Solid venue for concerts, speakers, and other cultural events. I remember seeing a Chinese opera performance here with my mom (a Cal alumna) and one of her college friends. More recently, I saw Broadway star Kelli O'Hara perform. It was wonderful! I will say that (and this is probably due to NIMBY boomers in the city of Berkeley) the audience skewed very old. Maybe we should build more housing in Berkeley so young families and more diverse people can enjoy Zellerbach as I have. Nice service and staff and volunteers. Cal alumni can get discounts. There's a restaurant and bar inside too. read more

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Went to see Drum Tao for the 2nd time. Zellerbach is always a great performance venue. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Enjoyed the Opera Parallèle - La Belle et la Bête. Great show , beautiful hall , friendly staff . Great location to take public transportation or ride share . read more

Zellerbach Hall - Opera Parallèle - La Belle et la Bête - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you don't know your way to this hall, you will get confused. Google maps directed me to backside of Zellerbach Hall. And even with that, you had to walk into the parks to figure out where this place was. It was a good venue for Shen Yun performance. We had really good seats to watch the show. One of the acts did have me perplexed... the way I saw that performance was... Man meets woman. Fall in love. Gets married. Goes to big protest together. Man gets arrested. Mans eyes are harvested from the government. Man released and can't see. Wife doesn't recognize husband. Buddhist is the mans savior and returns his eyesight. Man and women reunited and are together again. Yea... weird, right? I've vowed never to watch this show again. Venue was nice though. Garage parking is across the street. Very convenient. read more

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I have longed to see The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre since I was a teen. It was a pleasant surprise when I was told we would be attending! The Hall is nice. The staff is very attentive & eager to assist. The acoustics inside were perfect. The seating is a bit tight but not uncomfortable. They offer light snacks & beverages. There are parking garages and food choices all around. Pay close attention to the parking garage signs, especially their Business Hours. All of them aren't 24hrs. I learned firsthand. Pics & videos aren't allowed ;-) so you'll have to take my word for it that it's a great venue. We look forward to visiting again. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Showtime - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

In March 2016, my sister (Lindsey) and I attended a talk in Zellerbach Hall by female founder(s) of "Serial" podcast. I had not ever listened to the podcast, but my sister was an enthusiast. Since I was attending the University of California, Berkeley and my sister saw the talk was on-campus she asked if she could visit so she could see the talk, I decided to host her and to the talk we came. The hall is large and well lit. We arrived early enough to scope out the second floor lounge area pre-show/talk. However, we did not dwell long upstairs as we wanted to be there when the doors opened so we could sit at/near the front (close to the stage). We were amongst the first attendees to claim our seats. Acoustics and lighting were good. The speaker(s) wanted an interactive format where the audience could ask questions, so there was at least one microphone being ran around when questions were fielded. Those acoustics were a little more spotty. Fun family time and hall to attend a talk in. read more

What a great venue option often booking really unique and cultural experiences on campus in Berkeley. It's a big and beautiful Hall located right on the quad. While I've heard of interesting performances come thru from Shen Yen, to classical music, to speakers, and concerts, I just attended for the first time, an Alvin Ailey dance performance. I was impressed by the sound, the lighting and the seating. Overall, I would come again to see more and will be signing up for their newsletter so I don't miss any interesting opportunities that may come through. read more

Beautiful place, super friendly staff brought in the London Philharmonia and everything was excellent, would definitely recommend

Lovely music hall with a long history. I've been coming here since I was in the 5th grade. Have seen everything from interpretive dances during school field trips, to Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Sunday. It is always a thrill coming here and I love getting to walk around the UCB campus as well. The folks working and volunteering here are also always very professional and helpful. read more

This place has very comfortable seats most seats in the place seem like they have great views and sound! read more

