Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: At the theatre
That person sitting next to you at the Theatre? They may have programmed your smart phone
posted by Kyle Sircus on Tue, Jan 24, 2012
in At the theatre
Or your laptop. Or even the newest search features on Google that save us all the hassle of pulling down the dusty Encyclopedia Brittanica from the shelf.* (Alright, so maybe not while #SOPA and #PIPA were in effect, but even still...)
Last week, Berkeley Rep played host to a lunchtime gathering of 30 of our city's brightest high-tech innovators. The monthly Infusion lunch series, hosted by Sylvia Paull, welcomed Seymour Rubinstein, a veteran computer programmer and tech guru, to talk about his newest endeavor. Most of the attendees also participate in the Berkeley Startup Cluster, a relatively new initiative that encourages local high-tech companies to create a home for themselves in Berkeley. Here's a photo from the event, captured by our very own Robert Sweibel:
Many of our lunchtime guests are also Berkeley Rep regulars. Perhaps you can start an interesting conversation with your fellow audience members the next time you're at the Theatre. (Tip: these folks go crazy when you ask them about their favorite programming language.**)
* Nothing against encyclopedias.
** That's where they lost me.
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Rita's big break: the making of the Entourage video
posted by Cari Turley on Mon, Dec 12, 2011
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
It's not every day you get to write a script for Rita Moreno.
Perhaps you've heard of her? Before her star-making turn in "Bring your Entourage to Berkeley Rep," Ms. Moreno appeared in a handful of smaller films like West Side Story, The King and I, and The Ritz. OK, I kid. Obviously, Rita was a huge star well before we talked her into appearing in our video, but now I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up.
Here at Berkeley Rep, we have this amazing program that no one's ever heard of. It's called Entourage. Here's how it works: if we've got a show that you want to share with 10 or more people, we'll send you a discount code for 20% off. You don't all have to come on the same day, and we'll even waive everyone's service fees. Even better, if you can get 15 or more people to come, we'll give you a free ticket to a future show. Basically, you help us spread the word, and we'll make sure you and your friends save big. Win-win.
Or, if you prefer your information in cheesy, black-and-white video format:
Sounds awesome, right? We here in the marketing department were bummed that no one seemed to know about the program, so we decided to make a video to get the word out. We gave ourselves a comfortable schedule to make a storyboard, write a script, and look for filming locations...and then someone suggested asking Rita Moreno (who was here performing Life Without Makeup) if she'd like to make a cameo. Miraculously, she said yes. But since her show was ending in two days, our two-week timeline was out the window. If it was going to happen, we had to do this thing today.
And that's how I ended up writing a script to pitch to an Oscar winner in 15 minutes. Once that was done, we went to the theatre, grabbed as many "volunteers" as we could find, and knocked on Rita's dressing room door.
Boy, was that a terrifying moment. Here I am, some nobody, asking the great Rita Moreno to perform in some ludicrous scene that I wrote. I'm not a screenwriter! I'm not even a regular writer! And then, as if that wasn't frightening enough, I had to act in the scene with her. Look, I was a drama major in college, and I used to dream about this kind of opportunity. But you never expect it to happen with so little warning. I mean, shouldn't I have gotten a few weeks to prepare myself for this? Shouldn't I at least have brushed my hair?
Naturally, it took about three seconds for me to ruin the first take. Mortified, I tried again...and this time Rita tripped over her lines, made a joke about it, and just like that the tension broke. (Stars: they're just like us!) After that, it was just fun. She was an incredibly good sport, as were all the other Berkeley Rep staffers we coerced into performing. The whole thing was over in an hour.
At the end of our adventure in filmmaking, we were left with this little gem. Check it out, and if it sounds like something you might want to do, why don't you get in touch? (I promise I'm not quite as, uh, effusive in person.)
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New Yorker cartoonist by night
posted by Karen McKevitt on Thu, Dec 1, 2011
in At the theatre
Hey, there's a famous cartoonist lurking in the depths of Berkeley Rep's box office! And another one of his works is featured in this week's issue of the New Yorker. (Yeah, the magazine's published like eight of his cartoons.) Check it!
Plus, he has two more in the magazine's Cartoons of the Year 2011. Congratulations, Tom!
