Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

What Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum does

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor repertory theater founded in 1973 by actor Will Geer in Topanga Canyon, California. The organization operates on a 14-acre cultural complex anchored by a 299-seat outdoor amphitheater with three additional stages, gardens, and wilderness grounds. Its core product is an annual summer repertory season of five rotating plays, produced under the artistic direction of co-Producing Artistic Directors Ellen Geer and Willow Geer. The 2026 season includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The People of Pompeii, Treasure Island, and Waiting in the Wings. The organization is internationally recognized for its interpretation of Shakespeare, a reputation built over 50+ years.

The company generates revenue across five streams: (1) ticket sales from repertory performances and season subscriptions, distributed via the Arts People ticketing platform; (2) year-round arts education, including youth drama camps ($975-$1,395), teen repertory intensives, adult private coaching ($75-$90/hour via Zoom or in-person), and the P.R.E.P.P. professional training program; (3) venue rentals of the 14-acre complex for film, weddings, corporate events, and memorials; (4) live music and special events, including the Under the Oaks concert series, Family Fundays, and the Holiday Family Faire; and (5) charitable contributions through a Patron Partner monthly giving program ($15+/month), five-tier corporate sponsorships ($3,000-$50,000+), foundation grants (Biller Family Foundation), and government arts agency funding (LA County Arts Commission, NEA via Shakespeare in American Communities). Pricing models mix transactional (tickets, venue rentals, online Snippets video courses at $50/series), subscription (sponsorships, coaching bundles), and recurring donation mechanics.

The customer base is segmented across Schools (K-12) — particularly magnet and private schools across the Greater Los Angeles Metro area — Theatre Enthusiasts (individual ticket buyers and families), Youth/Ages 4-18 drama students, Adult Learners in classical theater, and Event Renters. Distribution relies on direct box office sales, targeted email outreach to schools, online ticketing, and digital storefronts. Named education partners include Ojai Valley School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, St. Mark's School, Cleveland Humanities Magnet, Patrick Henry Middle School, Walter Reed Middle School, and Sylmar Charter High School, supported by partnerships with the Folger Shakespeare Library (since 2016) and federal/state arts agencies. The School Days Field Trip program has run for over 35 years.

Name

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

Legal name

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum

Website

https://theatricum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor repertory theater in Topanga, California, operating a 299-seat amphitheater on 14 acres. It presents an annual five-play repertory season and delivers year-round classical arts education, private coaching, and field trip programs serving schools, families, youth, and adults across Greater Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater & Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Outdoor theater performances
• Classical theater education
• Shakespeare repertory productions
• Arts education programs
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Topanga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live Theatre Performances: Ticket sales from repertory season performances at the outdoor amphitheater. Season subscriptions and single tickets available for 5 rotating plays.
2. Education Programs: Year-round classes for actors of all ages including Youth Drama Camps, Teen Repertory Summer Intensive, Adult Academy of the Classics, private coaching sessions, and school field trip programs.
3. Venue Rentals: The 14-acre cultural complex with amphitheater, gardens, and stages is rented for film, events, weddings, memorials, and corporate events.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on charitable contributions. Multiple sponsorship levels from $3,000 to $50,000+, one-time donations, and recurring Patron Partner monthly giving program.
5. Special Events: Live music concerts under the Under the Oaks series, Holiday Family Faire, and private event hosting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor repertory theater that produces an annual summer season of five plays (predominantly Shakespeare) in a 299-seat amphitheater in Topanga Canyon, California. The organization supplements performances with year-round theatre education programs for ages 4 through adult, K-12 school field trips and classroom enrichment, a six-month professional training program (PREPP), live music concerts and special events, online stage combat video courses (Snippets), venue rentals on its 14-acre cultural complex, and a Patron Partner recurring giving program.