Zellerbach Hall - Anand Varna - Great Keynote Speaker! - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I really enjoy this space. Once you find parking you want, it is easy to get to and not far from the street. It is lovely inside and the staff is always ready to provide programs and point out the best way to get to your seat. I love that the entire stage is viewable from most if not all the seats and the acoustics are really good so you don't miss a beat from the phenomenal orchestra. Those who have a harder time being mobile may want to consider booking the floor seats since most of the seating on the upper levels requires stairs. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came to see a show and it was a great venue! Good acoustics, and good staffing. There was a lot of people working the event to help direct us to our seats. Looking forward to attending more events! read more

Zellerbach Hall - a large crowd of people watching a concert - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing performance by the Soweto Gospel Choir at Z Hall! Hall is huge! Perfect for many performances big and small. Parking can be expensive on event nights. They offer food and libations before the show and during intermission. read more

I was just there for Miami City Ballet performance last Sunday. The weather was very nice. Walking from Bart station to the venue was quite pleasant. This has been my second experience and I have happily found that getting the most expensive seats are not necessarily. I checked different areas of seats. The balcony center seats are even better for ballet since the venue is not as big those ones in San Francisco. The stage was actually too small for ballets. The dancers were a bit cramped on the stage and seemed clotted together and couldn't perform the piece in the best way. However, I really appreciate the wonderful day! Looking forward to the next nice program. read more

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Yesterday was Nina's birthday and last night I took her to a concert by the Brad Mehldau Trio to celebrate. Because it was Veteran's Day, all the restaurants on campus were closed, as was the Student Union. We decided to have early dinners separately so we could secure parking in the garage under Zellerbach and not have to walk any great distance. I picked her up about 5:45 and drove over. The lights were on in the Student Union, giving us hope of a comfortable place to sit, but that was illusory. It was closed. There was an adorable young man at the entrance to the garage, collecting $18 to park. I showed him my blue hang tag and he asked if I had a reservation. There are six ADA parking spaces. I told him no, that I didn't know it was an option. I will know for next time. We drove down into the garage and I found a space by the stairs and ramp up to Zellerbach. There probably is an elevator, but I didn't see where it was. We walked up and saw that the ticket office was still dark. We walked over to the Student Union and that's when we discovered it was locked. There were a couple of wooden logs w/ seats carved out of them in the plaza and we took spots facing each other. They were surprisingly comfortable. It was chilly but not cold. After half an or so hour I saw the lights on in the box office so we walked over. The nice young woman in the box office said we could probably sit inside while we waited for the doors to open to the auditorium. We walked to the open door to the lobby and spoke w/ another nice young woman who asked if we were there for pre-concert dining and we said we hadn't been aware it was being offered. She said we couldn't come in for another 7 minutes. I asked if it would be possible for us to come in and just sit down somewhere out of the way. She went and checked w/ someone and said we could take the elevator to the 4th floor, which we appreciated greatly. We walked over to the elevator, where we were greeted by an older man who asked us what we needed. We told him and he pushed the elevator buttons and sent us on our way, saying he'd see us later. When we got to the 4th floor we found the women's restroom right beside the elevator, a welcome sight. We used it and then sat at a table overlooking the lobby. Nina bought us cups of tea which tasted and felt good after sitting out in the chilly night. Eventually the doors to the auditorium were opened and we took the elevator back down where we were welcomed back by the man who had sent us upstairs. We went into the auditorium, where we found our seats, two in from the aisle. By happenstance the two seats on the aisle remained empty so after the first number we moved into them, a great improvement because it got us out from behind the two tall men sitting in front of us. The concert was wonderful and I enjoyed watching other audience members enjoying the music, including the two tall men. When the concert was over we returned to the car and were able to leave the garage more quickly and easily than expected. Alan and I had returned to Zellerbach many times since my initial review, enjoying many concerts until the pandemic shut things down. Last night was lovely and I'm sure Nina and I will return in the future. read more

(Pre-COVID review). Been to a couple events here now (TEDxBerkeley and Shen Yun) and the entrance space is really beautiful. Once in you are greeted by high ceilings and a ton of light pouring in from the second story windows. The non-theatre part has space for vendors to set up if you ever host an interactive event that involves multiple vendors. I would say the bathrooms need a real upgrade though. I dreaded every time I had to go. They feel like restrooms in a very old college classroom building. read more

