Botanicum Seedlings

New Play Development on Hiatus at Theatricum

Since 2002, Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum has been able to branch out from the classics to support new plays and playwrights through Botanicum Seedlings: A Development Program for Playwrights.

But like so many theatres and arts institutions across the country and around the globe, our company is faced with many difficult choices as we reassess and refocus in 2020.  Alongside Seedlings founder and longtime company member Jennie Webb, we have decided to place Botanicum Seedlings on hiatus until further notice.

Theatricum is proud to have nurtured nearly 200 plays through Seedlings, with over 60 of those going on to win awards, be published and/or produced at theatres across the country. We look forward to a time when we are able to welcome new play development back to Theatricum!

Congratulations to Joanna Garner – her play The Orange Garden was chosen to receive the 2018 “Izzy”Award!

Questions about Seedlings? Contact Us

From our Playwrights

Botanicum Seedlings is an outstanding development program… The actors were fantastic and smart, the feedback was tremendously helpful, and the location—up in beautiful Topanga Canyon, at Theatricum Botanicum’s small outdoor stage—can’t be beat!”
–EM Lewis, Playwright, Teacher & Librettist

“My experience with Seedlings was more than great. These people take risks!”
–Damon Chua, Playwright, Poet & Producer

“Working with Theatricum is like working with your favorite aunt, crazy uncle, and all your rambunctious nieces and nephews… only they’re all SUPER talented, incredibly dedicated to your work, and don’t hold it against you when you spike the punch. I am so thankful for the Seedlings program, not just in that it has given me a place to develop my work, but to also develop my network—which is, in a word, invaluable.”
–Tiffany Antone, Playwright, Educator & Theatre-maker

“Seedlings was a wonderful and exciting process where everyone really respected the text and really wanted to support the playwright… I would love to go back and work there again anytime.”
–Jonathan Goldberg, Playwright

“The Seedlings program has been crucial in my development as a playwright. The directors and actors involved are all terrifically talented, and having such a great team involved meant that I was able to hear my play without any interference… Some of these directors and actors continue to be good friends and colleagues, and I have the Seedlings program to thank for these important artistic relationships.”

–Tira Palmquist, Playwright, Dramaturg & Teacher