I was lucky enough to score a couple tix to "The Pianist of Willesden Lane" for this past Friday night through Yelp Elite - thanks! {THEATER} - 5 stars I really had no idea about the background of this play and was very impressed with the one-woman show, touching piano solos, and the general history of Liza Mura's experience with WWII as told by her daughter, Mona Golabek. The theater itself was cozy and we still had a nice view of the stage from our Orchestra B seats in the back. I love this part of Addison St. with its other theaters, neon signs, cute porch stoops...it gives a slightly fancier "downtown" feel of bigger cities like NYC. {BAR} - 3 stars Along with my play tickets, I also got a couple complimentary vouchers to use at the bar for drinks or food (again, thanks Yelp!). From what I heard, the bar is a new addition to the theater itself so understandably they are still working out some kinks. I would like it if they had cocktail menus to look at so I could get a feel of what drinks they offered...the white board on the wall only showed beers, sodas, and snacks. It was also odd that they didn't have any juice, muddlers, strawberries, etc. to make simple drinks. I did enjoy their TRUFFLES (yum!) and the cocktail w/ local organic hibiscus liqueur and Grey Goose vodka (but I got a better drink at Revival later). I think I'll grab food and drinks elsewhere before catching a show next time. If you want a classy evening activity in downtown Berkeley, I highly recommend checking out a play here. read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Enjoyed truffles and cocktails before watching "The Pianist of Willesden Lane" last night. Thx Yelp for the free tix! #yelpelite - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

Show was great! But, we're visiting, not local, so traffic, UBER driver who wasn't exactly sure of where to go, etc, we arrived 5 minutes late- understood that we lost our premium seats and had seats way in back - but staff comments like "Next time don't be late" was unnecessary and kind of made the whole, expensive evening less than perfect. read more

Berkeley REP has a well stated Covid Policy. Everyone must show proof of vaccine and boosters, and everyone must wear a mask in the theater. It's a great policy, but not enforced. Last night we went to see a fabulous show, but while waiting in line to get our vaccination status checked, a woman in front of us had not brought her proof, even though it is stated clearly that she would not be allowed in without it. The checker, however, said she could come in without proof, since the friend with her could "vouch" for her. How many others came in this way? Was I exposed because the policy was not followed? When we complained to one of the gatekeepers, she said "This is my last night here. What do you want me to do?" Do we wonder why Covid is not going away? read more

Not sure if this is the correct place to leave reviews for the acting classes, but I'll give it a go! This fall (Sept-Nov 2023) I took Beginning Acting with Bobby August, Jr. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I've been in acting and improvisation as a hobby on/off for ~20 years. Easily, the success of these classes rises and falls 98% on the quality of the teaching, and Bobby was terrific -- the perfect combination of supportive, challenging, educational, and fun. Thank you! read more

I loved my experience here watching "What the Constitution Means to Me." It's sort of this one woman show where she walks the audience through the four generation of women in her family and the impact of the Constitution on her venue is great and spacious with ample seating. It was tremendously thought-provoking, which is what theater should strive to be. I am grateful that this theater put on this show, and I could tell they're a very high-quality theater. Great seating, good venue, and you can get drinks and snacks right before the show at their bar! Quite a wide liquor selection :) read more

I thought the venue was great. The seats are close to the stage... Doesn't look like there is a bad seat in the house. I love thy you can bring wine and beer into the theater. How civilized. The courtyard is nice and pleasant and they serve love at first bite cupcakes! We saw American idiot. It was fantastic! The acoustics were awesome. I will definitely go back. read more

