Octet
A Chamber Choir Musical
Music, lyrics, book, and vocal arrangements by DAVE MALLOY
Directed by ANNIE TIPPE
Music supervision and music direction by OR MATIAS
A co-production with Signature Theatre Company
West Coast premiere
Peet's Theatre
APR 20–MAY 29, 2022
Running time: 95 min, no intermission
Show advisory: Octet includes the use of haze and strobe-like lighting effects.
Three-time Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) makes his Berkeley Rep mainstage debut with his latest award-winning off-Broadway hit. Eight internet-obsessed people meet in real life to share their stories and wrestle their demons, using nothing but a pitch pipe and the transcendent quality of their analog, a cappella voices. With witty lyrics, shimmering harmonies, and virtuosic solos, Octet sings of connection, redemption, hope—and how we can be truly present with each other.
Produced by special arrangement with Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions.
World Premiere of Octet commissioned, developed, and produced by Signature Theatre, New York City, Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director. Dave Malloy is a Signature Theatre resident playwright.
Reviews
"EXQUISITE, GOSSAMER HARMONIES!
Malloy makes the internet take musical form,
TIPPE’S ACTORS SOAR!
Kuhoo Verma, with equal acumen in moments of
comedy and pathos, enlists the entire venue,
air particles and all, into her world-building effort."
– San Francisco Chronicle 
“RARE AND DISARMINGLY HONEST!
Captures a life lived Too Online
that no stage show has before now!
MUSICAL THEATER AS INSTAGRAM STORY!
Animates the entire breadth of the internet.
KUHOO VERMA’S VOICE IS BRIGHT AND PURE, TRIUMPHANT!”
– Los Angeles Times
“A WORK OF GENIUS!
EXTRAORDINARY, BEAUTIFUL, AND EVOCATIVE!
THIS OCTET CAN SING!
Each a cappella piece rises and floats in the room
WITH ELEGANT, URGENT POWER.
Further proves Malloy's talent for
ACROBATIC MUSICAL FEATS AND STUNNING HARMONY!”
– SFist
“I WAS SO ENTRANCED!
MALLOY IS A BRILLIANT MUSICAL TALENT,
THE LYRICS ARE INGENIOUS!
WONDERFULLY DYNAMIC ACTING!
KUHOO VERMA LEFT THE AUDIENCE SPEECHLESS.”
– Berkeleyside
“HAUNTING!
ONE OF MOST INTELLECTUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY PROVOCATIVE
pieces in recent memory.
HYPNOTIC AND RICH CHORAL HARMONIES!
Makes a deep emotional impact that
TRANSCENDS MERE ENTERTAINMENT!”
– Bay Area News Group
"OCTET IS ASTONISHING! A REVELATION, EVEN A MIRACLE!
THE RIGHT SHOW AT THE RIGHT TIME,
MIND-BLOWING BEAUTY!
MALLOY’S SCRIPT HAS ITS OWN POWER, GLORIOUS SCORE, REAL WIT IN THE LYRICS.
PITCH-PERFECT ACTORS!
One of those theater experiences that
MAKES GOOD ON THE PROMISE OF THE ART FORM,
that keeps you going to show after show after show because you know
THIS KIND OF TRANSCENDENCE IS POSSIBLE
EVERY TIME YOU STEP INTO A THEATER!"
– Chad Jones’ Theater Dogs
“ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND CONTEMPORARY
SHOWS I’VE SEEN THIS YEAR!
Tight harmonies, witty lyrics and delicate, ethereal voices.
LUSH A CAPPELLA VOICES,
A DAZZLING SPECTACLE OF SOUNDERS!”
– East Bay Times
Season sponsors
In-kind season sponsor
Lead sponsor
Behind the scenes of Octet: Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe
Writer composer Dave Malloy and director Annie Tippe talk about the West Coast premiere of Octet. Read the full interview in our digital program.
Kuhoo Verma performs “Beautiful”
Kuhoo Verma went to a local park to informally capture her signature song from Dave Malloy’s off-Broadway hit, Octet.
See Photos
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(center) Alex Gibson (Henry)
(l to r) Margo Seibert (Jessica), Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby), and Isabel Santiago (Paula) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe. -
(center) Alex Gibson (Henry)
(l to r) Adam Bashian (Ed), Margo Seibert (Jessica), J.D. Mollison (Marvin), Kuhoo Verma (Velma), Isabel Santiago (Paula), Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby), and Kim Blanck (Karly) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe.
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(center) Isabel Santiago (Paula)
(seated) Kuhoo Verma (Velma) and J.D. Mollison (Marvin) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe.
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(foreground) Margo Seibert (Jessica)
(background, standing) Isabel Santiago (Paula)
(seated, l to r) J.D. Mollison (Marvin), Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby), Adam Bashian (Ed), and Alex Gibson (Henry) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe. -
(l to r) Adam Bashian (Ed) and J.D. Mollison (Marvin) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe.
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Kim Blanck (Karly)
(background, l to r) Adam Bashian (Ed), Kuhoo Verma (Velma), and Alex Gibson (Henry) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe. -
(center) Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby)
(foreground) Kim Blanck (Karly) and Alex Gibson (Henry) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe. -
J.D. Mollison (Marvin) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe.
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(first row, kneeling, l to r) Justin Gregory Lopez (Toby), Margo Seibert (Jessica), and Kim Blanck (Karly)
(second row, l to r) Kuhoo Verma (Velma), J.D. Mollison (Marvin), Isabel Santiago (Paula)
(back row, l to r) Adam Bashian (Ed) and Alex Gibson (Henry) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe. -
Kuhoo Verma (Velma) in the West Coast premiere of Dave Malloy’s Octet directed by Annie Tippe.
Music, Lyrics, Book, And Vocal Arrangements by Dave Malloy | Directed by Annie Tippe | Music Supervision And Music Direction by Or Matias | Co-Scenic Design by Amy Rubin and Brittany Vasta | Costume Design by Brenda Abbandandolo | Lighting Design by Christopher Bowser | Sound Design by Hidenori Nakajo