Boston Court Pasadena presents world premiere of “Octopus’s Garden”
Zero spoilers—and this isn’t a review (that would be unfair during Previews week)—but here’s the skinny on the newest world premiere at Pasadena’s own Boston Court Theater: an octopus is poised to blow humanity’s mind.
By Melanie Hooks
Written by award-winning playwright Weston Gaylord, the premise is deceptively simple: what happens when an animal in captivity turns out to be far smarter than its captors ever believed possible? In this case, an octopus composes a piece of music more transcendent than anything previously heard by humans.
A blessing? A curse? A condemnation?
The humans spiral as they try to investigate and answer these questions, and the audience comes along for the ride—further engaged by the puppetry that brings said octopus to life. It takes three actual humans to achieve this portrayal, effectively doubling the cast size.
The play’s ambitions aren’t just thematic. Three local theater companies have joined forces to present this new adventure—an undertaking that is itself a new way of doing things. Circle X Theatre Company, Outside In Theatre, and Boston Court have collaborated on the production, not only out of a shared love for the script, but as a pragmatic response to budgetary constraints. In our current era of ever-diminishing artistic grants and programs, the artistic directors decided that standing together was more effective than swimming alone. The sets, the cast size, the run itself—all are more affordable and more beautiful when well funded and well supported.
Again, no spoilers, but the effort pays off on all levels.
In previews through March 6th and opening Saturday, March 7th, 2026. Tickets and information can be found at this link.
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