I love Berkeley Rep and have been a subscriber for many years. This is a review of DANA H.--which I saw recently. I can only hope viewers will read my unusual take on this dramatization of a 'real life' story--****but only if they have already seen it***please read no further until you see it!!--then return to this review after doing so. Firstly, there is an important clue when the actress begins her lip-synching of a recording of this 'true incident' that occurred some 15 years prior. Dana tells us her memory is sketchy, that memory has been 'a problem'. For a moment, I thought she had early onset Alzheimer's. But she goes forward and tells her harrowing tale...toward the end there's an interesting scene switch to a 'maid' taking care of the motel room of which Dana tells her tale...(and Dana is now offstage) during that scene there's an interplay of account recordings, flashing lights, changing colors...light switches going on and off, this was no minor detail to me--it was a sign--at least to me-that 'reality' itself is in question.That perhaps, Dana is not all there--despite her sincerity in the telling of the tale--the 'true tale' of her experience. We then get back to Dana completing her story and then talking about how she worked on a construction site for two years before she was able to continue her hospice work as a spiritual counselor, Fine. But I left the theater not exactly falling for the blow by blow--'truth telling' of this tale. In fact, I was left with much ambiguity--which makes for great theater. Is the dramatist and son, Lucas Hnath, pulling our collective proverbial leg? I believe so. And so did some others I spoke with when the play was over. Here's the catch: Dana believes it all happened. Does not make it so. If you are set to see this remarkable work, pay very close attention.Years from now, I see Mr Hnath coming clean and telling the real truth of this 'real life' drama. Probably once his aging mother has passed. read more

Went to see POTUS, worst play I've ever seen, complete trash. Sophomoric crude jokes, pandering to the audience for empty laughs, no worthwhile message of any kind. Some of the acting was good, but the script and production was worse than the silliest stupidest TV sitcom. Have enjoyed shows in the past at Berkeley Rep, but won't be going back for quite a while. Tickets outrageously expensive given the quality of the show, left at intermission to no longer be subjected to the drivel. read more

My 2nd time to Berkeley Rep - this time Th 8/30/12 to see Chinglish. We got there about 7:10pm and there was a Docent Talk upstairs on the show - I didn't know about it until we got there - oops, should have checked their website. It was interesting what we could hear. Show started at 8pm, intermission was from 9:15-9:30pm, show ended about 10:10pm. B1 & B3 Door 2 good seats 2nd room up front, on the Left. Center is better of course. Good cast, set, music, adult themed show, not for kids. I thought it was a good show & the drink I got before the show kept me awake. Mandarin spoken by Chinese & Caucasian actors, English subtitles above the set. Bathrooms - Ground level on the Far Right around the corner. Women's on Right side. read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great spot for a date night. I haven't seen anything here I haven't enjoyed. I suggest you come early for a show, 30 minutes is good to pickup any will call tickets, grab a drink (which you can take into the theater) and check out any art on exhibition. The bar sells snacks, but I prefer to plan my night with a meal from the many places nearby before or after the show. Tip, use the restroom before the show because if your show has an intermission it will be packed. Discounted rates for patrons 35 and under. Sign up on their website to stay informed about their shows and deals. read more

With the exception of Goddess, which was great, the shows this seaon have felt like ordeals. Not confident about subscribing next season.

Came to see Tristan & Yseult tonight with a friend of mine. Read up on BBC's write up about it after. I knew the Brits have figured out theatre - it can be fun, lighthearted, and whimsical, unlike the often so very serious American counterparts. In so many ways this play reminds me of my all time favorite show - Sleep No More NYC (saw it twice and will see it every chance I get whenever I'm back in Manhattan), which of course is also a British production, but utterly different - yet so similar. I do love myself a tragic love story where death beckons. My companion let the balloon fly onto the stage. I kept it as a keepsake. It's a bit melancholy, to say goodbye to 2013 while watching this show. Is love but an intoxicating potion drunk by two fools and then they spend the rest of their lives regretting choice not made and people they should not have left? Oh heck, what do I know? I must have their binoculars. They were divine, they were spectacular, they were irrelevant. I want to catch this show again at Berkeley Rep. This time I'll stay for Q&A after. As for the theatre itself, this is my second show and a different theatre from the first one (the Pianist), way better than A.C.T. I mean, way better. I'm sold on Berkeley Rep. Will return over and over again. read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Located in the super convenient location of Downtown Berkeley, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre definitely puts on some eclectic plays, and I love their theme of storytelling. I've watched a few plays here such as The Last Tiger in Haiti, An Octoroon, and Watch on the Rhine. They have two stages here, and I've always found their facilities to be clean. The experience of watching a show is always a positive one. They also use speakers from Meyer Sound, where I interned over the summer! It's very impressive that they have the Constellation system set up there, which can change the acoustics of any given room. read more

