Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: Our shows
Leaving us In the Wake
posted by Chad Jones on Fri, Jun 25, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz , Our shows
As we head into closing weekend for Lisa Kron's In the Wake, we'd like to leave you with a few parting thoughts courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.
Charles McNulty, in his essay "The Kushner effect, an Angel in American playwriting," celebrates the lasting legacy of Tony Kushner's epic Angels in America, a play that has inspired a generation of writers to bring national scope and creative imagination to the stage. He writes:
Three plays in recent months have pressed an awareness of the continuing artistic impact of Angels: Rajiv Joseph's Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Julia Cho's The Language Archive and Lisa's Kron's In the Wake...
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American Idiot wins two Tony Awards!
posted by Chad Jones on Mon, Jun 14, 2010
in News , Our shows
The Tony Awards have all been handed out, and the tuxedos and fancy gowns have all been put away for another year.
On Sunday in Manhattan, amid show tunes, high kicks, and gushing thank-you speeches, another show born at Berkeley Repertory Theatre was honored with theatre’s most prestigious and coveted prize: American Idiot, the thrilling musical based on Green Day’s Grammy-winning album that made its world premiere in Berkeley before bursting onto Broadway, nabbed two Tony Awards. Following a performance of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by the show’s cast (seen above) – and a shout-out to Oakland, CA paying tribute to their roots in the Bay Area – the beloved punk band kicked off the ceremony by rocking Radio City Music Hall with "Holiday" and "Know Your Enemy." (See a video of the performance below.)
Viewers of the national television broadcast – as well as artists, staff members, and volunteers from Berkeley Rep who joined the festivities in New York – saw Christine Jones from American Idiot accept the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical. To make the evening even sweeter, Kevin Adams of American Idiot – who previously won two Tonys (and a nomination for his work on Berkeley Rep’s Passing Strange) – earned the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical. This marks the fifth and sixth Tony Awards associated with Berkeley Rep.
“We could not be more proud,” said Artistic Director Tony Taccone, commenting from New York. “It is a tremendous honor to have two shows in the running in the same year – a play and a musical – and an extraordinary experience to see this work recognized by the Tony Awards. All of us at Berkeley Rep send our congratulations to Christine, Kevin, and all of our collaborators on American Idiot.
“At Berkeley Rep, we are committed to developing new plays – and we are lucky enough to have an adventurous and very smart audience. While our primary aim is always to create work that engages, entertains, and challenges our local audience, it also makes Berkeley a great place to launch new shows. So we’re pleased that the nation’s top artists choose to take artistic risks with us, and gratified that our work continues to travel on to wider praise.”
Though Kevin and Christine's awards weren't presented during the CBS broadcast, you can see their complete acceptance speeches here. Kevin even gives a holler to Fred Gefken and Stephanie Buchner of our electrics department. "Berkeley Rep is an amazing place to work," Kevin gushes. "Everyone there is so incredible." And Christine, in her enthusiastic, confetti-filled speech, declares that American Idiot director Michael Mayer is "the Jesus and Judy of Broadway."
Here are the cast of American Idiot and Green Day performances from the Tony Awards.
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Watch the Tonys Sunday night!
posted by Chad Jones on Sat, Jun 12, 2010
in Events , News , Our shows
Win or lose, awards shows can be an awful lot of fun, especially when you know some of the nominees. That's what makes this year's Tony Awards more exciting than usual. Berkeley Rep audiences are well acquainted with a few of the major players whose names you'll hear on Sunday's broadcast (8pm, CBS).
Green Day's American Idiot, the thrilling rock opera that made its world premiere in Berkeley before bursting onto Broadway, is up for three Tony Awards including Best Musical. In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), the comedy Berkeley Rep commissioned from Sarah Ruhl that became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and marked the Broadway debut of Associate Artistic Director Les Waters, also received three nominations including Best Play.
Here's a complete rundown of our nominations:
- Best Musical: American Idiot
- Best Play: In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
- Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Maria Dizzia for In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Christine Jones for American Idiot
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Kevin Adams for American Idiot
- Best Costume Design of a Play: David Zinn for In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
"Local folks have long known that Berkeley Rep is devoted to developing adventurous new work," remarks Tony Taccone, the Theatre's artistic director. "We are pleased that a much wider audience has had an opportunity to see and appreciate our work in the last several years, and naturally we're honored to see these shows nominated for so many prestigious awards. We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the many partners who helped bring American Idiot and In the Next Room to Broadway."
Green Day will perform, as will the cast of American Idiot.
Of course we'll be rooting for Berkeley Rep's nominees, but with the Tony Awards, everybody wins. This is, after all, the only national exposure given to American theatre by a major network. So tune in and show your support — not just for Berkeley Rep but for all the great theatre artists working on stages across the country.
Visit the official Tony Awards website.
