Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: News
Mike Daisey's big news
posted by Karen McKevitt on Thu, Jan 26, 2012
in News , Our shows
It's hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since Mike Daisey performed The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs on our Thrust Stage. Even then it was clear: for Mike, this wasn't just about creating a successful theatre piece -- it was about changing the values of one of the largest, most popular American corporations.
Or, perhaps, "American and Chinese corporations."
Because, as the Twitterverse pointed out recently, for all its billions, Apple has $0 in American manufacturing. (Again, that's from Twitter. Debate at will.) (Also from the Twitterverse: "People, we're also responsible b/c of our lust for the products.")
The waves that started here in Berkeley have reached epic proportions in New York, where Agony enjoyed a terrific run at The Public -- and returns there on January 31.
In the meantime, the largest tidal wave came in the form of a special episode of This American Life featuring a portion of Daisey's monologue followed by a rigorous discussion and debate. It aired the weekend of January 6. Mike Daisey reports that it's the most downloaded episode in This American Life's history. Listen to it. I heard part of it in the car and was mesmerized -- thankfully, I wasn't the one driving.
And yesterday, the New York Times posted this article, which has since moved up the front page of its site and garnered over 1,000 comments.
Earlier this week, Mike emailed "Some Big News" to Berkeley Rep, among many others. I had seen a version of this email on his Facebook wall, and I'll excerpt it here. After all, Mike can say it so much better:
"That same week [as the TAL airing] news broke that hundreds of Foxconn workers had a stand-off that lasted two days, where they were all threatening mass suicide by throwing themselves off the roof of the plant over their working conditions.
http://tinyurl.com/7tbtoo8
"This is at Foxconn, a company which Apple's own 2011 Supplier Responsibility Report said was completely up to code, and which Apple applauded for their efforts. This is the company about which Steve Jobs said the employees enjoyed a virtual paradise of movie theaters, swimming pools, and luxury.
"A week after our show was broadcast, Apple made an abrupt announcement. After years of stonewalling and silence, they released the full list of their suppliers, and agreed to outside, independent monitoring of working conditions in the factories they use. It is not everything, but it is a small step down the right road.
http://tinyurl.com/6ojorxx
"Many news outlets are crediting THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS for being a large factor in Apple's decision. I've received a number of emails from Apple employees who have told me they believe that hearing this story on THIS AMERICAN LIFE, a program many Apple employees listen to with their families and their children, created "a morale situation" that finally compelled Apple to begin to do the right thing.
"I would like to thank everyone who has heard this story and then told it on to the next person. In theater we sometimes doubt that we can effect change—I think we all doubt it, sometimes. The truth is that telling stories, person to person, is the best way we have ever had of connecting to the human—and whatever this show may or may not have achieved, it has come out of the conversations happening night after night after night."
And thank you, Mike, for telling the story first.
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See "The Memory Be Green," plus more TV coverage
posted by Karen McKevitt on Tue, Jan 17, 2012
in News , Our shows
Tune in to KQED at 7:30 tonight for The Memory Be Green, a documentary by KQED and Dave Iverson that combines the creation of Ghost Light with "reflections on George Moscone and the times he lived in."
And, if you missed last week's press conference, check out the coverage on CBS and NBC-11 -- plus, read about that and opening night on Broadway World. Want more? Check out all the buzz!
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Snapshot from the "Ghost Light" press conference
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Jan 11, 2012
in News , Our shows
All the major networks descended on the Roda Theatre today: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Why? A special press conference for Ghost Light, which officially opens in a mere few hours. But be sure to watch the news tonight -- Tony Taccone and Jonathan Moscone both had profound, even moving, comments.
(Yeah, the photo's a little dark. I didn't want to disturb everyone with a flash.)
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"Ghost Light" materializes tonight!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Jan 6, 2012
in News , Our shows
Ghost Light, the much-anticipated world-premiere production, begins previews tonight. In this haunting show, Artistic Director (and playwright) Tony Taccone conjures an imaginary world based on the historic assassination of Mayor George Moscone. The play is helmed by none other than Jonathan Moscone.
Robynn Rodriguez and Christopher Liam Moore in Ghost Light. Photo by Jenny Graham
Both Tony and Jonathan were guests this morning on NPR’s Forum with Dave Iverson. Miss it? Listen to it now!
Catch a PBS documentary on the creation of Ghost Light! KQED airs The Memory Be Green starting January 17. Watch a screening at Berkeley Rep! Our free Page to Stage event on January 23 features the documentary followed by a conversation with Resident Dramaturg Madeleine Oldham with writer Tony Taccone and documentary-maker Dave Iverson.
Richard Dodds of the Bay Area Reporter filed “Moscone memories,” an insightful article that traces the creation of Ghost Light back to the release of the film Milk.
The San Francisco Chronicle and Mercury News both tapped the play as one to watch for in the new year, and the SF Examiner published a preview piece just today. Pretty cool!