First rate theater in a medium-sized venue in the heart of Berkeley. We've created an account because we plan to be back many times. Good seats, can't image a bad seat in the house. Ashland, New York, London, Berkeley Rep. - all in that top tier of quality productions, excellent actors, thoughtful and progressive material. You will be glad to went. read more

POTUS. unfortunately a bad sound system, rapid fire unintelligible dialog and this particular play was a waste of time.

Saw Angels in America Part 1 since my cousin got free tickets from work. Loved every bit of it. For the Theatre itself, I definitely appreciate smaller theatres and the quality was definitely there. The experience was very rich, I'd love to see another production here some time in the future. - Cookies wise during intermission: it's okay, my cousin liked it, but yeah. read more

I like this theater. It's a small venue that provides an intimate experience when watching a show. Downstairs has con-session area where refreshments can be purchased before or during intermission of a show. There is also an outdoor patio to enjoy during intermission. Upstairs houses a lounge area that can be used for private parties or events. read more

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What a great local theater that actually pulls some good names! Nice! I've been twice, once via Yelp and once via my own accord and both completely different experiences. The free tickets via Yelp was fun, just not my cup of tea. A musical (The Pirates of Penzance) that although was solid, just a little too much for me. The company that was performing was coming from I believe Cleveland, or Chicago? and they did a great job, but the venue was hot, they were sweating and it was interactive, but not the most comfortable. As I mentioned, I received free tickets, but if this cost $60 a pop, I would have been disappointed. I recently saw John Leguizama in Latin History for Morons and it was awesome. Not quite off-Broadway, but a great way to spend a Friday evening. Front row seats were $60 which included a free drink. For an hour and a half show, it's pricy, but this dude's a legend and it was really good! Coming from NYC, I'm used to great live theater at my fingertips and this made me miss that. The newly renovated stage is well done, with great acoustics and very intimate. Keep it coming Berkeley Rep. Keep it coming. I'll support ya if you continue to bring some great headliners and great theater. read more

It's a small 2 story theater that is located across the street as another theater. The workers there are very nice and helpful and as you go in to your seats, you are greeted with a worker, who is there to help guide you to your seat and also give a booklet for the show. We chose the last row of seat on the first floor and even though it was all the way in the back, we were still able to see the stage very clearly! Also, we had a bit more space to move around in, because the back was cut off from the customers for the people working audio and lighting. The show we saw was amazing and very imaginative! I would talk about the show but this review is for the theater! One thing to note, is that ticket prices may be expensive but the reasoning behind that is a part of it goes to help pay for the theater! read more

Have been here twice, once for Angels in America and again recently for Fairview courtesy of Yelp (thank you Yelp). Both were fairly "political" plays and even though I don't consider myself to be an artistic intellectual neither felt inaccessible to me. Is it as "fun" as watching an action movie? No, not for me personally. But since I usually watch mindless drivel it is nice to watch something you have to think about. There are multiple theatres of various sizes. I've been in two and the stage is visible even from further back seats. Overall I'm glad such an organization exists in Berkeley and will probably try to catch a more "frivolous" play next time. read more

What a lovely theater and venue! And thank you to the Rep, as well as Yelp, for the Fairview hook up! I really like the layout of the stage; it seems that no matter where one would sit, they'd have a great view of the performance. The actors and actresses in Fairview did a great job, and although they did lose me for a bit, I quickly hopped back on board with the theme and overall message. I told my friend, "This is so Berkeley!" ... which is great, being we are in Berkeley, after all. As I didn't even know Berkeley had a repertory theater before attending this show, I now look forward to going back! read more

