Special events for our supporters

Enrich your Berkeley Rep experience at special events throughout the season. As a supporter of the Theatre, you receive invitations to a number of events, based on your level of giving. Join us for exclusive opening night dinners, intriguing behind-the-scenes tours, Page to Stage discussions with artists, and more.

We hope to see you at these upcoming events!

• Berkeley Rep’s OVATION
  Saturday, April 18, 2020
• Behind-the-Scenes tour of the Roda and Peet’s Theatres
  Sunday, May 3, 2020
• Opening night of Happy Days
  Tuesday, June 2, 2020
• Opening night of Swept Away
  Thursday, June 25, 2020

Click the tabs above for more 2019–20 season events.

Event dates are subject to change.

Join us for this year’s OVATION, where we celebrate the transformative power of theatre and pay tribute to actor, writer, and teacher Anna Deavere Smith for her many creative achievements and her tremendous influence on the American theatre. Our annual gala, OVATION, has been known as the “Party of the Year.” To protect the health and safety of our staff, artists, and guests like you, we are pivoting to a virtual event celebrating the resilience of the theatre and of the loyal patrons who support us. Help us ensure that Berkeley Rep can continue to create transformative theatre in the future.

Our honoree

Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith is a celebrated actress, playwright, teacher, and author. She has appeared at Berkeley Rep in Let Me Down Easy, Fires in the Mirror, and Twilight: Los Angeles, and in 2015, she presented her most recent play, Notes from the Field, which looked at the vulnerability of youth, inequality, the criminal justice system, and contemporary activism. The play went on to great acclaim, with the New York Times heralding the play among The Best Theater of 2016 and TIME magazine naming it one of the Top 10 Plays of the year. HBO premiered the film version in February 2018.

The goal

To raise over $900,000 to benefit the Theatre and its School of Theatre education programs.

Join virtual OVATION

Artistic Director’s Circle members are invited to celebrate the opening of each show at an exclusive pre-show dinner in the company of Berkeley Rep artistic staff and the creative team from the production, followed by the opening night performance.

Special thanks to our opening night event sponsors: Aurora Catering, Gather Restaurant, Hafner Vineyard, and Hotel Shattuck Plaza.

Can’t attend opening night? Artistic Director’s Circle members may exchange in to or purchase VIP “house seats” located in the front center section for other performances. Call 510 647–2901 for reservations. Seats are subject to availability.

We hope to see you at opening nights this season!

• The Great Wave
  Thursday, September 19, 2019
• White Noise
  Thursday, October 3, 2019
• The Tale of Despereaux
  Monday, November 25, 2019
• Becky Nurse of Salem
  Thursday, December 19, 2019
• Culture Clash (Still) in America
  Thursday, February 27, 2020
• School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
  Thursday, March 26, 2020
• Happy Days
  Tuesday, June 2, 2020
• Swept Away
  Thursday, June 25, 2020

Event dates are subject to change. Events tend to fill up quickly, so please reply as soon as you receive your invitation.

You’re invited to go behind-the-scenes at Berkeley Rep and see how theatre is made.

At our Roda and Peet’s Theatres, our staff will take you backstage, down in the pit, and through the control booths. At our Harrison Street campus in West Berkeley, you’ll explore our costumes, props, and scene shops and meet the artisans who build what you see onstage.

Special thanks to our Behind-the-Scenes tours sponsors: Babette, La Note, and Peet’s Coffee.

We hope to see you at Behind-the-Scenes tours this season!

• Behind-the-Scenes tour of the Roda and Peet’s Theatres
  Saturday, October 12, 2019
• Behind-the-Scenes tour of our scenic, props, and costumes shops and rehearsal halls
  Saturday, January 25, 2020
• Behind-the-Scenes tour of the Roda and Peet’s Theatres
  Sunday, May 3, 2020

Event dates are subject to change. Events tend to fill up quickly, so please reply as soon as you receive your invitation.

Behind-the-Scenes tour invitations are sent by email. Contact rsvpevents@berkeleyrep.org to make sure you are on our events email list.

Page to Stage is a series of free discussions with eminent theatre artists, designed to give audiences additional insight into the plays and playwrights produced at Berkeley Rep. Past discussions have featured theatre luminaries such as Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview), John Leguizamo (Kiss My Aztec!), Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), and Tony Kushner (Angels in America).

Donors at the $150 level or above receive reserved premium seating at Page to Stage events.

We hope to see you at Page to Stage discussions this season!

• Page to Stage with Sarah Ruhl
  Monday, November 11, 2019 · 7pm
  Resident Dramaturg Madeleine Oldham leads a conversation with award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl about her new play Becky Nurse of Salem in the Peet’s Theatre

Please check back for additional 2019–20 season Page to Stage dates.

Event dates are subject to change. Events tend to fill up quickly, so please reply as soon as you receive your invitation.

Page to Stage reserved seating invitations are sent by email. Contact rsvpevents@berkeleyrep.org to make sure you are on our events email list.