Daren A.C. Carollo Joins Berkeley Playhouse as Producing Director

Berkeley Playhouse has announced the addition of Daren A.C. Carollo to their full time staff. After devoting months to a national search for a Producing Director, they discovered the person they needed was right here in the Bay Area.

Carollo will lead Berkeley Playhouse, the destination for both musical theatre performance and education in Berkeley, in building their professional main-stage company-including their new works program, deepening and expanding their education and outreach partnerships, and helping improve their historic landmark, the Julia Morgan Theater.

"The short and long term goals created by the staff including Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy, Managing Director Lauren Hewitt, the Board of Directors, and the full Berkeley Playhouse "family" are directly in line with my goals for live theatre and arts education. I look forward to strengthening our existing programs as well as expanding them," shared Carollo with the staff and board on his first day.

McKoy stated, "Daren has the experience, warmth, intelligence, and personality to lead the Berkeley Playhouse into our next phase of exciting growth. At our six-year birthday this past fall, we realized the Playhouse needed someone who is both a seasoned Producer and a Director. Daren is known and respected by so many folks in the Bay Area Theatre community. He has earned a reputation for excellent communication with others, integrity, passion for musical theatre and for his great sense of humor."

"We are delighted to have Daren join the Playhouse. After the last six years of rapid growth, we need a strong leader to help us stay focused and continue to develop our achievements and service to the community. Daren is the perfect match, and his deep knowledge and experience will be tremendously helpful as we to continue to offer high quality musical theater for all ages, and the finest musical theater education programs in the Bay Area," said Tim Choate, Board President

Carollo recently served as the Executive Director of Broadway by the Bay. Prior to that, he was the Artistic Director for Diablo Theatre Company for seven seasons and the Managing Director for Contra Costa Civic Theatre for three seasons. Previously, Carollo was the Production Manager for the Marin Theatre Company and the Willows Theatre Company. He started his career in the arts as the Technical Director for Center REPertory Company and the Lesher Center for the Arts. He has been an AEA stage manager since 1999 working for Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Center REP, MTC, and Willows Theatre Company. He received his BA in Theatre from Illinois State University. Carollo's production company, CAROLLO & PALUMBO, LLC, recently produced the musical bare Off-Broadway and A Time to Kill on Broadway. He is an award-winning director with over fifty credits in the last decade.