I am embarrassed to admit that tonight was my first visit to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The last time I saw a non-community theatre performance was in SF at Union Square - it was Steve Martin in "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" - which was hilarious. But, traditionally - I fall asleep in dark places like the symphony and opera. I've been to a few musical Broadway productions in NY - but all this was a long time ago. My brother went through a period (before he became a father) when he did lots of performing with the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond. As dearly as I enjoyed those amusements - tonight's performance of "A Doctor In Spite of Himself" at the Berkeley Rep was such a vastly different experience as to completely change my position on theatre. First - I have to confess: I was invited as a VIP with comp tickets. My friends all flaked on me, so I went solo, as befitting a fat middle aged spinster who lives primarily with cats. I happened to run into 'Nique and JoAnna and we had friendly chat before the play. I think I'm the only jenny-come-lately to the whole Berkeley Rep thing. The theatre is gorgeous - it is large and modern, clean and very easy to find one's way to bathrooms and to seats. The Tres Agaves folks very generously had a pair of stations set up to provide free tastings of margarita and tequila. As a VIP, I got to sample the tasty goodies at the cafe. The Berkeley Rep has a tradition of making up drinks to go along with the production in play - so tonight I got to try "Strong Medicine" - a St Germaine & vodka concoction that was delicious, and "Doctor's Orders" -- a delicious drink of vodka, raspberry liqueur and lime. Though the cafe snacks were light on vegan options, they had Tcho chocolate nibbles in little bags - dark chocolate covered candied mango, nibs and cashews - all vegan. They had a wide variety of cookies, biscotti & brownies, as well as chocolate truffles (being a very bad vegan, despite a dairy allergy - I tried two - they were astonishingly delicious). There are also snack plates - a cheese plate, one with summer sausage and one with hummus and veggies which looked pretty good. The ladies at the cafe were efficient, friendly and so on top of things - they even offered the option of pouring drinks into plastic cups to bring into the theatre. Honestly, I couldn't believe how gorgeous it was inside the theatre - I can't see that there is a bad seat in the house and the chairs were comfortable for the 90-minute performance. The volunteer ushers entertained us all by dancing and frolicking in the aisles before the show started. "A Doctor in Spite of Himself" was hilarious - with wide ranging pop culture references from 1920s popular music to 21st c hip hop/rap - even a small current politics reference thrown in - the fun and the banter just flowed and wrapped smoothly around the essential story line like wickedly silky dark couverture chocolate around a truffle center. The sets were fantastic, as were costumes, music and the lighting - the whole play was so extraordinarily fun that I'll be kicking the ankles of the friends who missed it for weeks to come - and am thinking about getting a pair of tickets for my theatre loving brother and sister-in-law so they can have a fun evening. read more

Ranging from Molière's comedy "A Doctor in Spite of Himself" - which I count as 1 of my top-faves, to the dark comedy "Wild Bride" - which counts as 1 of my top non-faves, to all the dramas & musicals in between, Berkeley Rep has been a source of experimental & professional theater alike & for that reason, I'm happy to now count myself among the Season Ticket Subscribers Most recently we had the absolute grand fortune of seeing Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen in Harold Pinter's "NO MAN'S LAND" This was another pre-Broadway production & the Bay Area was lucky enough to house their staging process. I'm thinking this Play is either about a man w/ Alzheimer's who is being taken advantage of by these 2 "caretakers" Or it's about a drunk man (Patrick) who gets totally incoherent & doesn't recognize Ian's character - another drunk who was once a school chum of Patrick's but who's also fallen on hard times. Or maybe Ian is just a con artist who pretends to be a well-known friend so insinuate himself into Patrick's life. Just as confusing as the last time I saw it in London, the intriguing, perplexing & mesmerizing No Man's Land was another night of theatrical awesomeness & Berkeley Rep was the perfect powerhouse of a theatre to host this monumental event read more