Hope to see you at Ghost Light!
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Beginning 2012 with a look back at 2011's best
posted by Kyle Sircus on Wed, Jan 4, 2012
in News , Our shows
Happy New Year, blog readers! January offers all of us a time to commit to resolutions and reflect back on the year that was. In our case at Berkeley Rep, it was certainly a busy one filled with a whole slate of shows, some of which were lucky enough to receive some "best of 2011" nods from theatre critics around the country. In case you missed it, here's a rundown:
- The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, Mike Daisey's controversial new monologue, appeared on critics' lists in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal for its New York and Washington, D.C. runs, respectively. The production made lists in both the Seattle Times and Seattle Weekly, too. Closer to home, Bay Area News Group, Huffington Post, and the SF Bay Guardian all named it as one of their top picks for the year.
- Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy earned the engaging performer the Barrymore Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play. This knockout performance landed in the Top 10 lists in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area News Group, and Los Angeles Times.
- In addition to his Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance, John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown was awarded the Biggest Laugh of 2011 by Eric Grode in the New York Times.
- Our co-production of Ruined made lists in the San Francisco Chronicle, Idiolect, and the Boston Globe.
- Les Waters' staging of Three Sisters made Karen D'Souza's Top 10 list in the Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, and Contra Costa Times.
- Speaking of Les, Charles Isherwood of the New York Times recently wrote about the year’s “most promising out of town development: The appointment of the director Les Waters to head Actors Theater of Louisville, which hosts the annual Humana Festival of New American Plays.” After eight years as Berkeley Rep’s associate artistic director, Les will be dearly missed in the Bay Area – but everyone wishes him well with his new adventure!
To close out this post, we are so excited that our current production of The Wild Bride was named the "high point of the year" in Robert Hurwitt's San Francisco Chronicle list. The show's been extended until January 22. If you haven't seen it yet, why not add that to your list of resolutions?
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Critics love "The Wild Bride!"
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Dec 9, 2011
in News , Our shows
The reviews are in and critics love The Wild Bride! It even got a "wild applause" from the Little Man. What can we say? Kneehigh totally rocks!
Here's what the critics are saying:
“The Devil is at the crossroads, a girl is in peril and love is gloriously indestructible in the exhilarating The Wild Bride… A feast of timeless story, irresistible music and wildly imaginative theatricality… Bride is a gift that keeps on giving.” – SF Chronicle
“The Wild Bride will steal your heart from start to finish… An ingenious marriage of dance, theater, puppetry and music… Once upon a time has rarely been so intoxicating.” – Bay Area News Group
“Devilishly entertaining … Anyone who believes in magic should see it!” – SF Examiner
“Without question, the great treat of the holiday theater season!” – Chad Jones’ Theatre Dogs (Love the caption, Chad!)
So, tickets are already going fast, so don't wait, reserve your seats now before shows sell out!
Patrycja Kujawska and Stuart Goodwin. Photo by kevinberne.com
We'll see ya real soon!
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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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Happy Birthday, Bill Cain!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Mon, Oct 31, 2011
in News , Our shows
Happy birthday to our New Book playwright, Bill Cain.
What do you give a Jesuit priest (and playwright) whose birthday is on Halloween?
(Pictured: Linda Gehringer, Leo Marks, Aaron Blakeley, and Tyler Pierce. Photo by kevinberne.com.)
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Our very own reluctant writer
posted by Kyle Sircus on Mon, Oct 10, 2011
in News
Tony Taccone, Berkeley Rep's artistic director, is making his first foray into playwriting this season with not one but two new plays. Both Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup and the upcoming Ghost Light are penned by the director turned playwright, though that title isn't one that comes easily to him.
Check out Tony's recent post on HowlRound to hear about his journey into the world of writing...and why, on a good day, he's more prone to call himself an artist than a writer.
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Happy California Arts Day!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Oct 7, 2011
in News , School of Theatre
Happy California Arts Day from Berkeley Rep!
This year’s California Arts Day theme is “driving creativity.”
We know what the theme intends: creative cars driving speedily down the highway of artistic enlightenment.
But driving isn’t always easy and, these days, it doesn’t always have the most positive connotations. The word alone ignites thoughts of high gas prices, traffic, and parking frustrations.
It’s the same with the arts. Funding is tight and schools are pushing out art requirements in an effort to meet standards. We all know the spiel.
So for California Arts Day, let’s focus on those who are keeping us driving -- inventing the “hybrid cars” of the arts.
Thank your teachers, politicians, and local artists who keep driving creativity in California even when that parking space seems pretty impossible to find.
We certainly do! Thanks California for continuing to “drive creativity!”
Join our California Arts Day Facebook/Twitter* campaign by posting the following phrase:
“FILL IN THE BLANK drives me in the arts! Repost this status with what drives you to celebrate California’s Arts Day!”
*If you’re tweeting, be sure to use #BerkRepArtsDay as your hashtag.