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Happiness is...
posted by Kyle Sircus on Wed, Nov 30, 2011
in At the theatre , General theatre talk , Our shows
We've been vindicated! What we who work in the theatre have always known to be true is finally being supported with actual evidence. A new study from the UK charts, via smart phone responses, when people are at their happiest. No surprise to Berkeley Rep fans: theatre comes in third place (only after sex and exercising).
When are you at your happiest?
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Saying goodbye to one of our own
posted by Kyle Sircus on Tue, Nov 29, 2011
in At the theatre , General theatre talk , News
After a successful and vibrant eight years at Berkeley Rep as associate artistic director, it's time to bid farewell to a local favorite. Today, Actors Theatre of Lousiville named Les Waters as their new artistic director.
In Les' words, “For a director such as myself, whose career has focused on fostering new work, it has been a delight to be part of the team at Berkeley Rep. It is an extraordinary theatre staffed by extraordinary people dedicated to the highest quality of craftsmanship...It is difficult to leave Berkeley -- yet it is an honor and a privilege to take up the reins at Actors Theatre of Louisville...I am committed to making theatre there that is passionate and intelligent, funny and heartfelt, and look forward to leading Actors Theatre to new artistic endeavors.”
Check out the Actors Theatre press conference video. Les speaks about 8 minutes in.
All of us at Berkeley Rep wish Les all the best as he begins his new Kentucky adventure (where he'll certainly make a mark, just as he has on Addison Street)! We'll miss his charm, wit, and sweaters, but we're not ready to bid him farewell just yet. Les will be back in Berkeley to direct Red, which plays the Thrust Stage from March 16 - April 29, 2012. And we'll certainly have a few more blog posts before he departs.
What was your favorite Les Waters production at Berkeley Rep? Please share your thoughts with us below.
Photo of Les Waters by Rebecca Martinez
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Adding a little more gold to Rita's shelf
posted by Kyle Sircus on Tue, Nov 15, 2011
in At the theatre , Events , General theatre talk
Rita's already won the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony awards. This weekend, she's gearing up to put the last Midas touch on her extended run of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup. What more could our favorite leading lady want right now? A golden anniversary may just be the answer.
This Tuesday, November 15 is the 50th anniversary of the film version of West Side Story in which Rita earned her Academy Award. George Chakiris (Bernardo to Rita's Anita) showed up at the show on November 6; dancer Ray Garcia snapped this photo backstage after Rita brought her former co-star onto the Roda stage for a bow.
Rita Moreno, Ray Garcia, George Chakiris, and Salvatore Vassallo backstage after a performance of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup at Berkeley Rep.
Movie theatres around the country have been showing the film for fans all month. Symphony orchestras have added the score to their repertoire this season to play live alongside the film. There was even this flash mob that happened in Times Square today to commemorate the movie's big birthday:
After the show closes this Sunday (and if you haven't seen this stellar show yet, get your tickets before they're gone), Rita is heading down to Los Angeles to celebrate at a reunion of some of the film's stars.
Who knows what Rita will touch next that will turn itself to gold?
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If you were looking for a reason to email Oprah...
posted by Megan Wygant on Mon, Sep 26, 2011
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz , General theatre talk , Our shows
...let it never be said that a passion for the arts didn't give you that opportunity.
Earlier this week, I was pleasantly surprised when an email from Oberon K.A. Adjepong arrived in my inbox. Oberon played Christian, the traveling salesman, in Berkeley Rep's production of Ruined last season and we've kept in touch on and off since then. Like the character you saw on the Roda stage, the real-life Oberon is gifted with a strong sense of humor, an instinct for mischief, and a singular ability to make you feel like a dear friend from the first moment you meet. I really enjoyed having him with us in Berkeley, and am always happy to hear from him.
Oberon was writing because he wanted to ask for my help. And, reading his request, I thought that it might be something that the greater Berkeley Rep community might like to jump in on as well!
Here's the deal:
Late last year, Oprah announced that she was involved with a film adaptation of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer-winning play, Ruined. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that she would be playing Mama Nadi.
At present, the role of Christian has not been cast.
Oberon would very much like to be the one tapped for that role -- and the first step is getting an audition. He and his agent are working the regular channels to make such a thing happen, but he recognizes that this is the time to think about nontraditional solutions as well.