Spectacular Local Theater! I've seen numerous shows at Berkeley Rep, including "Three Sisters," "Pericles," "Dear Elizabeth," and "The Pianist at Willesden Lane." The theater-goers are a mixture of couples on dates, the early bird crowd, and theater geeks (like me!) All the seats have great views of the thrusted stage, so no matter what you're paying, you will feel completely immersed in each scene! The new bar is pretty nice. Last week, my friend and fellow Yelp Elite, Bonnie Z., and I went to watch "The Pianist at Willesden Lane," and the bar didn't have much to make cocktails...no orange juice, no pineapple juice. The saving grace was the hibiscus grapefruit cocktail, which was perfect for a sweet tooth like me. Food and drinks are overpriced, but that is to be expected. I definitely enjoyed the truffles and seeing cupcakes from Love at First Bite--one of my favorite cupcake places in the East Bay. The courtyard that separates their two theaters is absolutely gorgeous, especially at night. Imagine sipping wine and sitting under a beautiful tree strung with twinkle lights and the buzz of people eagerly anticipating an almost guaranteed excellent play. So no matter what play you are watching, no matter how serious, funny, or abstract, the people at Berkeley Rep give it their all, and you are sure to enjoy your night. read more

It's true what they say, about first impressions. A fellow gets one shot. And sometimes he doesn't screw it up completely. Yesterday was all about these impressions, and last evening at the Rep Mike Daisey made his. I'd never seen him before; I was not familiar with his work. Wow. This is a descriptive tool I use sparingly, usually when no other socket in the box will fit. Wow fits. I can't do justice to the details so I won't even try. Suffice it to say it was the best show I've seen in a very, very long time. One man monologue entitled The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. Two minute standing ovation at the end. He has a second show on other nights during this run. I can't remember what it is, though I'd wager it's excellent. I will go to Jobs again. Or we can go to the other one. Your preference is my instruction. I am a season ticket-holder. And I am only because they came to me. A short while before the do-not-call teleban they rang me. And they were really nice. And the pros outweighed the cons so completely that before I knew it I was reading my Visa number into the phone. It could have been anybody. Talk about first impressions. That was a number of years ago. Now, I receive an envelope at the start of each season with seven pairs of tickets. This ensures that every now and again that little white ball doesn't sail all the way over Wrigley's center field fence. Some shows are fantastic; occasionally some maybe not so much. But so what? That's theatre. And the venue is cozy and inviting, the acoustics perfect, the staff attentive. One night I arrived to find a thank you card for my patronage taped to the seat. That guaranteed my return. The audience is older and whiter than one might expect. But that's cool. I'm down with the ghost of Christmas future. And I know where to go for living color, so a little relative homogeneity seven times a year don't bother me none. If you haven't been you ought to go. And if you can bust your Rep cherry with M. Daisey I can guarantee - you won't regret it. read more

But Wait, There's More! In addition to it's Subscription Series, Berkeley Rep hosts a number of special performances throughout the Year. For the 2011/2012 Season, Gayle and I had the pleasure of attending 2 more Shows that featured beloved (and famous) artists with Berkeley Star Quality. That's when my "Spidey Sense" tingles, as I realize that the fawning home audience needs to be taken with a grain of salt. In the case of both these shows, my intuition was correct. That means that we enjoyed them both, but without the hoped for "Wow" factor. In terms of my rough priority order list for the 2011/2012 Season, I'd put both of these Shows further down the list and somewhere between Ghost Light and A Doctor In Spite of Himself. LET ME DOWN EASY - This was a Solo show by Anna Deavere Smith which was performed in the early Summer of 2011. Using her unique performance style, she introduces you to a rodeo rider, a prize fighter, and an altruistic doctor - as well as cyclist Lance Armstrong, supermodel Lauren Hutton, and former Texas Governor Ann Richards. She uses their voices to tell interesting stories about the vulnerability of the human body, the resilience of the spirit, and the price of care. Both Gayle and I thought that the Play was "Satisfactory" (which at least for a Vulcan is high praise). EMOTIONAL CREATURE - Gayle and I attended a World Premier performance of this new play from Tony Award-winner Eve Ensler, on the Roda Stage last night. It's all about girl power and was definitely not aimed at our demographic. This 90 minute empowerment celebration was performed by a talented ensemble of young women, and consists of a series of original monologues and entertaining songs--about and for girls. In other words, it was the diverse, politically engaging (and correct), and well scrubbed package that progressive Berkeley audiences love, and new young theater goers should rightly flock. I particularly enjoyed the stage and singing performances by Emily Grosland. But featuring Julia Butterfly Hill as an Old Growth Refuser Role Model? Oy! The late Judy Bari would have made a much better and "Clear-Cut" choice, especially if older women are added to this theatric mix. For some odd reason, I spent some of my time during this play drifting off and thinking about Dael Orlandersmith's stunning portrayal of Black and Blue Boys next door at the Thrust Theater. Hers is a much more difficult and powerful performance, as she's portraying broken people of the opposite sex (with better age diversity) so convincingly and in much more depth. The promising Emotional Creature ensemble didn't quite reach that level of Gestalt, However, I hope that they see Dael's show and take good notes to help them along on their promising professional path. read more