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Adore Zellerbach Hall/Auditorium. Go to many Cal Performances here and just love how convenient to parking lots and accessible to Julia's restaurant where we eat before a performance. There's also food in the Hall upstairs with good wine & cocktails read more

My wife, me and some of my San Jose Taiko ARC classmates watched an amazing Taiko performance by Kodo. Absolutely loved the performance and would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so darn hot in the theater. It felt like we were watching the whole performance in an oven. We all had to wear masks while in the theater. It would have been more civilized if the theater personnel at least left the doors open so there would be air movement coming in from the outside. At $80.00 a ticket I believe the air conditioning should have e been running since it was a packed house. read more

Very funny, those memories....memories of going to the RSF in my lycras and watching hordes of concert-goers in my way. It was like Frogger. Or the queues for March Madness basketball on the steps of Harmon gym, again....passing all the throngs of Zellerbach-bound patrons. And now here I am! Many a time I have come for convocations and concerts: this week, it was Chinese Yo-Yo Ma and Polish Emanuel Ax performing on cello and piano. The pure sounds of the two rich instruments, taking turns playing off melodic themes. My Ukranian teacher Yuriy used to tell me, " Dynamics!" There was no shortage of that when getting lost in the talented performance of the duo on Wednesay. The phrasing was so tender, so lyrical at times that it made me catch my breath. One of the last pieces by Brahms, in F Maj, even brought tears to the forefront. It was that otherwordly. The amount of passion and the idea of journey, angst, anger, happiness, and melancholy always shine thru in classical music; perhaps why I am so drawn to it! even today! when I am no longer forced to practice hours for competitions. The ventilation lacks in here. Altogether too warm inside, and bit hard to be comfortable. But amazing amazing. Just loved the night; inspiring and seared my soul. read more

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I love this event venue. It's right on the edge of the UC Berkeley campus and Telegraph Ave. There are lots of dessert places you can go to before or after the show. The "cheap seats' are a great deal because it's a short theater. There's not a bad seat in the house. read more

One of my favorite venues ever! We got parking in the garage right next door and that was huge. We did have challenges as there is only one level of parking and a lot of people looking to park. Once parked we walked right in, went upstairs and enjoyed a glass of wine before the show. Lots of staff that made you feel comfortable. Took our seats and the show started on time. Lewis Black was great! Perfect for the Berkeley! We snapped out of our seat pretty quick and we were in the car, exiting the structure and on our way home in short order! We had a great experience at Zellerbach Hall! read more

World class performing arts center. Top notch staffing. You will feel welcomed when you attend the performances.

I bought tickets for Shen Yun on the strength of testimonials I heard in online publicity. Exiting audience members seemed to be genuinely enchanted and inspired by the show. I won't question that, but the high expectations they generated in me went sadly unfulfilled. I wish I had saved my money and stayed home. There are certainly moments in the show that are impressive. Costumes, color, and video tricks are used to great effect in individual scenes, and feats of acrobatic dancing provoke awe. But these elements are insufficient to provide weight and meaning to the spectacle. Again and again, I felt that something crucial was missing. I'll call it dramatic focus. What was the overall point of these highly disciplined dance routines, which frankly became less and less absorbing with their tiresome similarity? Brief introductions to the scenes by a pair of emcees were intended to put them in context, but their meaning remained elusive. We were told, for example, that certain dance pieces represented particular ethnic traditions, but they weren't distinctive enough to leave a strong impression. The program was punctuated by three "recital" performances that had no obvious connection to the rest of the show. Two were by singers, a tenor and a soprano, who no doubt exemplified vocal styles typical of the Chinese stage. The problem here was that the notes they produced could not help but sound discordant to the Western ear. There is value, of course, in exposure to unfamiliar cultural forms, but I think an audience needs to be prepared for a sudden transition to singing so far removed from "home base." However, the third solo act consisted of music played on a two-stringed instrument, the erhu, whose tones resemble those of a violin. For me, the heart-stirring piece exquisitely rendered on this instrument was a highlight of the show. A final word on the emcees, one of whom provided a narration in English that the other then translated into Cantonese. Since only a minuscule number of audience members will have been monolingual in Chinese, the purpose of this time-wasting duplication was difficult to fathom. My verdict on Shen Yun? Guilty on too many counts to justify an expensive night out. In competition with Netflix, it's the clear loser! read more

