Ed Berkeley News

In the final production of its 2016-17 Season, Cutting Ball Theater will present Jean Racine's great tragedy of illicit love and revenge, PHÈDRE, in a new translation by the Theater's Founding Artistic Director Rob Melrose.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced that long-time Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone will depart the company at the end of its 50th anniversary season, 2018-19. When Taccone leaves he will have been on staff at the company for 33 years, 22 of which he will have served as artistic director.

The story and music of America's Composer come to life on stage when Berkeley Repertory Theatre stages a special presentation of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, a play-with-music written and performed by award-winning actor and musician Hershey Felder (George Gershwin Alone, Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro). Directed by Trevor Hay, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin will play Tuesday, April 4 - Sunday, April 30, 2017. Subscribers to

San Francisco Playhouse continues its thirteenth Mainstage season with West Coast premiere of Andrew Hinderaker's Colossal, directed by Jon Tracy.

Custom Made Theatre Company plunges into virtual romantic comedy reality with Madhuri Shekar's award-winning Jane Austin meets Cyrano meets online gaming in 'In Love and Warcraft,' tonight, November 12 through December 12 at the company's new location, the Custom Made Theatre at 533 Sutter St. (at Powell) just north of Union Square.

Custom Made Theatre Company plunges into virtual romantic comedy reality with Madhuri Shekar's award-winning Jane Austin meets Cyrano meets online gaming in 'In Love and Warcraft,' November 12 through December 12 at the company's new location, the Custom Made Theatre at 533 Sutter St. (at Powell) just north of Union Square.

Today Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces its 2013-14 board of trustees, a team of exemplary leaders and art advocates from the Bay Area's leading organizations and companies who will steer the Theatre through its 46th season. At its annual board of trustees meeting, the board elected author and retired McGraw-Hill executive Thalia Dorwick as its president, welcomed new and returning members, and reaffirmed its commitment to Berkeley Rep's mission to produce and present ambitious and innovative theatre.

A biopic and stage play about the great American film director and choreographer Busby Berkeley is underway.

Tony Taccone informed the guests that legendary actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart will perform at Berkeley Rep in a pre-Broadway engagement of No Man's Land. Award-winning director Sean Mathias stages Harold Pinter's masterwork in the Roda Theatre for an exclusive and strictly limited run in August.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Tony Taccone today announces the appointment of Liesl Tommy as the nonprofit's associate director. Tommy, who most recently directed Berkeley Rep's critically acclaimed production of Ruined, joins the Theatre's artistic team effective September 1. Tommy will fulfill various artistic duties including directing for Berkeley Rep's main stage; developing new work through The Ground Floor, the Center for the Creation and Development of New Work; and supporting ongoing artistic pursuits in the spirit of cultivating and producing innovative and adventurous work for the Theatre.

It is with great sadness that Aurora Theatre Company announces the passing of the company's founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver due to complications from a recent stroke. Barbara passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 20 at her Berkeley home, surrounded by family.

Tonight, at the annual gala celebrating the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the nonprofit's artistic director thrilled the crowd with a surprise announcement: Tony Taccone informed the guests that legendary actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart will perform at Berkeley Rep in a pre-Broadway engagement of No Man's Land. Award-winning director Sean Mathias stages Harold Pinter's masterwork in the Roda Theatre for an exclusive and strictly limited run in August.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It is a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci is currently in previews in the Roda Theatre and opens March 13, running through April 21. Below, check out a sneak peek at FALLACI, Berkeley Rep's new world premiere about one of the first rock stars of modern journalism!

Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It is a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci is currently in previews in the Roda Theatre and opens March 13, running through April 21. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the actors onstage below!

Even as his latest book attracts international attention, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A reporter renowned for his work with The New Yorker - and the bestselling author behind The Looming Tower and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - Wright is also the playwright who penned My Trip to al Qaeda and The Human Scale. Now he debuts a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci begins previews in the Roda Theatre tonight, March 8, opens March 13, and runs through April 21.

Even as his latest book attracts international attention, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A reporter renowned for his work with The New Yorker - and the bestselling author behind The Looming Tower and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - Wright is also the playwright who penned My Trip to al Qaeda and The Human Scale. Now he debuts a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci begins previews in the Roda Theatre on March 8, opens March 13, and runs through April 21. Below, watch a video of Artistic Director Tony Taccone introducing the play!

Even as his latest book attracts international attention, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A reporter renowned for his work with The New Yorker - and the bestselling author behind The Looming Tower and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - Wright is also the playwright who penned My Trip to al Qaeda and The Human Scale. Now he debuts a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci begins previews in the Roda Theatre on March 8, opens March 13, and runs through April 21.

This holiday season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a beloved artist for an alluring and hypnotic world-premiere production. Mary Zimmerman is mesmerizing. From Metamorphoses to The Arabian Nights, audiences have embraced her enchanting adaptations of epic tales. Now the Tony Award-winning director casts a spell with The White Snake, a classic romance from Chinese legend. As she falls for a charming young man, a snake spirit discovers what it means to be human. But a monk objects, and the bride must unveil her magical powers to save their love. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!