Berkeley Rep Theater Extends THE ARABIAN NIGHTS Until 1/11

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is ending the year the way it started: delighting audiences and impressing critics on both coasts with two hits here in Berkeley and another show taking New York by storm. Today – even as Joe Turner's Come and Gone nears the end of its local run and Artistic Director Tony Taccone is Taking Over Manhattan with Danny Hoch – the company announced an extension for its production of The Arabian Nights.

Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman has done it again: her alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights earned stellar reviews, standing ovations, and sold-out houses. As a result, tickets have been harder to come by than water in the Sahara. Most performances in the next three weeks are booked to capacity, so Berkeley Rep just added eight performances to the show's run. Excellent seats are still available for the holidays – including a matinee on Christmas Eve and special shows for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day – as well as for performances late in December and early in January.

"Naturally, all of us here at Berkeley Rep are extremely proud," Taccone remarked. "It has been quite a year – with the Broadway run of Passing Strange, successful tours for Taking Over and Wishful Drinking, the world premiere of Yellowjackets, and the American premiere of TRAGEDY: a tragedy. Now – hot on the heels of Joe Turner, which also found a large and enthusiastic audience – The Arabian Nights will have an opportunity to be seen by many, many more people. It is yet another extraordinary production directed by Mary Zimmerman, who has created a loyal and passionate audience in the Bay Area. We are so very pleased to announce this extension."

The new schedule for The Arabian Nights are:
Tuesday 12/2  - Sunday 1/11

Mary Zimmerman made her career by reanimating ancient myths like Argonautika and Metamorphoses… now she breathes new life into the legend of the 1,001 nights. To save her life, a beautiful bride must spin hypnotic tales of genies, jesters, thieves, and kings – winning her freedom by eventually winning her husband's heart. He falls under Scheherazade's spell, and Zimmerman enchants the audience as well with her signature style that transforms simplicity into the sublime. Amidst a thousand tales of honor, revenge, and humor, only love emerges victorious. A co-production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Arabian Nights will travel to Missouri and to Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company in 2009.

This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. As usual, Zimmerman has assembled a diverse cast to bring her tale to life: Alana Arenas, Barzin Akhavan, Ryan Artzberger, Ari Brand, Noshir Dalal, Allen Gilmore, Sofia Jean Gomez, Melina Kalomas, Ramiz Monsef, Jesse J. Perez, Nicole Shalhoub, Louis Tucci, Pranidhi Varshney, Stacey Yen, and Evan Zes. She has also recruited a team of talented designers to help her create this intricate mosaic: Daniel Ostling (sets), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), TJ Gerckens (lights), and Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman (sound). The executive producers of this play are Betty and Jack Schafer and Jean and Michael Strunsky. The production sponsor is the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Philanthropic Fund, with co-sponsorship from Wealth Management at The Mechanics Bank. BART and Wells Fargo are the season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre.

Tickets to The Arabian Nights start at $33 – or only $16.50 for anyone under 30 years of age. Berkeley Rep is located at 2025 Addison Street, near bus lines, bike routes, and parking lots, and only half a block from BART. To purchase seats, call 510.647.2949 or 888-4-BRT-Tix (toll-free) – or just click berkeleyrep.org.