Product overview

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor theater offering a diverse portfolio of programs centered on classical theater and arts education. The core offering is the Repertory Season featuring five plays annually in a 299-seat amphitheater. Supporting offerings include Education Programs (Academy of the Classics, private coaching, youth drama camps, stage combat training), School Programs (field trips and classroom enrichment), the Professional Repertory Education and Performance Program (PREPP), Live Music and Special Events (Under the Oaks concert series, Family Fundays, Holiday Faire), and Venue Rentals for private events. Additional products include Snippets: Online Stage Combat Series (digital video courses), Patron Partner monthly giving program, and private coaching sessions for adults and teens. The organization serves the Greater Los Angeles community through both in-person and online programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Repertory Season Annual summer season of five repertory plays staged in the 299-seat outdoor amphitheater, sold via single tickets and season subscriptions to individual patrons and groups.
• Education Programs (Youth and Adult Classes) Year-round acting and theatre-arts classes segmented by age (Young People, Youth, Teen, Adult), available in-person and online, with multi-session tuition pricing and scholarships available.
• School Days Field Trips Full-day and play-only field trip experiences for K-12 schools, with per-student group pricing (e.g., $18/student for groups of 1-40 in full-day format, scaling down to $16/student at 200+).
• Classroom Enrichment Programs In-school Shakespeare and theatre-arts programming (Shakespeare Immersion Days, Classics in the Classroom, Residencies, Workshops, and Assemblies) for PK-12 students, delivered at school sites.
• Professional Repertory Education and Performance Program (PREPP) Six-month professional acting training program combining 40+ hours of classes with mainstage performance opportunities for aspiring actors, running April through October.
• Live Music and Special Events Ticketed live music and community events including the Under the Oaks concert series, Family Fundays, Off the Grid, and Holiday Family Faire.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the 14-acre cultural complex (299-seat amphitheater, gardens, three additional stages) for film production, weddings, corporate events, memorials, and photoshoots.
• Snippets Online Stage Combat Series Thirteen-part online video courses in stage combat for Broadsword, Lightsaber, and Quarterstaff, sold per episode ($8) or as all-13-lesson bundles ($50) for ages 9 and up.
• Adult Private Coaching One-on-one 60-minute private acting coaching sessions for adults, delivered via Zoom or in-person at $90/hour (single) or $75/hour (three-session bundle).
• Teen Private Coaching One-on-one 60-minute private coaching sessions for teens focused on college audition preparation, via Zoom or in-person at $75/hour (single) or $65/hour (three-session bundle).
• Youth Drama Camp Multi-week summer camps for ages 8-13 covering stage combat, improv, acting, voice/speech, and Elizabethan song and dance, culminating in a Shakespeare performance (Session 1 $975).
• Teen Repertory Summer Intensive Three-week summer intensive for ages 14-18 with workshops in voice/speech, scansion, rhetoric, Elizabethan dance, and stage combat, culminating in an abridged Shakespeare production; $1,395 tuition.
• Patron Partner Recurring Giving Program Monthly recurring donor program with season tickets as membership rewards starting at $15 per month to support theater stewardship and accessibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 25,000+ students, teachers, and patrons annually across education programs and performances
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Folger Shakespeare LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of The Folger Shakespeare Library Theatre Partnership Program since 2016. This partnership provides access to educational resources, scholarly materials, and connections within the Shakespeare academic community.
• LA County Arts CommissioncoreOthersFoundation and agency funder supporting Theatricum's programming and community engagement initiatives.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersPartner through Shakespeare in American Communities program administered by Arts Midwest. Provides funding and support for Shakespeare education programs.
• Biller Family FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporter of Theatricum's programs and operations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Geffen Playhouse: Major Los Angeles theatre producing a mix of classic and contemporary work with extensive education and community programs; comparable as a Los Angeles-based theatre with education programming but at larger scale and indoor venue.
• Center Theatre Group: Los Angeles's largest not-for-profit theatre company operating the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre; comparable as a major LA performing arts nonprofit with significant education programming, though far larger and indoor-focused.
• The Old Globe: Major regional repertory theatre in San Diego producing Shakespeare and contemporary works with substantial education and community engagement programs; comparable repertory and educational focus but at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Utah Shakespeare Festival: Tony Award-winning professional Shakespeare repertory festival in Cedar City, Utah; comparable as a Shakespeare-focused repertory theatre with educational outreach and academy programming for actors.
• South Coast Repertory: Professional regional repertory theatre in Costa Mesa, California operating a multi-play season subscription model with extensive education programs for youth and adults; closely mirrors Theatricum's repertory + education model.
• American Players Theatre: Outdoor classical repertory theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin producing Shakespeare and classics in a natural setting; closely comparable as an outdoor repertory theatre with educational programming.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Largest Shakespeare-focused repertory festival in the United States operating multiple stages in Ashland, Oregon; directly comparable as a Shakespeare-specialist repertory with education programming and venue operations.
• Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival: Outdoor Shakespeare repertory festival in Garrison, New York performing in a natural amphitheater setting; directly comparable as an outdoor Shakespeare repertory with education programs.
• A Noise Within: A professional classical repertory theatre in Pasadena focused on producing works by Shakespeare and other classical playwrights; directly comparable as a regional repertory company serving the Greater Los Angeles area with similar educational programming.

Emerging players

• Marin Shakespeare Company: Community-focused Shakespeare repertory company in San Rafael, California operating an outdoor venue with education programs; comparable as a smaller outdoor Shakespeare repertory with education programming serving the San Francisco Bay Area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/theatricum
• Facebookfacebook.com/Theatricum
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatricum_botanicum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum