Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a special place where actors perform plays in Berkeley, California. It is called a regional theater, which means it is an important theater not in a big city like New York or London. Each year, the theater puts on seven different shows. These shows happen on two stages in the downtown area of Berkeley, making it easy for people in the community to watch exciting performances. The theater helps bring arts and culture to the area, letting everyone enjoy great stories told through acting.

History

The Berkeley Repertory Theatre started in 1968 as the first professional theatre in the East Bay area. Over the years, it has had many leaders, with Johanna Pfaelzer becoming the current Artistic Director in 2019.

The theatre puts on many different kinds of plays, including classic works and new pieces that are shown for the first time on the West Coast. Some of these plays have later been performed in New York City.

In 2001, the theatre added a new performance space and also started a school to teach people of all ages about theatre. The school includes special programs for local high school students who love theatre.

The theatre has also created popular shows that have gone on to perform on Broadway in New York City.

Premieres

1994

• The Woman Warrior

1995

• Ballad of Yachiyo

1998

• Hydriotaphia

2002

• Mennochio

2003

• Continental Divide

2005

• Fetes de la Nuit
• The People's Temple

2006

• Passing Strange

2009

• American Idiot
• In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)

2010

• Girlfriend
• Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead
• Compulsion (co-production with Public Theatre)

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)
• Emotional Creature
• The White Snake (co-production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival)
• Black n Blue Boys (co-production with Goodman Theatre)

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)
• 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
• 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
• It Can't Happen Here (Radio Play format)