The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is only on for 4 more performances- SEE…read moreIT! STREAM IT!! Marga Gomez is utterly astonishing in her talent performing this brilliant & iconic (Lily Tomlin) monologue of the 80s/90s (written by her wife Jane Wagner). It's a MUST SEE in the absolutely charming downtown Berkeley arts district theatre!

the SEARCH for SIGNS of INTELLIGENT LIFE in the UNIVERSE is fabulous. Marga Gomez does a fantastic…read morejob. It is on until August 10th. Don't miss it.

I love the shows they put on at this beautiful little theater. It is an old building, a bit beat up…read morein the most endearing Berkeley way. A community theater at its best. You can see high quality shows at a very affordable price. The youth productions are particularly great for young kids. When our kid was young, we took them to see shows at BPH. They were great shows but also at the price point, if my 4 year old couldn't sit still and we had to leave the show, I would not cry over the ticket price. Our kid did summer camps at BPH every year and they are now part of the youth production. BPH has become their second home. The staff are deeply caring and supportive. Kids are incredibly kind, passionate about musical theater, and supportive of each other. It is a wonderful community where our quirky theater kid found their tribe and has a sense of belonging. Being different is celebrated at BPH. I highly recommend their camps and youth programs to kids who enjoy performing on stage.

Unable to get into my account to buy a ticket after multiple attempts they make it almost…read moreimpossible for the end user Additionally they do not answer the telephone when the box office is said to be open I would not recommend these people or else your blood pressure is normal

I'd never been to a Berkeley Repertory show until this year. I'm surprised because I'm such a big…read moretheatre nerd. I was served an ad on Instagram for Arthur Miller's All My Sons in March 2026. It stars Jimmy Smits (of Star Wars and the West Wing fame! That's my President Santos and Bail Organa!) and his wife Wanda DeJesus. Such big names! I took my mom to a weekday matinee. It was a packed house and skewed older (hey, it was a weekday.) The theatre was clean and intimate. There was no bad seat in there! They did have a young person's discount if you're under 35 which was nice (if you're under 35.) Maybe if Berkeley built more housing, the city would be more welcoming and inclusive to young people and there wouldn't be that discount. Bathrooms were clean. After the show (which was a tearjerker), there was a Postshow Discussion with a docent (a UC Berkeley grad student.) It was fun discussing the show with other attendees who stayed. It was like a book club! Intimate and inclusive, and then there was a surprise--Jimmy Smits and Wanda DeJesus came to listen and contribute to the conversation! (And then do autographs and photographs.) Berkeley Repertory is a community hub. I appreciate their shows and the discussions they evoke (and the space they provide to have said discussions.) The SF Chronicle raved about All My Sons and I could not rave about it more either! Time to reread Arthur Miller and also support local theatre!

Saw How Shakespeare saved my Life on Saturday evening…read more Excellent one man performance. Atmosphere and staff were great! Wonderful experience and the actor was fantastic!!

It was disappointing that their college and cabaret performance space closed, but they still have…read moreperformances across the street in a pleasant hall.

I've been taking classes (playing in bands) here for four years. Gotten me back on track in terms…read moreof my playing. It's also becoming a good place to hear concerts, hard to find any creative music venues these days.

The first show I saw here was their current production, The Grand Inquisitor…read more Great use of small space. Great actors (By the way, Michael Gene Sullivan and Julian Lopez-Morillas are amazing!). Great production team. What's not to love? Do yourself a favor and watch a show here. or 5.

Central Works is a unique Bay Area treasure. Their stock-in-trade is developing new scripts--…read moreevery play they do is developed internally by the company. Because of that method, sometimes the work is hit or miss (developing new plays is harder than it sounds-- trust), so if you go see a play and think it's crappy, don't count them out-- the next one is likely to be utterly kickass. One of their playwrights, Gary Graves, tends to write plays about amazing women in history-- Adah Isaacs Menken, Lola Montez, Anne Bonny and Mary Read-- and the company supports his writing with deep research. Graves often incorporates orginal texts into his writing-- letters and such-- making the plays all the more authentic and cool. All right-thinking people love plays about badass historical women. Their prices are very low-- sliding scale starts at a mere nine bucks-- and they work out of the gorgeous Berkeley City Club. Check them out!

I've been a fan of the shows at this space for over 15 years I guess. Recently saw Ride The Cyclone…read moreand Ruthless there. We enjoyed them both. The staff is always pleasant and the 3 different theater spaces each have a special charm. I hope they continue to thrive even though this current terrible administration has cut a lot of funding to non profit arts organizations.

