Latinx playwright John Guerra’s newest work, “The Last, Best Small Town, will have its world premiere on Saturday, July 31, at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.
Directed by Ellen Geer and starring Richard Azurdia, Christine Breihan, Leandro Cano, Katia Gomez, Jordan Tyler Kessler, Kelvin Morales, Miguel Pérez, Christopher Wallinger, the play is about two neighboring families, one Latino and one White, who live in the town of Fillmore — the self-proclaimed “Last, Best Small Town in Southern California.”
As the first decade of the 21st century unfolds, the children of these families come of age, fall in love and suffer loss in a world that can no longer promise them a better life than their parents had.
After the July 31 premiere, the play is scheduled to be performed on Saturdays or Sundays through Nov. 6. A “prologue” of preshow discussion will take place before the Aug. 28 performance, and is included in the ticket price.
Photo by Ian Flanders
The outdoor amphitheater at Will Geer’s 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.
Seating will remain socially distanced and masks required as dictated by LA County guidelines on the day of each performance.
Ticket prices vary for adults and children ages 5-15. Children age 4 and under can enter free. Four “pay-what-you-will” performances are scheduled for Aug. 22, Sept. 25, Oct. 13 and Oct. 31. For more information, call (310) 455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.