Oberon is therefore asking his friends and family to launch a letter-writing campaign in support of his recent work with Ruined, and to recommend his being given the opportunity to audition for the role.
You see where you can help, don't you? The more, the merrier!
It's pretty simple: write a letter to oprah@oprah.com. Tell her that you saw Oberon in the recent Berkeley Rep production of Ruined (if you'd like, you can also mention that he played the role at La Jolla Playhouse and the Huntington Theatre in Boston). Tell Ms. Winfrey how much you liked Oberon's work as Christian. Be specific if you can. And ask her to consider casting him in the role of Christian for her film.
Again, that email address is oprah@oprah.com.
We all talk about how, in this business, being successful is a combination of talent, hard work, and luck. Sometimes, you just have to make your own luck -- and this is one of those times. Let's help him do it!
Photo: Oberon K.A. Adjepong as Christian and Tonye Patano as Mama Nadi in Berkeley Rep's production of Ruined (photo by Kevin Berne)
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Rita Moreno's big night/OUT
posted by Cari Turley on Mon, Sep 12, 2011
in At the theatre , Events , Our shows
Last Friday's night/OUT party for the LGBT community was a huge success! I mean, I know we say that a lot (what can we say; it's a successful series!) but this was one of the best night/OUTs we've had in a while. We had a huge crowd, a great DJ, incredible food and drink...but what really put the icing on the cake was a special, surprise visit from none other than Rita Moreno herself.
Rita (and dancers Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo) stopped by the party and were gracious enough to mingle and take photos with our guests for a good long time. Or maybe they were just enjoying the party--can't say I'd blame them!
Take a peek and some of our photos below. (I may have gotten a little Instagram-happy.) If you were there and took a photo with Rita, share it in the comments!
Did you miss out this time? Don't worry, we have two more night/OUT events this season. It's not too early to buy tickets, so make sure you don't miss out again!
Thanks to our night/OUT season sponsors, San Francisco Bay Guardian and The Bay Area Reporter, as well as La Bonne Cuisine, Ale Industries, Tres Agaves, and DJ Gstar of the Hella Gay Oakland Dance Party for making this night a success. See you next time!
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Introducing our specialty drinks
posted by Karen McKevitt on Tue, Sep 6, 2011
in At the theatre
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing our drinks created especially for the run of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup! (It opens tomorrow night, by the way!)
Rosita Rum & Cola
Puerto Rico meets the Bronx…and gets dressed up for Broadway. Bacardi says hola to Coca-Cola and tops itself off with a bright red cherry. Cool and hot – just like Rita! $8
Singin’ in the Rum
Bacardi white rum dances with splashes of lime juice, grapefruit juice, and maraschino liqueur. One sip and you’ll kick up your heels – who needs an umbrella anyway? $8
Plus: Tres Agaves MargaRita!
It’s a hit! Don’t miss the encore performance of the Tres Agaves Margarita, starring Tres Agaves Tequila and its certified Organic Margarita Mix. $8.
And, we have some new treats at our concessions counter: Love at First Bite's peanut butter cookies, Raymond's cabernet sauvignon, Boont Amber Ale, and Anchor Steam lager. See our concessions counter menu.
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Hot nights, cool parties
posted by Cari Turley on Thu, Jun 23, 2011
in At the theatre , Events
Last Friday was the season's final 30-Below, AKA the coolest theatre afterparty for people in their 20s. And it was a blast! We had the good folks at Picante on hand making fresh tortillas in our courtyard (after four salmon tacos, I am a fan for life), a keg of delicious Triple Rock Bug Juice Ale, wine courtesy of Raymond Vineyards, and even a pre-show maragarita tasting with the always-fabulous Tres Agaves. And as for entertainment? Our old friend DJ Ome was back to spin tunes while we waited for our turn in the Magbooth. That's right, I told you the photo booth would be back!
For those of you who missed it, here's a few snaps we took at the event. And those of you who were there, see if you can spot yourself in the crowd! Leave us a comment if you find yourself or a friend.
Thanks to David Trease for the photos! Click on the pictures to open a larger size in a new window.
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partygoers enjoying 30-Below |
the collectable Triple Rock coasters |
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Picante's fresh tortillas were a huge hit |
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(Looking for the full set of photo booth pictures? Check out the album here.)