From the moment you step inside the New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC), you feel it--this is…read moremore than just a theater. It's a vibrant, inclusive home for creativity, growth, and community. Located in the heart of San Francisco, NCTC's mission to support artists, youth, and the queer and allied communities isn't just words on a wall--it's felt in every class, every conversation, and every corner of this beautiful space. I recently completed their Adult Scene Study class with the incomparable Jeffery Draper, and I can honestly say it was one of the most enriching and inspiring experiences of my adult life. Whether you're just stepping into acting or sharpening your skills, this class offers a fun, supportive environment where you can take bold risks, discover new layers of your craft, and connect with other passionate creatives. Each week, we explored character, motivation, and storytelling in ways that were both challenging and rewarding. Jeffery's direction was equal parts insightful and encouraging, he meets you where you are and helps you rise. The space itself is warm, professional, and beautifully maintained, from the intimate black box theater to the cozy lobby and rehearsal rooms. If you're looking for a place to grow as an artist, to be seen and supported, or just to try something new in a welcoming environment, run to NCTC. Their adult drama classes are exceptional, and the community they've built is something truly special.

When I was a child, I loved it when someone would read aloud to me, taking on the voices of the…read morecharacters, and narrating the story with the appropriate emotion and meaningful pauses. Word For Word takes this concept one step further. They choose a story and act out the entire thing, without omitting any bit of writing or changing it to suit their interpretation. So every "he said, with a look of disdain" is spoken, usually by the character. I have such a love and respect for writers and great writing, and I find this genre of theater a very nice tribute to an author. It's fun to see how this theater company finds ways to interpret the prose, having to entertain an audience while staying true to the written word Last week I went to see "Strangers We Know" at the Magic Theater in Fort Mason. This was a performance of 2 short stories: "Mlle. Dias de Corta by Mavis Gallant, and "Which is More Than I Can Say About Some People" by Lorrie Moore. While I didn't care for the Gallant piece, it was due to my not liking the writing rather than the performance. The Lorrie Moore piece was very good - the acting and choreography were well-done, and I enjoyed it very much. Last year, Kirsten F and I went to see the Daniel Handler stories "4 Adverbs" which was very lively and entertaining. I would think it would be such a treat for a living author to see his or her work performed in this way. Word For Word has been in around since 1993, and selects works that range from classic to contemporary. Some of the featured writers have been Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allen Poe, Eudora Welty, Dorothy Parker, John Stinebeck, and Michael Chabon. They have been around since 1993 and seem to have a small but dedicated following. If you want to see an original concept that marries literature and theater, performed in an intimate setting by a very dedicated company, check out Word For Word. They are part of Z-Space Studio, which you can read about on the website http://www.zspace.org/

I saw "The Necklace" and "A Jury of Her Peers." I'd seen The Necklace before, and also read it in…read more9th grade. It wasn't that thrilling (more heartbreaking, than anything else), but Word For Word made it come alive! Word for Word is the most entertaining kind of play; you hear all the lines, as well as the stage directions and the descriptions of the actors' emotions, (such as, "He moved to the left; he wore an expression of wistfulness with a touch of frustration" -- and then the actor expresses the described action). The actors are incredibly skilled and talented, and, having someone narrate, makes it feel as if you're reading the play, as well as viewing it at the same time, and adds a bit of humor to otherwise serious plays. Word for Word Performing Arts Company is in a class of its own. Truly an incredible experience. They're often shown in Z Space in SF, which is an intimate theatre (read: great!), or in Europe. You don't have to enjoy plays to enjoy Word for Word!

I feel a smidge guilty for reviewing this place. Because I fully support the artsy little guys, I…read moreswear. And despite the 3 stars, I encourage you to support them as well. I just figured I'd give you a heads up before you do... The theater is a great size- smallish but not cramped and has good acoustics. Parking wasn't a problem for us. The actors were great. *Special shout out to Jay Kiecolt-Wahl. He was stellar in The True West. Now for the recommendations- wrap yourself in scarves, wool, mittens, beanies, long underwear, blankets and perhaps even a hot water bottle. Because this place is C-O-L-D. Bring an extra blanket or if you're from Berkeley, your yoga mat, because you'll bruise your poor little behind. The seats are like old-school movie theater seats but without ANY padding. That means your tushie is right up against some cold, hard wood. And not the kind of hard wood that you want your tushie to be up against. So puhleeze, go support the artsy little guys. Just be prepared.

I was in need of a good laugh so I headed for Berkeley in my Weekend Whip tuned to 98.1 Disco…read moreSaturday Night Jams. I rolled to the Live Oak Theater on Shattuck for the Live Oak Laughs Stand up Comedy Show . This show featured 5 Stand up Comedians - MC -Marc Abrigo, Sandy Stec, Jeff Applebaum,Chris Burns and Headliner Reggie Steel fresh from appearances on Americas Most Wanted and Trauma. The parking is all street so I parked a few blocks away and hiked in to the theater. The show is a Bargain in itself ,It was a Paltry $8 . The Live Oak Theater is a Small Intimate venue with theater seating and great acoustics. The Comedians where Funny as Hell . Topics ranged from Homeless People , White Guilt, Interracial Dating , In Breed Family's ,Dating and the Police. It was a very laughed filled evening . Great Show . After wards I headed to Triple Rock to get my drink on LOL.