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Lisa Kron goes Against the Grain
posted by Chad Jones on Tue, Jun 8, 2010
in At the theatre , Our shows
Lisa Kron's In the Wake, now having its world premiere in the Roda Theatre, is full of powerful observations linking the personal and political. The drama also asks questions about how our personal sense of responsibility becomes manifest in our relationships as well as in our political convictions.
The play seemed like a perfect match for Berkeley Rep's intelligent, ever-questioning audiences, and that's turning out to be true.
Lisa was interviewed by C.S. Soong on his KPFA-94.1FM radio show Against the Grain.
Listen to Part One of the interview. (Be aware that Lisa follows UC Berkeley political science professor Ron Hassner, and her segment begins at about the 35-minute mark.) Listen to Part Two of the interview. (Lisa's segment begins at the 32-minute mark.)
As always, Lisa is fascinating as she discusses the genesis of the play and its subject matter, which is, in her words, "white liberalism and what it misses in American `democracy'."
Lisa also talks about a central issue in the play, which is the notion of a "blind spot," both on a personal and on a national level. Lisa says she was fascinated by, "our deeply held belief — and it's as true on the left as on the right — that we will land on our feet and right ourselves. There's only so far we can fall. I was questioning that in a political sense. And then you go through things in your personal life, as people do, and I realized I did believe that in my personal life. Why? I thought to myself, `That is so American.'"
In the Wake continues through June 27. Visit our online box office for tickets or call 510 647-2949.
Lisa Kron photo by Joan Marcus.
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More great reviews flowing in for In the Wake
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, Jun 3, 2010
in At the theatre , Our shows
Several more reviews of Lisa Kron's In the Wake have arrived, and they're worth sharing.
The first is from Nathaniel Eaton at the SF Weekly. Here's a taste:
Kron writes all sides thoroughly and brilliantly; she has no political agenda except perhaps to show that interconnectedness is the key to understanding our experience. This play is a powerful statement that we must question everything and everyone — including ourselves.
Next up is from Richard Dodds in the Bay Area Reporter, who writes:
Kron, who first came to attention as a member of the Five Lesbian Brothers, is much like the lesbian brother Tony Kushner never had. Dizzyingly complex discussions of economic theories, social constructs, and historical paradigms whiz by in high-voltage conversations that don't allow eyes to glaze over because of the skillful use of language and the recognizably comfortable circumstances in which ideological friction gets messed up with the everyday clatter of folks just trying to figure out mundane coping techniques.
In the Wake continues through June 27 in the Roda Theatre. Click berkeleyrep.org for ticket info.
Above photo: Carson Elrod and Heidi Schreck in Lisa Kron's In the Wake at Berkeley Rep. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com.
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Girlfriend band reunites for San Francisco concert!
posted by Chad Jones on Wed, Jun 2, 2010
in Events , Our shows
Some things are just too good to end.
After a fantastic extended run on the Thrust stage in the world-premiere show Girlfriend, musical director Julie Wolf and her band continue playing together. They were joined by Girlfriend actor Jason Hite for a rousing performance at Berkeley Rep's recent night/Out event for In the Wake. (They even performed "Billie Jean" for playwright Lisa Kron, who happened to be celebrating her birthday that night.)
And now the Girlfriend band will perform another gig (though Jason is unavailable for this one). This Friday, June 4, you can find Julie, Jean DuSablon, Shelley Doty, and ieela Grant at the Dolores Park Cafe, 501 Dolores Street (at 18th Street). The music goes on from 7:30pm to 10pm.
Julie promises some sweet Matthew Sweet songs and some "funky surprises" as well.
Above photo: The Girlfriend band (from left) includes Jean DuSablon, Shelley Doty, Julie Wolf, and ieela Grant. (Photo courtesy of Julie Wolf)
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Checking in on NYC awards season: Berkeley Rep shows win!
posted by Chad Jones on Mon, May 24, 2010
in Backstage buzz , News , Our shows
This is the time of year when they're practically hurling awards at shows in New York, and it's all leading up to the Tony Awards on Sunday, June 13.
Just yesterday (Sunday, May 23), the Drama Desk handed the Outstanding Director of a Musical Award to Michael Mayer for his work on Green Day's American Idiot, which also earned the 2010 ITBA Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical from the Independent Theater Bloggers Association. (Michael is seen in the above American Idiot rehearsal photo in the orange T-shirt; photo by Carole Litwin.)
Tony Taccone, Berkeley Rep's artistic director, had this to say about American Idiot's achievements: “All of us at Berkeley Rep send our congratulations to Michael and our collaborators on American Idiot. When we develop new shows at Berkeley Rep, our focus is on creating work that entertains and invigorates Bay Area audiences. Their support and their intelligence make it a pleasure to launch plays here. But it is also gratifying to see our shows go on to enjoy successful runs on Broadway and beyond. We are extremely proud and enormously grateful that our work continues to receive such recognition.”
