance, a tasteful reckoning with the current political atmosphere, playing through early October; Ellen Geer’s The Seagull: Malibu—a retelling of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull—that takes the stage until October 5; and Alice Childress’s Wine in the Wilderness, from early August to October 12. Marshall McDaniel’s Echoes of the New World will be featured on October 10, 11, and 17.
“The theater is always rooted in artistic expression,” Merring said. “We’re a theater for the community.”
The magic of the Theatricum Botancium lies in its ability to maintain the aliveness of words and ideas from an older time, making them tangible for today’s audiences, a product of its continued relevance. Shakespeare’s festivities and sonnets continue to enthrall both actors and audiences alike, and the canopies of oak trees throughout the outdoor theaters transport the audiences on a true midsummer night’s dream.
“It’s beholden to the elements,” said Akbiyik. “It’s magical to see what happens when you become one with nature while you’re performing and creating art. Nature within itself is a form of art.”
“It’s a very symbiotic relationship that we have with the rest of the canyon,” added Akbiyik. “The work and the art we do feeds the Topanga community, and the Topanga community feeds us. There’s a very specific Topanga way of life that heavily influences what Theatricum is, and when people come here to our theater, they get a taste of Topanga.”
I personally remember attending the Young People’s Camp at seven and eight years old, chanting “double double toil and trouble” and discovering a love for theater that continues to sustain me. Follow suit! Immerse yourself in a class, support the writers, actors, and directors by attending a play, or take a walk through the exquisitely Topangan botanical gardens.
Learn more https://theatricum.com
