Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a regional theater company located in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and E ...

. It runs seven productions each season from its two stages in

Downtown Berkeley Downtown Berkeley is the central business district of the city of Berkeley, California, United States, around the intersection of Shattuck Avenue and Center Street, and extending north to Hearst Avenue, south to Dwight Way, west to Martin Luther Ki ...

History

The company was founded in 1968, as the East Bay's first resident professional theatre. Michael Leibert was the founding artistic director, who was then succeeded by

Sharon Ott Sharon Langston Ott (20th century) is a director, producer and educator who worked in regional theaters and opera throughout the United States. Two plays she directed, ''A Fierce Longing'' and Amlin Gray's ''How I Got That Story,'' each won an ...

in 1984. The company won the

Regional Theatre Tony Award The Regional Theatre Tony Award is a special recognition Tony Award given annually to a regional theater company in the United States. The winner is recommended by a committee of drama critics. Background Initially presented in 1948 to Robert ...

in 1997. The theater added the 600-seat

proscenium A proscenium ( grc-gre, προσκήνιον, ) is the metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre, usually surrounded on the top and sides by a physical proscenium arch (whether or not truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor ...

Roda Theatre next door to its existing 400-seat asymmetrical

thrust stage In theatre, a thrust stage (also known as a platform stage or open stage) is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between perform ...

in 2001, as well as opening its Berkeley Rep School of Theatre the same year. Its current Artistic Director is Johanna Pfaelzer, who took on the position in September 2019. Managing Director Susan Medak is a board member and former President of the League of Resident Theatres. Productions are a mix of classic modern plays such as

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential pla ...

's ''

Ghosts A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to re ...

'' and Terrence McNally's ''Master Class'', the latter featuring

Rita Moreno Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano; December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer. Noted for her work across different areas of the entertainment industry, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and thea ...

as opera diva

Maria Callas Maria Callas . (born Sophie Cecilia Kalos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her ''bel cant ...

, and significant recent plays with many West Coast premieres such as

Moisés Kaufman Moisés Kaufman (born November 21, 1963) is a Venezuelan theater director, filmmaker, playwright, founder of Tectonic Theater Project, based in New York City, and co-founder of Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre. He was awarded the 2016 Nat ...

's '' The Laramie Project'' and

Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...

's ''Homebody/Kabul'' and even world premieres such as Kushner's ''Hydriotaphia'' and Charles Mee's ''Fetes De La Nuit''. In the past decade alone, Berkeley Rep has premiered new works by Culture Clash, David Edgar, Francesca Faridany, Leigh Fondakowski, Lillian Groag,

Jordan Harrison Jordan Harrison (born 1977) is a playwright. He grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. His play ''Marjorie Prime'' was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Biography Harrison received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1999 an ...

, Geoff Hoyle,

Naomi Iizuka Naomi or Naomie may refer to: People and biblical figures * Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name * Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth * Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...

, Charles Mee, and

Stew A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. A stew needs to have raw ingredients added to the gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables a ...

. The Theatre has recently created a string of successes that transferred from Berkeley to Manhattan: Artistic Director Tony Taccone staged Sarah Jones' Tony Award-winning '' Bridge & Tunnel'' on Broadway in 2006, and helmed Tony Kushner and Maurice Sendak's '' Brundibar'' in 2007. That summer, Sarah Ruhl's ''

Eurydice Eurydice (; Ancient Greek: Εὐρυδίκη 'wide justice') was a character in Greek mythology and the Auloniad wife of Orpheus, who tried to bring her back from the dead with his enchanting music. Etymology Several meanings for the na ...

'' and Stew's ''

Passing Strange ''Passing Strange'' is a comedy-drama rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery, with strong elements of philosophical existentialism, metafiction (especially self-referential humor), and the artistic jou ...

'' both enjoyed extended off-Broadway runs. ''Passing Strange'' opened on Broadway in March 2008. Berkeley Rep bolsters its commitment to new works through The Ground Floor (Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work) and year-long Fellowship Program aimed at training the next generation of theatre professionals. In 2001, the theatre opened Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, which offers training in various theatrical disciplines for all ages and abilities. Located next door to Berkeley Rep's two stages, the School of Theatre also provides a home base for the company's outreach education programs with local teachers and classes. The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre also has a Teen Council made for bay area high school students interested in theatre. The Berkeley Rep Teen Council is most noted for its annual Teen One Acts Festival, completely written, directed, produced, and acted by students. The theatre opened their 2009–10 season with the original stage production of the

Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a ...