Decent venue .. seats are uncomfortable, but you have leg space. Sound was fantastic. What was killer though was the complete lack of AC, fans, attendants with palm fronds, etc. It was SO HOT. Sweat pouring from everyone, most trying to fan themselves with their pamphlets. Can't imagine how bad it was for the performers under the stage lights. I don't know if they were just trying to save some $$$ by leaving the AC off (if they have it) or if something was broken or what the deal was - but it's definitely discouraged me from seeking out additional shows at the Hall. read more

Saw Shen Yun today. Was surprised at the abundance of ushers and usher assistants. This made finding our way for the first time a breeze. Seats were comfortable and every seat seemed to have a great view. One star taken away as the recording for the theater box office said no one would be seated until intermission once the performance started. However people were seated behind us and in front of us during some of the beautiful performances. read more

WHAT AN AMAZING VENUE!! WHAT AN AMAZING CONCERT!! My first time and only time to date at Zellerbach Auditorium, I attended the April 1st India.Arie concert, featuring Laura Izibor. It was one of my more emotionally satisfying concert experiences in recent memory, but moreover.... I've grown up most of my life in the Yay, how have I never been to this venue?! From the exterior, the auditorium building stands out amidst the stone and concrete surroundings of the other campus buildings: the subtle wood-finished interior is highlighted by bright lighting and the rich and warm color radiates out through the mostly-glass facade. At night, it looks like a holiday home in a winter storm; inviting. Once inside, what would otherwise be a shallow reception area opens upward and outward into a multi-tiered mezzanine, the centerpiece of which is a small-yet-functional concession bar serving snacks, coffee drinks, beer and wine(?). On my way towards drink #such-and-such for the evening, I ran into the statuesque Leanna W... ever the hawtness! The concert auditorium is a wide and comfortable venue; luckily, we'd scored a great row of seats towards the front of the lower gallery ("section 6", if you look at a seating chart), off to one side and slightly elevated above orchestra. For "second price" seating, these were good seats... Acoustically, I've got no complaints, but that could be because of our proximity to the speakers/monitors and stage. Definitely would/will be looking to see more shows at this venue. John Legend plays this locale in September 09... *looks at wallet* __________________________________________________ No, really. I have an affinity towards all things Berkeley. Atmosphere, vibe, air, scene. Blame the BFF. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Not bad seats, price, or location, but when even the performers are walking off stage to tell you to turn the AC on, maybe you should learn how to properly heat and cool your location. Also the bar staff was incredibly slow, making getting a drink even DURING the show when the lines were only three people deep intolerable. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

The Bay Area has a plethora of large and small performance spaces, and for some reason Zellerbach often fades from my attention. But when I pick up a newspaper and read what's coming here, I'm always left impressed with the variety of entertainment options. One Family Christmas tradition was to see the Hard Nut at Zellerbach. The acoustics are excellent, and I too love the people watching during intermission. Crowd control could be better in various places and maybe the Lobby could be more comfortable, but as a College venue (including student and alumni discounts), Zellerbach is just fine. I don't really know why I don't go here more often. It could be the parking or the desire not to be near Telegraph Avenue at night. Or like some other things in my life, sometimes I just need to decide to get out there and do it. Today's Historical Footnote: Zellerbach Hall was named in honor of Isadore and Jennie Zellerbach, after a $1 million dollar gift was given toward completion of the facility in 1968. Christine McVie of the band, Fleetwood Mac recorded her song "Songbird" (from Rumours - The Best Album Ever) here in 1976. read more