I've seen two plays here to date and both of them had full frontal male nudity. That'll be 5 solid stars from me, folks. I love this little theatre and pretty much everything about it. If you're not a student, tickets aren't inexpensive, but for how much goes into their productions, I have no problem forking out some dough for B-Rep's shows. The seats are comfortable and it feels like there's only good views. There's small concession stands in the front and back with alcohol and sweets, and other non-alcoholic beverages. There's also also a nice outdoor patio for during intermission if you want to get some air, stretch, hang by the fire pits if it's a chilly night, or smoke... whatever it is you smoke. The staff and volunteers are always so friendly and even though at intermission the restroom line will wrap around the corner, they have so many restrooms that it moves swiftly enough for the whole theatre to have time to go and get back to their seats. The first show I saw here (It Can't Happen Here) was a sort of retro post-apocalyptic play with an older James Cromwell-type gentleman who at one point gets completely naked and hotchie motchie was that an unexpected treat... and an excellent, thought-provoking play. The last show I saw here was on a date. It was their newest production of Angels In America. I'd watched the HBO miniseries but didn't remember much. Little did my date know when he accepted, that the play is a "Gay Fantasia" about the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and we were only seeing Part 1, which is 3.5 hours long. He was a trooper. Aaaand he decided he'll come back with me to Part 2... which is 4 hours long. lol. But I think it speaks to the quality of show that Berkeley Rep puts on that we willingly want to come back and partake in this 7.5 hour experience. read more

Recently came back to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre for a production of "Emotional Creature" by Eve Ensler, who is best known for "The Vagina Monologues". Have previously been to Berkeley Rep for at least 2 other shows, including Oliver Twist and one other. Hmm, what was the name of that other one??? Anyway . . . Berkeley Rep is located in the heart of Berkeley's Theatre District, next to the Aurora Theatre Company and the Jazzschool. There is a parking garage entrance within the same block, on Addison just west of Shattuck. The Theatre is also within easy walking distance from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. There are several nice bars and restaurants in the area, so be sure to use Yelp's "Nearby" search function when you visit the Theatre if you are looking for a convenient watering hole, or spot for some grub, to make an evening of it. It's very nice to have a theatre and production company with very professional, high quality, and entertaining performances like those that are offered at Berkeley Rep right here in our back yard in the East Bay. If you enjoy stage productions and have not yet been to the Berkeley Rep, I'd recommend you check them out !! I'm going with 4 stars . . . but this is definitely leaning more towards a 4 1/2 for me. read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

