Berkeley Playhouse Announces Inaugural Benefit Event SHINE

Berkeley Playhouse Managing Director Gretchen Feyer announced today "SHINE!", a special benefit performance of Billy Elliot the Musical on March 24, 2017. The pre-performance event begins at 6:00 p.m. with a festive reception in the historic Julia Morgan Theater that will include cocktails, light bites, and a decadent dessert bar hosted by some of the East Bay's top restaurants, caterers, and beverage specialists including Ann's Catering, Drake's Brewing Company, Le Mediterranee, Mariposa Bakery, Nabolom Bakery, Sutro Wine, Sweet Adeline Bakeshop, and Two Local Girls. The event will also include a special announcement regarding the East Bay theater company's upcoming 10th anniversary season, launching September 2017. In addition to the reception, attendees receive premiere seating to the company's hit production of the ten-time Tony Award-winning musical Billy Elliot, The Musical that begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will benefit Berkeley Playhouse's Pay What You Can Night performances, and multiple Financial Aid programs that provide access to local students to both performances in the Professional season and classes in their award-winning Conservatory.

"Currently, Berkeley Playhouse is self-funding our multiple outreach programs. Our Pay What You Can performances see 1000+ children and adults each season, most of whom tell us this is their one opportunity to see fully produced, professional musicals-and we want to be able to double that within the next year," say Feyer. "Doing so means adding a second, fully dedicated performance of each of our five Professional Season productions in which the average attendee pays less than $8. Additionally, our newly expanded Student Matinee Program and Financial Aid programs for our incredible Conservatory have been supported by our own budget. We want to guarantee those programs have ample funds not only to continue but to expand-"SHINE!" provides that opportunity. We're creating a fun event for young and old alike so that families can share the experience of supporting local theatre and education programs together."

"Since we opened nine years ago, nearly 600 students have received monies for Financial Aid,' says Rachel Eisner, Berkeley Playhouse Director of Education. "This past year alone, Berkeley Playhouse funded financial aid packages for classes and programs in our Conservatory for sixty-five students, ranging from elementary to high-school age. Additionally, this year we added self-subsidized tickets for 750 students from the Berkeley / Oakland school system to attend our professional Theater Productions. These are students whom would otherwise not be able to participate in any type of theater programs. Our current Financial Aid funding comes directly from our budget-we just make it work. I am excited that SHINE! will not only help us continue those programs, but allow them to grow them exponentially to include deeper partnerships with local schools and community based programs for families."

Tickets for SHINE! are $125 for adults and $50 for children, 21 and under and are available online at www.BerkeleyPlayhouse.org.

Now playing, Elton John's Tony Award-winning musical, Billy Elliot the Musical is the award winning musical of the 2000 hit film. Berkeley Playhouse's East Bay premiere includes thirty actors under the age of fifteen in two separate casts working alongside a company of professional adult actors. Two young actor / dancers-Matthew Dean and Parker James Fullmore-who have donned the ballet slippers as the title character in previous U.S. regional theater performances, will share the role of Billy. Performances running through March 25, 2017 at the historic Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley. When 11-year-old Billy Elliot stumbles into a ballet class, his spirit of creativity and expression is awakened. Set amongst a working-class town facing a miners' strike in 1980s Britain, Elton John's Tony Award-winning musical about following your passion, and challenging expectations-from parents, friends, and community-is for anyone who has dared to dream, if even for a moment, that they could dance. The original 2009 Broadway production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations. Tickets are available by calling (510) 845-8542 x351 or by visiting online at www.berkeleyplayhouse.org.

Helming a cast that includes more than three dozen actors is Berkeley Playhouse Producing Artistic Director, Kimberly Dooley. "What's truly fulfilling about directing Billy Elliot the Musical at Berkeley Playhouse is exploring this extraordinary work that demands its multitude of young performers be in absolute control of the storytelling. Berkeley Playhouse was founded as a home for live productions and a theater conservatory where kids can explore and understand their own potential through creativity. As a director and educator, there is nothing more thrilling than seeing a young actor realize they are holding the core of a big Broadway musical all on their own. Billy Elliot is a beautiful story about the power of realizing potential, but made even more beautiful by how it gives that very opportunity to the young actors involved. The adult professionals in our cast, many of whom audiences have seen on stages throughout the Bay Area, not only inspire the young actors they work with, but are incredibly inspired by them as well." In addition to directing, Dooley is sharing choreography duties with Bay Area dancer, choreographer and teacher Allison Paraiso. The creative team also includes music director Rachel Robinson, scenic designer Kirsten Royston, costume designer Lisa Danz, and lighting designer Nick Kumamoto.

ABOUT BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE: Founded in 2007 by professional theatre actor, director, and teacher for over 25 years, Elizabeth McKoy, Berkeley Playhouse's mission is to create theatre and programs that engage, ignite, and celebrate diverse Bay Area audiences through a thriving conservatory, a professional main stage season, educational outreach, and a commitment to the development of new family musicals. In support of our mission, we maintain and enhance the historic Julia Morgan Theater. A commitment to community, diversity, inclusion, and empowerment is at the heart of our work.

SHINE! A Benefit Performance of Billy Elliot, the Musical to fund Pay What You Can and Financial Aid Programs at Berkeley Playhouse.

Friday, March 24. Pre-show reception begins at 6:00 p.m.; performance begins at 7:30 p.m. For tickets ($125 for adults, $50 for ages 21 and under) or more information, the public may call (510) 845-8542 x351 or visit berkeleyplayhouse.org.