In other awards news...
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SF Chronicle editorial praises Berkeley Rep
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, May 6, 2010
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
In the wake of this week's Tony Award nominations, the San Francisco Chronicle published an editorial in this morning's paper that made people around here feel proud and happy to be part of the extraordinary Bay Area theatre community.
Here's some of what the editorial, with the headline "The amazing Rep," had to say:
Theatergoers in the Bay Area are well aware of the treasure they have in the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which has been an incubator for innovation and talent since 1968. Still, was gratifying to see the rest of the cultural world take notice in the form of Tony award nominations for two plays that premiered at the Rep.
One of the plays, American Idiot, was a rock opera based on the album by Green Day, a band with East Bay origins. It was nominated for best musical. The other nominee that came out of the Berkeley Rep was In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play). It was nominated for best play.
Kudos are also in order for Best of Broadway producer Carole Shorenstein Hays, whose revival of Fences claimed 10 nominations - including best revival.
In yet another local Tony connection, the musical Memphis, which workshopped at TheatreWorks festival in 2002, received a best musical nomination.
The nominations were well deserved and a reminder of the cultural excellence in our own backyard.
Here's some more coverage of our Tony nominations.
- NPR/KQED-FM interview with Artistic Director Tony Taccone
- The cover story of the Datebook section in the San Francisco Chronicle
- The front-page story from the Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times
- And one from from SFist
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Berkeley Rep shows nab six Tony noms!
posted by Chad Jones on Tue, May 4, 2010
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
Today, two shows born at Berkeley Repertory Theatre nabbed six nominations for theatre’s most prestigious and coveted prize: the Tony Award. Green Day’s American Idiot, the thrilling rock opera that made its world premiere in Berkeley before bursting onto Broadway, netted nominations for three Tony Awards including Best Musical. In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), the comedy Berkeley Rep commissioned from Sarah Ruhl that became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and marked the Broadway debut of Associate Artistic Director Les Waters, also received three nominations including Best Play. The winners of this year’s Tony Awards will be announced June 13 on CBS.
Combined with Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking – another show developed at Berkeley Rep which found its way to Broadway – these popular productions have also received five nominations for Drama Desk Awards, five nominations for Drama League Awards, four nominations for Outer Critics Circle Awards, and one nomination for the Astaire Award.
"Local folks have long known that Berkeley Rep is devoted to developing adventurous new work," remarks Tony Taccone, the Theatre’s artistic director. "We are pleased that a much wider audience has had an opportunity to see and appreciate our work in the last several years, and naturally we’re honored to see these shows nominated for so many prestigious awards. We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the many partners who helped bring American Idiot, In the Next Room, and Wishful Drinking to Broadway."
American Idiot (seen in the photo above courtesy of mellopix.com) earned the following nods from the Tony nominating committee:
- Best Musical: American Idiot
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Christine Jones
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Kevin Adams
In the Next Room has garnered its share of attention during awards season as well. Today, the play pulled in three nominations for the Tony Award:
- Best Play: In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
- Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Maria Dizzia (seen above at left with Hannah Cabell, photo courtesy of kevinberne.com)
- Best Costume Design of a Play:David Zinn.
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Sweet! Take a look at Girlfriend, our latest hit
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, Apr 29, 2010
in At the theatre , Our shows
Now that the world-premiere rock musical Girlfriend has extended its run through May 16 at Berkeley Rep, we invite you to take a sneak peek at the show. The show, starring Jason Hite (pictured above at left) and Ryder Bach), features songs from Matthew Sweet's classic album Girlfriend as well as a couple songs from Matthew's Altered Beast and 100% Fun.
News flash! Jason, Ryder, and the band will perform songs from the show this Saturday (May 1) on West Coast Live. The show begins at 10 a.m. on NPR stations including KALW 91.7 FM. The show is being broadcast from Freight & Salvage Coffee House, just across Addison Street from Berkeley Rep.
Another news flash! Amoeba Music is giving away tickets to Girlfriend on May 5 and 6. Enter at either the Berkeley or San Francisco stores. Find more information.
There are so many great things about the Girlfriend, but we have to give a special shout out to the four women in the onstage band. Music director Julie Wolf (who also plays rhythm guitar and keyboard and provides backup vocals) has collaborated and toured with the likes of the Indigo Girls, Ani DiFranco, and Sia, among many others. Lead guitar and backing vocalist Shelley Doty has several bands, including Clair, Shelley Doty X-tet, and Sistas in the Pit. Bassist Jean DuSablon is in Clair as well, and drummer ieela Grant founded Sistas in the Pit, one of the Bay Area's great power trios.
You don't really see the amazing women of the band in this video, but you can hear them! Enjoy.