Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a nonprofit theatrical organization located in Berkeley, California. Founded in 1968, it is the East Bay's first resident professional theatre and has grown to become a leader in innovative theatre both nationally and internationally.

History

The company was founded by Michael Leibert, who served as its first artistic director. In 1984, Sharon Ott took over the position, significantly expanding the theatre's scope and influence by emphasizing new and challenging works during her tenure. Tony Taccone became the artistic director in 1997, a year when Berkeley Rep won the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. As of September 2019, Johanna Pfaelzer is the current Artistic Director.

Facilities and Programmes

Berkeley Rep operates two theatres: the 600-seat proscenium Roda Theatre and the 400-seat Peet’s Theatre. It also hosts the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, established in 2001, which provides arts education and training for aspiring theatre professionals. The Ground Floor, launched in 2012, serves as a center for developing new theatre productions. In 2021, the theatre introduced In Dialogue, a program fostering community engagement through storytelling and collaborations with local organizations.

Notable Productions and Awards

Berkeley Rep has been instrumental in launching several notable productions, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fairview, and musicals Passing Strange, American Idiot, Ain't Too Proud, and Paradise Square. Shows developed at Berkeley Rep have gone on to win numerous awards, including eight Tony Awards, nine Obie Awards, eleven Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many more.

Mission and Values

The theatre emphasizes storytelling, rigor, innovation, equity, discovery, and sustainability in its approach to theatre-making. It strives to be an anti-racist organization, fostering a diverse and inclusive community. Berkeley Rep’s mission is to create ambitious theatre that entertains, challenges audiences, and encourages civic engagement.

Over six million people have attended more than 500 performances at Berkeley Rep, including over 85 world premieres. Its commitment to environmental sustainability aims to set a standard for responsible practices in the arts industry.

[1] https://www.zippia.com/berkeley-repertory-theatre-careers-668195/history/ [2] https://www.berkeleyrep.org/about/mission-and-values/ [3] https://themonthly.com/upfront1012/ [4] https://www.pentagram.com/work/berkeley-rep/story [5] https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/past-productions/