Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’ sails off the page
and onto the outdoor stage at Theatricum Botanicum
TOPANGA, Calif. (May 5, 2026) –– Out, out Black Spot! Treasure Island, the quintessential coming-of-age adventure story by Robert Louis Stevenson, sails off the page and onto the outdoor stage at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, where the rustic beauty of Topanga Canyon effortlessly transforms into the wooded island of the title and the vast expanse of the high seas. Performances begin June 20 and continue through October 3.
In this re-imagining of the novel by Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer, who also directs, a young man’s romantic dream of pirates on the high seas becomes a harrowing reality. Tested at every turn, young Jim Hawkins (played by newcomer Ruben Jones) faces each challenge with courage, trusting in a moral compass strong enough to triumph — and to discover the true treasure: a life lived with integrity and purpose.
“Treasure Island is one of the greatest and most thrilling adventure stories ever written, a tale in which a young man’s romantic vision of pirates becomes startlingly real,” says Geer. “As reading declines among younger audiences, the stage offers a visceral way to share this classic with a new generation. But this is not just a children’s tale. Its excitement, complexity and sense of adventure will resonate just as strongly with adult audiences.”
The story opens at the Admiral Benbow Inn, run by Jim Hawkins’s mother (Willow Geer), where a mysterious former pirate, Billy Bones (Jeff Bergquist), has taken up residence. His uneasy stay is shattered when a fellow pirate, Black Dog (Daniel Kean), arrives seeking a treasure map in Bones’s possession. Soon after, the ominous Blind Pew (Ethan Haslam) delivers the “Black Spot,” a chilling warning that Bones’s time is running out if he refuses to surrender it. Before the threat can be carried out, Bones dies suddenly of a stroke. In the aftermath, Jim discovers the hidden map and brings it to Dr. Livesey (Aaron Hendry) and Squire John Trelawney (Steven C. Fisher). Determined to claim the treasure, they quickly organize an expedition. They set sail aboard the three-masted Hispaniola, led by the capable Captain Smollett (Arthur Hankett) and a hastily assembled crew (Sam Cowan, Jesse Corwin, Tim Halligan, Nik Moradieh Kashani, Matthew Pardue, Ethan Ricks, Andy Stokan). Among them is the charismatic and enigmatic one-legged cook, Long John Silver (Gerald C. Rivers), whose true intentions may prove far more dangerous than they first appear.
The large ensemble cast also includes Asher Edwards, Julius Geer–Polin, Susan Stangl, Georgiana Swanson, Sky Wahl and Jessica Williams. Jason Hayes and Abbs Stoiber are understudies. The creative team includes set designer Michael Klock, lighting designer Geoff Barton, sound designer Marc Antonio Pritchett and costume designer Tracey Wahl. The fight choreographer is Aaron Hendry. Steve Luchsinger is prop master, Beth Eslick is wardrobe supervisor, and Sophie Edwards is the production assistant. The assistant director is Sammie Zenoz and the production stage manager is Kim Cameron, assisted by Alex Penner.
Treasure Island will run in rotation every weekend with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, each of which opens earlier in the season. Two additional productions, Waiting in the Wings by Noël Coward and The People of Pompeii by Bernardo Cubría, will join the repertory season on July 11 and August 1 respectively. Unlike most companies in L.A. that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum operates in true repertory. Each of the five mainstage productions opens in rapid succession and is added to the rotation. By August, all five plays are in performance, making it possible to see the entire season over the course of a single week.
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum has a rich history dating back to the early 1950s when Will Geer, a victim of the McCarthy-era blacklist, opened a theater for blacklisted actors and folk singers on his Topanga property. Friends like Ford Rainey, Della Reese, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie performed on the dirt stage, igniting both artistic expression and grassroots activism. Today, two outdoor amphitheaters sit within the natural canyon, offering audiences the chance to relax and enjoy nature during a performance. From May through October, Theatricum continues to be a haven for compassion, community and the wonders of nature. The theater is a beloved historical landmark and multiple award-winner, including the prestigious Margaret Harford Award for “sustained excellence” from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
Treasure Island opens on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. and continues to run in repertory through October 3. For a complete schedule of performances, scroll all the way down or visit the website.
Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. The performance on Monday, Aug. 10 is Pay-What-You-Will (available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door) and features a 30-minute pre-show discussion, beginning one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m.
The amphitheater is terraced into the hillside, so audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating. Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before a performance.
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Topanga, midway between Malibu and the San Fernando Valley. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 455-3723 or visit theatricum.com
Details for Calendar Listings
‘Treasure Island’
WHAT:
Treasure Island, the swashbuckling adventure story by Robert Louis Stevenson, sails off the page and onto the outdoor stage for a summer-long run at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. In this re-imagining of the novel by Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer, a young man’s romantic dream of pirates on the high seas becomes a harrowing reality. Tested at every turn, young Jim Hawkins faces each challenge with courage, trusting in a moral compass strong enough to triumph — and to discover the true treasure: a life lived with integrity and purpose.
WHEN:
Performances: June 20 – October 3
• Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 19 at 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 26 at 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
• Monday, Aug.10 at 7:30 p.m.*
• Sunday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
*The performance on Monday, Aug. 10 is Pay-What-You-Will; a 30-minute pre-show discussion with the cast will begin one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m..
WHERE:
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga CA 90290
(midway between Pacific Coast Highway and the Ventura freeway)
TICKET PRICES:
$15-$63
• Pay-What-You-Will at the performance on Monday, Aug. 10 (available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door.)
OTHER:
• The outdoor amphitheater at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is terraced into the hillside of the rustic canyon. Audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating.
• Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before performances.
HOW:
theatricum.com
(310) 455-3723
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