About us

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its ambition, relevance, and excellence, as well as its adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. Over 6 million people have enjoyed more than 500 shows at Berkeley Rep, including over 85 world premieres. Berkeley Rep shows have gone on to win eight Tony Awards, nine Obie Awards, eleven Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, one Pulitzer Prize, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Through its annual seven-play season, together with up to four special event presentations, Berkeley Rep invites audiences to enjoy an eclectic range of theatrical experiences featuring diverse artistic voices, themes, and perspectives. To formalize, enhance, and expand the processes by which Berkeley Rep makes theatre, The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work was launched in 2012. Serving some 20,000 people a year, Berkeley Rep’s School of Theatre ensures broad access to dynamic arts educational activities, especially for Bay Area youth, and provides immersive training for current and future theatre makers. In 2021, Berkeley Rep launched In Dialogue, a program that places its theatre-making skills and resources in service of the community. Using storytelling as an anchor, In Dialogue is developing long-term collaborations with local, socially centered organizations, as well as educating and activating our audiences around organizations whose work aligns with the themes of our productions. Berkeley Rep’s bustling facilities—which include the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the 400-seat Peet’s Theatre, The Medak Center, and a spacious campus in West Berkeley—are helping revitalize a renowned city.

Our mission

Berkeley Rep creates ambitious theatre that entertains and challenges its audiences, provokes civic engagement, and inspires people to experience the world in new and surprising ways.

Our values

Storytelling
We believe in the transformative power of storytelling.

Rigor
We believe in the unyielding pursuit of the highest levels of achievement in all we do.

Innovation
We embrace experimentation and curiosity in our work both on and off the stage.

Equity
We are committed to being an anti-racist organization—a place of welcome for a diverse and inclusive community.

Discovery
We encourage a culture of learning and teaching.

Sustainability
We are committed to the long-term well-being of our theatre, our community, and our planet.

Green policy

Berkeley Rep seeks to model responsible environmental behavior that is in harmony with the Theatre’s core mission. We wish to help create the framework within which the arts industry as a whole can shift towards practices that can contribute to the sustainable development of art, the earth, and mankind. We seek to promote the understanding of sustainability to our staff, audiences, and other arts organizations and to be a leader in environmental protection.

As a green organization we will

• Promote principles of energy and resource efficiency
• Use products from local sources and more recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and sustainable materials
• Exercise practical applications of waste reduction and pollution prevention
• Maximize the proper disposal of materials including composting and recycling, collaborating with current waste disposal programs
• Provide a healthy workplace with minimal environmental impacts
• Encourage and provide resources for our audience to utilize environmentally friendly transport
• Reduce emissions from all Theatre-related activities and decrease our overall footprint
• Become certified as a Green Business (looking into LEED certification, Bay Area Green Business, ISO certification)
• Plan for all future building projects to be LEED-certified
• Be advocates in our industry for sustainability and green practices
• Continue to find solutions and pursue short- and long-term environmental protection
• Educate others about ways in which they can be greener and provide a forum to continue the conversation

We intend to encourage our staff and audiences to be responsible green citizens and we endeavor to work with partner organizations that share our green values. It is our intention to operate our business in an as environmentally friendly way as we can.