Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: Our shows
Scripts, speeches, and sliders – Teen Night at "New Book"
posted by School of Theatre on Tue, Nov 1, 2011
in Our shows , School of Theatre , Teen Council
By Sierra Baggins, Teen Council member
Teen Night at Berkeley Rep starts with a room full of excited teens nibbling on mini burgers and tater tots (catered by the incredible Phil's Sliders!). As their plates empty and the School of Theatre falls quiet with the dimming of the lights, they know that their evening at the theatre is about to begin in earnest.
Sierra interviews Julie and Brandon
First, teens get to interview theatre professionals about being behind the scenes at Berkeley Rep and about the life of an artist. I am a Teen Council regular and have seen my fair share of Teen Night interviews, but they never get old. What I like about the Teen Night interview is that the guest speaker is not always the show’s director -- we talk to people from all areas of the theatre. Stories from people on stage are always interesting, but getting to hear about productions from every angle makes the interviews that much better. With New Book, we attended a Teen Council Tech Tour of the set, then interviewed two of Berkeley Rep’s 2011-12 season fellows, Julie McCormick (literary) and Brandon Wienbrenner (artistic), both of whom worked with the show intimately.
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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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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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The critics saw "Bible"...
posted by Kyle Sircus on Mon, Oct 17, 2011
in Our shows
...and lo, it was good. After a stellar opening night last Wednesday, the great reviews of How to Write a New Book for the Bible are coming in. Check out what critics are saying about Bill Cain's stellar world premiere about the legacy of blessings passed from parent to child.
“Bracingly personal, smart, funny, affecting...A sharp wit and penetrating intelligence are only to be expected from the author of Equivocation and 9 Circles, the two most recent winners of the annual Steinberg national new play award..." Read more from the SF Chronicle
"“[Bill] Cain has still created a profound meditation on the shared narratives that hold a family together through the vagaries of life and death...The playwright is giving a blessing to his family in the form of theater, and there's no denying the beauty of that ritual..." Read more from the Mercury News/Bay Area News Group
"Grace, God and family in Berkeley Rep’s brilliant Bible...This is an extraordinary play." Read more from Chad Jones' Theatre Dogs
There are still good seats remaining for this incredible and moving world premiere, so click to reserve yours now. Prices vary based on availability. For the best seats at the consistently lowest prices -- plus perks like free performance rescheduling -- sign up for a season ticket package of three or more plays.
Reserve your seats online!
(or call the box office at 510 647-2949 from noon to 7pm, Tuesday through Sunday)
Linda Gehringer and Leo Marks. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com
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Meet director Kent Nicholson
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Oct 7, 2011
in Our shows
If you've been following Bay Area theatre for a while, you've probably heard of Kent Nicholson -- that is, before he headed off to New York a few years ago. Now he's back, helming Bill Cain's How to Write a New Book for the Bible, which begins previews tonight. Karen D'Souza at the Mercury News catches up with this talented director.
Photo of Kent Nicholson by Tim Fort.
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"Bible's" good news
posted by Karen McKevitt on Thu, Oct 6, 2011
in Our shows
The world premiere of Bill Cain's How to Write a New Book for the Bible, directed by Kent Nicholson, begins previews tomorrow! Learn more about the play -- and Bill -- in todays' San Francisco Chronicle. Then, reserve your seats!
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Building a New Book
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Oct 5, 2011
in Our shows , Scene shop
By Lisa Lazar, charge scenic artist
Bill Cain's How to Write a New Book for the Bible, directed by Kent Nicholson, begins performances on Friday. Get a glimpse behind-the-scenes and see how some of the set elements came together for this new play.
The scene shop is in the middle of building How to Write a New Book for the Bible. We are delighted to work on any show designed by the Scott Bradley.
Carpenter Colin Babcock stands in front of one of the windows he built. This particular window will eventually feature faux stained glass.
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Amplifying Rita Moreno
posted by Karen McKevitt on Thu, Sep 29, 2011
in From the booth , Our shows
By Elliott Ares, sound fellow
Many elements go into the sound design for Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, but one element in particular is essential: vocal amplification. Wireless microphones are utilized so that the audience can hear the actors over the sound effects and live music.
These two RF (radio frequency) mics are assigned to each dancer, Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo. The flesh-colored cable at the top left of the image is the lavalier.
The lavalier sucks up sound and puts it into the body pack transmitter. We painted some of the lavalier cables black to blend in with Ray and Salvatore's hair.
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An ode to the rumba
posted by Amy Bobeda on Wed, Sep 28, 2011
in Costume shop , Our shows
In the production departments, we have to learn to let go of our work. Many artisans at Berkeley Rep are artists outside the gates of our Harrison St. and Addison St. campuses, but here, as artisans we have to embrace what most artists fear: our hard work may never see the light of day. Some departments are used to this; the scenic painting folks work tirelessly to paint the steel framing on the backside of scenery that will never be seen by anyone beyond stage crew.
Change is particularly common on world premieres of shows that have had limited workshop time. Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup is a perfect example.
When the costume shop began production, we began reconstructing a beautiful black-and-white gown for a rumba number. It was a snow storm of rhinestones, spandex, and about 30 yards of sheer and opaque black-and-white taffeta ruffles. Needless to say, it was, as many of our garments are, a challenging by enjoyable execution process.
Alas, no Berkeley Rep audience member will ever gaze upon the rumba dress, because the number was cut from the show.
Many people may read this and think “OMG weren’t you guys mad!? You made so many ruffles!” But here is the kicker: we are just here to make the beautiful things, it isn’t up to us what happens with them next, and there is something incredibly freeing about that feeling.
Personally, I loved the rumba dress. It was sparkly. It was outrageous. It looked darn good on Ms. Moreno, and hopefully its ruffles will one day be seen by eyes other than those of the costume department. Am I sad to see it go? Sure. But, the beautiful thing about costumes is that one day, the rumba dress will come out of the closet again.
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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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected].
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)