Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: Events
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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Eve Ensler in the house!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Tue, Oct 25, 2011
in Events
Last Friday afternoon several hundred people packed the Roda Theatre to see Eve Ensler -- that's right, of The Vagina Monologues fame. Why? Because Berkeley Rep is premiering her brand new play, Emotional Creature, next June! Tickets go on sale to the public on November 6.
The line stretched down Addison Street!
Eve Ensler in conversation with Artistic Director Tony Taccone
Eve rallies the audience
Eve signs copies of her book I Am an Emotional Creature
All photos by Cheshire Isaacs
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Berkeley Rep is Proud to Present. . . in the Library!
posted by Pauline Luppert on Mon, Oct 24, 2011
in Events , Our shows , School of Theatre
Do you know about Berkeley Rep's docent presentations?
Free docent presentations offer a look inside each play and its development at Berkeley Rep. An engrossing 30-minute presentation begins one hour before most Tuesday and Thursday 8pm performances.
But wait there's more!
Berkeley Rep also brings docent presentations to you, in select public libraries, senior centers, and other community sites.This week there will be presentations for both shows currently playing at Berkeley Rep, Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup and How to Write a New Book for the Bible.
Here are the details:
RITA MORENO: LIFE WITHOUT MAKEUP
Monday, 10/24 – 10:30am
Event: Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup Off-Site Docent Talk – Marion Fay
Location: Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley
Docent: Charlotte Martinelli
Monday, 10/24 – 1pm
Event: Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup Off-Site Docent Talk – Marion Fay
Location: Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley
Docent: Joy Lancaster; Backup: Charlotte Martinelli
Tuesday, 10/25 – 7-7:30pm
Event: Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup Pre-Show Docent Talk
Location: Upper Roda Lobby
Docent: Nancy Fenton
Wednesday, 10/26 – 1pm
Event: Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup Off-Site Docent Talk – Marion Fay
Location: Alameda Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
Docent: Nancy Fenton
Thursday, 10/27 – 1-1:30pm
Event: Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup Pre-Show Docent Talk (special group request)
Location: Upper Roda Lobby
Docent: Nancy Fenton
HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE
Tuesday, 10/25 – 7-7:30pm
Event: How to Write a New Book for the Bible Pre-Show Docent Talk
Location: Addison Attic
Docent: Marc Seleznow
Wednesday, 10/26 – 2pm
Event: How to Write a New Book for the Bible Off-Site Docent Talk – Moraga Library
Location: Moraga Library, 1500 Saint Marys Rd, Moraga, CA 94556
Docent: Emika Abe
Thursday, 10/27 – 7-7:30pm
Event: How to Write a New Book for the Bible Pre-Show Docent Talk
Location: Addison Attic
Docent: David Tabb
Sunday, 10/30 – 4:20pm
Event: How to Write a New Book for the Bible Post-Show Docent Discussion
Location: Addison Attic
Docents: David Tabb & Thalia Dorwick
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Eve Ensler is in the house (and on the street)
posted by Cari Turley on Thu, Oct 20, 2011
in Events
Our office is abuzz with anticipation for tomorrow's free event with Eve Ensler. Will you be joining us? The pre-registration is full, but if you show up tomorrow, we'll give out all the unclaimed seats on a first-come, first-served basis. If you haven't heard, The Vagina Monologues creator Eve Ensler will be dropping by our theatre at 4:30pm tomorrow to sign copies of her bestselling book, I Am an Emotional Creature, and make a special announcement about her newest project in the U.S. Come by and be the first to hear the news!
As if her schedule wasn't full enough, Eve also stopped by the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City on Sunday to interview protestors for another upcoming project. Where does she find the time? Maybe we'll find out tomorrow...
(Photo credit: Randyll Wendl Photography)
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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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Podcast of Anna Deavere Smith panel now available!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Sep 9, 2011
in Events
A Symphony of Ideas - Anna Deavere Smith at Berkeley Rep
Did you miss the terrific panel discussion on August 17 moderated by Anna Deavere Smith? No worries, because now the podcast of "A Symphony of Ideas: A Conversation About the Body and the Body Politic" is now available. This discussion was also moderated Paul Costello, CCO of Stanford School of Medicine, and featured the panelists Dr. Judith Butler, Dr. Arnold Milstein, Janice Mirikitani, and Lance Williams.
For more info on the panelists, click here. Otherwise, enjoy the podcast!
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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.)
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You look fabulous!
posted by Cari Turley on Mon, Jun 6, 2011
in Events
Last Thursday was our final night/OUT event for the LGBT community of the season (don't worry, we'll be back in September!), and it was a blast. Right after Anna Deavere Smith's brilliant new show, Let Me Down Easy, the audience filled the courtyard for a couple hours of food, drinks, and music. We had a delicious spread courtesy of Bistro Liaison, wine from Raymond Vineyards, and the guys from Ale Industries were on hand to pour beer all night (you've gotta try their Orange Kush!). Meanwhile, DJ Pauline kept the music coming, and we even had a special live performance by genre-bending queer musician Maia Papaya.