Zellerbach Hall in the UC Berkeley campus is one of the venues for Cal Performances, hosting theater, dance and musical events. The hall seats about 2,000 people in its orchestra, mezzanine and balcony levels. Was here recently for Audra McDonald's concert and in prior visits for John Maklovich's, The Infernal Comedy, and a night of comedy by Seth Meyers. Having sat in all three sections, all provide great vantage points, but I probably prefer the mezzanine level. Overall, a nice venue for live performances. read more

Beautiful theater!! I was there watching Shen Yun and it was fabulous!!! Parking is difficult so arrive earthy to your event.

I missed Fiona Apple, but I saw Aaminah! It's a strange old place with lots of character. I really want to see a concert here. Or a dance troupe. The balconies look fun. The fuzzy walls look gross. Sometimes I love gross. read more

Arriving there was the worst part. Once you get to Zellerbach hall and park underneath there is no signage on where to go. Especially when it's raining. Some folks circle around the wrong side of the building to find the entrance. Once you got in to the center of it, you find yourself in the middle of the different buildings with other events going on and no signage where Zellerbach hall is. The performance, orchestra and musical performances were all great, but the show was not amazing or stellar. There were no exciting moments to speak of and the stories were hard to follow. Saw it once that was good enough for me read more

Went to see Kodo: New Earth, the Japanese drummer event. Lovely venue, efficient, polite, and down-to-business. LOVE the Berkeley campus, have since my post-doc. The show was amazing, though that's not really what the review is for, I suppose it's the venue, but credit where credit is due, Cal Performances booked a really cool act. I plan to return next year to see it again. read more

Old, classic place for the performance. Good sound system, well organized staff, even though seatings are not comfortable- it is not as bad. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been here dozens of times for concerts, lectures and live performances. Admittedly, I am a little partial to this venue as it is a prominent location at my alma mater. That aside, I appreciate the decent size seats, the ability to see the stage with ease from any seat (I generally have main floor seats) and the quaint eatery accessible during intermissions. The ticket prices are reasonable, concert subscriptions are available, and students and alumni members get discounted prices. Make sure you check out the free public/community events and the occasional open rehearsal/meet and greets. Parking is a bear, but the new parking lot should be complete very soon. read more

We really enjoyed this comfortable venue when we watched Lewis Black ranting recently. The seats are easy to get to, the acoustics are great, and it's a nice, modern facility. I'd come to another show here without hesitation. read more

A nice venue for a high school graduation. My nephew's high school class had raised $7K to rent the hall. The hall was designed with the recessed seating, where the rows seats get a bit higher the further away from the stage to offer everyone a good view. There were also balcony seats. I'm not quite sure how big that floor was. Parking may be a challenge, but that is typical of Berkeley. We used the closest lot off Durant (I think), but you'll get better prices if you don't mind the walk. read more

Went to see shen yun yesterday- I was horrible and I was close to walking out. This was represented as traditional Chinese dance- I was not- it was religious propaganda and a poorly done revival I feel cheated as the performance was completely misrepresented and sadly laughable read more

It has been years since I've been on the UC Berkeley campus. Finding Zellerbach Hall was somewhat of a challenge the other day. We took BART Daly City to the downtown Berkeley station. It's a very short walk to the UC campus. But which way to the Hall? Take Center Street which is perpendicular to Shattuck. Walk up Center Street. Cross the street to the campus. Keep right and walk to Bancroft Street. Then make a left on Bancroft. Walk up 1/2 mile. You'll see an entrance for both the stadium and the Hall. At this point follow the signs. The Hall itself was very conducive to the International Taiko Dojo festival. We sat in row O center. The seats are staggered so no big heads blocking the stage. After the show it was about a 15 minute walk back to BART. read more

Enjoyed a great graduation ceremony here. Parking is conveniently located below. Seating is not bad at all. It's comfortable without blind spots. Many folks tripped going in an out of the aisles. Watch your step! It's a great venue. read more