Did you know that if you're under 30, there's a young adult discount at this theatre? (In fact, I've been noticing that a lot of places discount you if you're under the age of thirty...and I think I should really start taking advantage of that while I still can!) I came here the first Thursday of October to watch Amelie. I was truly blown away by the adaptation from screen to set as its always worrisome to see one of your favorite foreign films turn into a musical...in English. The cast was a very talented handful of people, the tech crew did an amazing job with the lighting/help with props...and the design of the entire set! And everyone from the people who were distributing the tickets at will-call, to the ushers, to the ladies involved with the photo booth for this particular production made my experience as a theater-goer one of a kind! Only a few paces from BART and a couple blocks from several parking garages, you shouldn't have any problems getting to the theater on time! I think they also have a cool deal with the parking garages so their customers could reserve spaces! Talk about keeping everyone's convenience in mind. The only tip I could really give you is unless you're into being extremely close to the stage, I would opt to buy tickets for seats anywhere but row AA. I loved being front row, but my neck started to cramp up probably halfway into the show! Aside from that minor issue, sitting in this row proved to be a blessing also. You are up close and personal with all of the cast. And you might see things people in other areas of the theater would miss. It's all personal preference I suppose! read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just caught A Doctor in Spite of Himself last week and it was hands down one of the best comedies I've seen in years. I was already a fan of Berkeley Rep, but this was a really fun show that thrilled me and my friend. I just saw The Book of Mormon in early February, so I have strong competition fresh in my mind. This production was a real stand out, I laughed so hard for the entire show my face hurt. Brilliant update of a classic French farce. read more

Just saw Red last night and my gosh what an amazing performance ! Let's just say my first experience at the Berkeley rep wasn't ideal. My friends and I decided to go see Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead which in all due right to it's name sounded like it was going to be an awesome play full of enchantment and puppets! Not at all. We ended up front row stage left and strained our necks only to find out most of the play was on a screen and it was a mainly a one man act. What a disappointment. The only good thing about the play is that we went to one of their under 30 events and had free wine and tequila tastings before the play. Afterwards they had some mediocre catered food upstairs and music which provided a nice social atmosphere to mingle. Back to Red, who knew hits from Broadway award winners make their way to this little theater in Berkeley. What an astonishing performance by both actors that left you craving more. We saw this play in a different room than the previous play we saw and it seemed like each seat gave you a perfect view of the stage. We sat all the way in the back and I still felt like we had the best seat in the house. I suppose the plays can be a hit or miss at the Berkeley Rep but I am so glad I went back for a second chance. There are also plenty of places to eat around the area beforehand and don't forget to get some gelato at the nearby Gelateria Naia a perfect finish to the night. Some things to note: use the restroom before the show starts, no in's and out's once the show begins. I also think the best time to see a performance at the Berkeley Rep is when they are also holding an event ie. free wine schmoozing before the play or something afterwards. Overall a great night to be had and I will be going back for more. read more

Saw Rita Moreno: Life without Makeup - loooooved it! The lady's still got spunk and has some juicy, hilarious stories over the years! Awesome theatre venue! Not a bad seat in the house! Really nice gift shop (they had these French strawberry candies in a tin that my mom used to buy me as a kid, aww, the memories!), and a beautiful courtyard where they had complimentary wine tasting - nice touch! The only complaint I have is the bathrooms are on the bottom floor only so if you have a balcony seat, you've got to race down to the restrooms in order to beat the crowd at intermission - this could lead to potential chaos and injury. Luckily, the Rita Moreno crowd were quite tame and well-mannered. I had a great theatre experience here and would highly recommend it. Also, love that the Downtown Berkeley BART is right there - this makes it so easy for us San Franciscans to hop on BART, catch a wonderful show and head home, nice and simple. read more

Before the mid-June premiere of Emotional Creature, I'd never been to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It's not too surprising, really, I am more of a beer, action movies & race cars kind of guy than a "theatre" kind of guy. Which isn't to say that I have no appreciation for the arts. &, much thanks to Yelp, I scored a pair of tickets & VIP passes which afforded me the opportunity to do just that; appreciate an energetic, dynamic & thought provoking show in a wonderful, large yet somehow still intimate venue. Thank you Nique F. for giving a few of us East Bay Elites the full VIP treatment. The Berkeley Rep is a grand, modern & comfortable theater for taking in a show. As for the show that was my 1st here, Emotional Creature was an incredible, in-your-face production. Both the girlfriend & I enjoyed it immensely. To top it all off, our VIP passes gave us access to snacks, sips & serenade afterwards in the courtyard. It was all a fantastic night out on the town. So, even though I'm not too much a "theatre" kind of guy, I can see how a night at the Berkeley Rep can be a pleasant & impressive alternative to a night of beer, action movies & race cars. read more