But the final touch was a photo booth courtesy of our friends at Magnolia Photo Booth. They brought a suitcase full of props and let our partygoers take as many pictures as they wanted, even printing out free strips of photos to take home and treasure forever (in duplicate, no less!). If you missed it--or if you didn't, and you're looking for your new Facebook profile photo--here's a gallery of our fabulous friends. Check out a few of our favorites below!
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Missed out? Don't worry, you'll get a second chance at 30-Below, coming up on June 17. If you're under 30 (and old enough to drink), join us for the party! Get a half-price ticket to Let Me Down Easy with the code 30BELOW, or call the box office at 510-647-2949 and mention 30-Below. Tickets to the show start at just $23.50, and you'll get to enjoy the post-show party for free! We'll have snacks from Picante, beer from Triple Rock Brewery, more wine from Raymond Vineyards, DJ Ome playing all your favorite music (she takes requests!), and of course another fabulous photo booth. 30-Below is sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, so be sure to say hi to those guys when you drop by, too. See you there!
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Teens fill 24 hours with dramatic fundraising!
posted by School of Theatre on Fri, Jun 3, 2011
in Events , School of Theatre , Teen Council
by Ben Hanna, Community Programs Manager
In May, 18 teens from Teen Council gathered at the School of Theatre for a 24-hour fundraising "Dramathon." Yes, you read that right. Noon to noon, a nonstop theatre extravaganza! Here’s just a taste of this fundraising excursion of epic proportions:
Saturday, May 21
12pm - Teens sign up for play readings and warm up their bodies and voices in prep for 24 hours of performance.
1:15pm – Teens near the end of The Importance of Being Earnest, with a twist: a cross-gender cast!
3:11pm - Teen Council member Gideon Lazarus performs a monologue from Macbeth, sparking a series of monologue performances from the teens.
5:20pm – Participants delve into the world of one-acts, including works by playwrights Anton Chekhov, John Patrick Shanley, and David Ives.
6:47pm – Students scarf down a pizza dinner in prep for the Chicago sing-a-long. Peet’s coffee and tea are served, giving everyone a much-needed boost of energy.
9:07pm - Bay Area actress and School of Theatre teaching artist Elena Wright arrives as a special guest to read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard with the teens. In Elena's words, "One of the hardest reads I've ever done -- three hours of Stoppard cold from nine to midnight!"
Sunday, May 22
12:45am – Over 12 hours down, 12 to go. Students are clad in pajamas, and Christopher Durang’s The Idiots Karamazov has begun. Lots of hysterical laughter all around, perhaps due to the late-night giggles!
2:30am - Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is blaring over our sound system, and a five-minute theatrical dance party ensues!
3:07am – Let’s do the time warp again! Eyes are drooping and the second round of Peet’s coffee is served! A cult classic is in order! Rocky Horror Picture Show is projected on our classroom wall for a read-through and sing-a-long!
6:45am - Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore has begun -- for those of you who saw it at Berkeley Rep, you can imagine the dramatic action all throughout the School!
9:03am - Improv games are played to wake-up the crowd. Education Fellows Candice McDowell and Allison Whorton pump up the energy, leading some intense “dance-offs.”
11:45am - The top three teen fundraisers for the Dramathon are announced and given great Berkeley Rep prizes in appreciation of their hard work!
Over the course of the evening, teens read 8 full-length plays, 10 one-acts, and 10 monologues as well as participated in 3 sing-a-longs and numerous improv games. Major kudos to these diehard theatre-lovers who raised over $3,500 for the Berkeley Rep Teen Council's programming next year.
Weren't able to sponsor a teen but want to help support Teen Council programming? Donate to the Teen Conference Fund and help send seven teens to represent the youth voice of American theatre at the TCG Conference this June.
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Taking the spotlight ONSTAGE
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Apr 27, 2011
in Events
More than 360 Berkeley Rep supporters gathered at the Four Seasons San Francisco last Saturday night for ONSTAGE, a gala celebrating the Theatre's 43rd birthday. Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, presided as master of ceremonies, and the evening raised $587,000 to support the Theatre, including $115K for our arts education outreach programs (see a video on how theatre changes lives). Here are some highlights from photographer Cheshire Isaacs:
Berkeley Rep's Managing Director Susan Medak with master of ceremonies Daniel Handler.
Development Director Lynn Eve Komaromi with Narsai David, Michael Yovino-Young, Venus David, and Jean Strunsky.
The legendary Rita Moreno sang selections from her upcoming show.
William Tucker and Deborah Romer meet the Honorable Willie Brown after scoring the winning bid on an exclusive dinner party with the former mayor of San Francisco.
Paul Wattis flashes his bidder card after winning a World Series commemorative bat signed by Tim Lincecum.
Cal Shakes' Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone with Berkeley Rep's Artistic Director Tony Taccone and MC Daniel Handler auctioning off the Ghost Light lot.