-inspired musical '' American Idiot'', based on the band's concept album of the same name. The hugely popular show was originally scheduled to run from September 4 through October 11, but was extended twice, finally ending on November 15. The show subsequently opened on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

at the St. James Theatre on April 20, 2010. The musical '' Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations'', a jukebox musical based on the story of the

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

group

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

, started performance at Berkeley Rep August 31, 2018. It was originally scheduled to run through October 8, but was later extended through October 22 and again through November 5. The musical was the highest-grossing production in the theatre's history. The show had runs at other regional theaters before transferring to

, opening at the

Imperial Theatre The Imperial Theatre is a Broadway theater at 249 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1923, the Imperial Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was constructed ...

on March 21, 2019.

Premieres

1994 *'' The Woman Warrior'' 1995 *'' Ballad of Yachiyo'' 1998 *''

Hydriotaphia ''Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial, or, a Discourse of the Sepulchral Urns lately found in Norfolk'' is a work by Sir Thomas Browne, published in 1658 as the first part of a two-part work that concludes with ''The Garden of Cyrus''. The title is Greek f ...

'' 2002 *'' Mennochio'' 2003 *''

Continental Divide A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not c ...

'' 2005 *'' Fetes de la Nuit'' *''The People's Temple'' 2006 *''

'' 2009 *'' American Idiot'' *''

In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) ''In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)'' is a 2009 play by Sarah Ruhl, published by Samuel French. It concerns the early history of the vibrator, when doctors allegedly used it as a clinical device to bring women to orgasm as treatment for " ...

'' 2010 *'' Girlfriend'' *'' Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead'' *'' Compulsion'' (co-production with

Public Theatre The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as the Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers.Epstein, Helen. ''Joe Papp: An American Li ...

) 2011 *'' How to Write a New Book for the Bible'' (co-production with Seattle Repertory Theatre) *'' Rita Moreno:Life Without Makeup'' 2012 *'' Ghost Light'' (co-production with

Oregon Shakespeare Festival The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is a regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, United States, founded in 1935 by Angus L. Bowmer. The Festival now offers matinee and evening performances of a wide range of classic and contemporary pla ...

) *'' Emotional Creature'' *''

The White Snake "The White Snake" (German: ''Die weiße Schlange'') is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in ''Grimm's Fairy Tales'' (KHM 17). It is of Aarne–Thompson type 673, and includes an episode of type 554 ("The Grateful ...

'' (co-production with

) *'' Black n Blue Boys'' (co-production with

Goodman Theatre Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of the Chicago theatre scene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the la ...

) 2013 *'' Fallaci'' *''Troublemaker, or the Freakin Kick A Adventures of Bradley Boatright'' 2014 *'' The House that will not Stand'' (co-production with

Yale Repertory Theatre Yale Repertory Theatre at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was founded by Robert Brustein, dean of Yale School of Drama, in 1966, with the goal of facilitating a meaningful collaboration between theatre professionals and talented stude ...

) *'' An Audience with Meow Meow'' 2015 * ''X's and O's (A Football Love Story)'' * Amélie, A New Musical 2016 *''

It Can't Happen Here ''It Can't Happen Here'' is a 1935 dystopian political novel by American author Sinclair Lewis. It describes the rise of a United States dictator similar to how Adolf Hitler gained power. The novel was adapted into a play by Lewis and John C. Mo ...

'' *'' The Last Tiger in Haiti'' (co-production with La Jolla Playhouse) *'' Aubergine'' *'' John Leguizamo: Latin History for Morons'' 2017 *'' Monsoon Wedding'' *'' Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit'' *'' Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations'' 2018 *'' Fairview'' (in association with Soho Rep.) *'' Paradise Square: A New Musical'' 2019 * '' Kiss My Aztec!'' * '' Becky Nurse of Salem'' 2020 * '' Swept Away'' * ''

'' (Radio Play format)

References

External links

* *
Theatre Bay Area website
{{authority control 1968 establishments in California Buildings and structures in Berkeley, California League of Resident Theatres Theatre companies in Berkeley, California Tony Award winners Regional theatre in the United States Tourist attractions in Berkeley, California Culture of Berkeley, California Theatres in the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre company production histories

History

Premieres

See also

References

External links