Thanks to Yelp, I've been here a few times with VIP access. The first time, we had front row seats for Eve Ensler's I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE. My most recent visit I attended the opening night of TROUBLEMAKER which reminded me a lot of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World minus the ex-girlfriends and a lot more angst. There is not a bad seat in the house. You can see and hear from pretty much anywhere. They validate parking so you don't have to worry about paying too much for parking if you park in any of the nearby garages. It's close to BART and tons of eating spots. The staff are super friendly and you can bring in outside beverages - at least I was able to from the VIP area. Can't really say much else except that I've always had a good time here. Thanks. read more

Many thanks to Yelp for giving me two free tickets for An Audience with Meow Meow. The show was hilarious and definitely worth the trip to the Berkeley Repertory Theater. I had never been to this theater but was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. The theater was small so there was no bad seat in the house, but the stage was big so the performers had plenty of room for an awesome show. It was in a trendy part of downtown Berkeley with restaurants, shops, and nightlife nearby. Overall it was a great night. Thanks again, Yelp! read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Awesome musical!! - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

The Berkeley Rep is the Bay Area's sparkling gem for the arts. We just saw Paradise Square which is a Broadway caliber musical with social commentary, after all its Berkeley. I remember seeing American Idiot years ago, American Idiot marked the evolutionary point of the Berkeley Rep to produce plays and musicals that are comparable to the nation's best. read more

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A few reasons why the rep deserves 5 stars and why I keep renewing my season tickets I enjoy the diversity of plays each season. The plays are almost always well acted Two theaters with very different stage configurations and both have reasonably comfortable seats. A really nice woman's bathroom and it has enough stalls so there is never much of a line Discount tickets for people under 30 read more

Horrific Dana H production. I just moved to Northern California from Santa Barbara and wanted to explore local theater. A friend bought 2 tickets to Dana H at theBerkeley Rep theater and asked me to join her. I blindly went to this play, read the bland liner notes and was totally bushwhacked by this horrific play. The 75 minute no intermission drama was a true story, detailed monologue of a woman who was kidnapped, held hostage, raped and beaten for 5 months in a series of Florida motels, captive to an ex-con sociopath member of the Aryan Brotherhood. The sound track is the real life interviews with the woman who happens also to be the mother of the playwright of this play. I would never have gone to such a harrowing production if I had known what it was about. And here is the kicker : nowhere on the website or the liner notes do they reveal what the content is. Why? Because few people would go. There is one small sign in a dark corner outside the restroom that says : " Advisory: this production contains flashing light, loud noises, dark themes and visual descriptions of sexual violence." That advisory should have been on the website and in the liner notes. What good is that advisory in the theater after we have purchased our tickets and arrived for the play? I felt completely exploited and traumatized. All the liner notes and critical reviews focused on the artistry of the amazing actor who had to memorize the transcript word for word and lip synch the victim's voice. It is a miracle the victim came through her ordeal alive and literally lived to tell the tale. But we should not be hoodwinked into listening to that tale . read more

Who knew that such a cool place would be located so close to Berkeley? I came here for a Yelp Elite event, and was impressed with the show. We watched Emotional Creature. Location -- Conveniently located 1/2 block from BART Ambiance -- The Roda Theater is pretty modern and colorful, they even have a courtyard to hang out in after the show and tall tables to stand around and chat. I would definitely recommend seeing a show here if there's one you want to see. It's local, easy to get to from BART or AC Transit, and there are lovely restaurants in the area OR there's a cafe inside. read more

Highly overrated: mediocre, amateurish productions. Ditzy staff. Most of the classes are a joke and a complete waste of time. Avoid the dramaturgy class. read more