Berkeley Rep Hosts ONSTAGE! Theatrical Feast Gala, 4/24

On April 24, the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre invites you to step into the spotlight for the world premiere of its new gala: ONSTAGE! This theatrical feast for the senses celebrates Berkeley Rep's emergence as one of the nation's most innovative cultural organizations and 20 years of leadership by Susan Medak, the nonprofit's managing director. The Theatre's neighbors at Chez Panisse have shown the same commitment to excellence and exploration as they've renewed America's love affair with food. So now five celebrated chefs from the Chez Panisse family unveil a sensational four-course meal to benefit Berkeley Rep - served live on the renowned Roda stage.

In the last three years, three shows that premiered in the Roda Theatre have moved to Broadway: American Idiot, Wishful Drinking, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Now you can step on stage at ONSTAGE! The event begins at 5:30 PM with luscious hors d'oeuvres, exquisite wine from Charles de Fère, and generous tastings of St. George Spirits. At 7:00 PM, enjoy a spectacular meal prepared by the chefs behind local culinary hotspots that sprang up after their founders trained in the kitchen at Chez Panisse: Mary Canales and Mattea Soreng of Ici Ice Cream, Charlie Hallowell of Pizzaiolo, Jean-Pierre Moullé of Chez Panisse, and Charlene Reis of the Summer Kitchen Bake Shop. Their delicacies are paired with fine wines from Match Vineyards, Quady Winery, Raymond Vineyards, and Spy Valley Wines for an unforgettable feast.

"We look forward to celebrating the best of Berkeley - extraordinary art and exceptional cuisine - at ONSTAGE!" says Felicia Woytak, the event chair. "We're grateful for the support of Chez Panisse and its esteemed alumni, and we're proud to honor Susie Medak. We have lots of surprises in store, not only for Susie, but for our guests as well. The Roda Theatre will be transformed into an environment that will delight the senses and make for a truly theatrical dining experience."

Guests at this gourmet event have an opportunity to win collectable wines and gift certificates for elegant hotels, restaurants, and arts organizations throughout Northern California. The evening also features a live auction, which includes incredible adventures such as a one-week vacation at the Vintner's Retreat in New Zealand, a two-week vacation at the Kuleana Club on Maui, and a private dinner prepared from local ingredients for you and your guests by two journalists who write respected cookbooks: Russ Parsons, food editor for the Los Angeles Times and winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award, and Janet Fletcher, cheese columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and a former chef at Chez Panisse.

"Berkeley Rep would not be the nationally recognized theatre it is today without the extraordinary leadership of Susie and Artistic Director Tony Taccone," remarks Marjorie Randolph, president of Berkeley Rep's board of trustees. "During her tenure, Berkeley Rep has experienced phenomenal growth. She led a successful campaign to build the Theatre's Second Stage, which has expanded both Berkeley Rep's artistic capacity and its audience. Her vision to provide a permanent home for the Theatre's education programs was realized with the creation of the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. And, with Tony, she's forged important relationships that have resulted in exciting projects like American Idiot.

"Our community - in the Bay Area and beyond - has reaped the rewards of Susie's vision," Ms. Randolph continues. "She has been a major force in the revitalization of Downtown Berkeley and the creation of the Arts District. As the president of the League of Resident Theatres, she sits at the helm of collective bargaining agreements, and her good-natured and collaborative negotiating style has galvanized her colleagues to create favorable working conditions for theatres and artists alike. Her influence has been felt far and wide, and we look forward to toasting her accomplishments."

Susan Medak has served as Berkeley Rep's managing director since 1990, leading the administration and operations of the Theatre. She is president of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the management association that represents 75 of the nation's largest nonprofit theatres. Ms. Medak has often served on program panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and chaired two panels for the Massachusetts Arts Council as well. She served two terms on the board of Theatre Communications Group, including three years as the organization's treasurer. Closer to home, Ms. Medak chairs the Downtown Berkeley Business Improvement District. She is also a board member of the Downtown Berkeley Association and the founding chair of the Berkeley Arts in Education Steering Committee for Berkeley Unified School District and the Berkeley Cultural Trust. Ms. Medak serves on the faculty of Yale School of Drama and is a proud member of the Mont Blanc Ladies' Literary Guild and Trekking Society. She lives in Berkeley with her husband and son.

Tickets for ONSTAGE! begin at $500. Tables are priced between $5,000 and $20,000. All proceeds from the event support the nonprofit Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the organization's education and outreach programs.

Fossil is the lead sponsor for the world premiere of ONSTAGE! The dinner is sponsored by Grace Street Catering. Led by Ms. Woytak, the planning committee for the event includes Daniel David, Rich Edwards, Scott Haber, Mitzi Inglis, Peggy Cramer Jara, Sara Olsen, Rebecca Mahmoud, Sally Smith, and Jean Z. Strunsky.

For more information, click www.berkeleyrep.org/ONSTAGE.

ABOUT BERKELEY REP
Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to a national leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. The Theatre welcomes an annual audience of 180,000, serves 20,000 students, and hosts dozens of community groups, thanks to 1,000 volunteers and more than 400 artists, artisans, and administrators. With two stages, a school, and a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Berkeley Rep is proud to premiere exhilarating new plays. In the last five years alone, the company has helped send five shows to Broadway: American Idiot, Bridge & Tunnel, In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), Passing Strange, and Wishful Drinking. Come see tomorrow's plays today at Berkeley Rep.

 

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