An excellent venue. Lots of legroom compared to comparable halls. Acoustics are good but not great.

This is a good size theater to watch plays. The sold out 2018 Shen Yun (Classical Chinese Dance) was well choreographed with beautiful costumes. It would do the show justice to sit as close as possible to see the dancer's expressions. The first row is quite comfortable as one doesn't have to stretch one's neck to see the performance. The high ceiling gives the live orchestra a great sound. One advice I would give is allow more time for parking. Since this theater is located on the UC Berkeley campus, it's also in the downtown area. Traffic is terrible before the performance. Also, if you ladies don't want to wait in the long restroom line, just walk across the Student Union if opened. read more

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I can't even count the number of times I've been here for graduations and performances, but I love Zellerbach. Great for performances (saw the Joffrey ballet recently), good views from everywhere I've ever sat for graduations. Solid drinks for a small hall during intermissions (although you have to hustle to get to the line quickly, which is why I like sitting low and to the right, there's a side door which gives you a direct shot to the lower hallway). read more

I can't remember much about Zellerbach when I was a student at Cal - (other than walking past it through lower Sproul on my way to the arcades ...) Presently, everything is all blocked off b/c of renovations they are doing to lower Sproul so you'll have easiest access from the West ... which is fine b/c that's where the BART station is. We came for the Moth Mainstage which was part of the Bay Area Science Week. The 5 storytellers were excellent and our seats 3 rows back was perfect. While this was just a person telling a story into a microphone - the acoustics were fine and we were close enough to see the spittle when they got passionate .... The auditorium is huge and concrete (again, don't know the impact of this to an orchestra of music for instance), but it was great venue for the Moth. They have a cafe on the 2nd floor which I think needs to be less fancy and more efficient. 15 minute intermissions really won't be enough for you to wait in line, get a drink / snack, finish it and return to your seats. read more

I dig this venue. Sure, the seats are a little too close for comfort and not a ton of leg room for anybody taller than average. If you're seated in the middle you will have to ask 10 others to move for you to get to your seat and you'll notice how tight the space is. Other than that, this venue is great. Sound carries throughout at a good volume, I've been here for Sotomayor's talk, for orchestra, and for theater. Views are good from any angle. The level of art that is showcased here, is very high level. I appreciate being exposed to all of these types of performances! I have not visited the concessions, but will be sure to check them out in the future- because I will be back! read more

Came to Zellerbach Hall for the 1st time to see Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Scott Getting to the Hall is an extremely pleasant walk through campus & the entrance to the hall is very inviting There was no sound system in use that evening & I thought the music was too quiet at times & could have benefited from some amplification. Sightlines were nice & the seats were comfy w/ plenty of legroom I really enjoyed seeing such a musical legend in an intimate venue & would certainly come back to explore more music! read more

Hubby and I went to see the Alvin Ailey dancers last month and it was spectacular!! All seats are nice. Only four stars for parking. Yuck! Will definitely be back to this venue. read more

As one would expect, the acoustics in this performance hall are excellent, even in the "nosebleed" seats, which are still quite good. Despite my orchestra-section ticket, I made a point of checking out the other areas in the interest of providing a thorough review. I have to add that hearing the Star-Spangled Banner performed live by a full symphony orchestra was a moving and impressive experience. The lobby areas clearly are not designed to encouraging lounging. A few hard benches provided the only seating and the bare hardwood floors, while beautiful, were noisy. Bathrooms are adequate and available on 2 levels, though there's the typical long line for the women. The men's room suffered from a major choke-point at the door. Actually traffic management is probably the biggest weakness of the architecture. In addition to the restrooms, both Will Call and the refreshment stand were chaotic. The Will Call desk is outside with no defined approach, so everyone was left wondering whether they were in line to pick up tickets or simply milling around outside the Hall. During intermission, it rapidly became clear that the area around the refreshment stand wasn't well-planned. After the first 6 people, the line cut off the main traffic path on that level, creating a lot of jostling. Fortunately, you can pre-order intermission food and drinks, so I recommend taking advantage of that option before your show starts. TRIVIA: This event made me wonder about the phrase "symphony orchestra" and what each term meant. Some research found that "orchestra" refers to the collection of strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. It derives from the name of the area at the front of an ancient Greek stage where the chorus stood. "Symphony" (or "philharmonic") is basically just an qualifier differentiating a large (80-100+ piece) orchestra from the smaller (50 piece or fewer) "chamber" orchestra. read more

I feel lucky to have such an incredible venue so close to home. UC Berkeley invites amazing talent from around the globe to perform on this stage, from orchestras to operas. I've marked off nearly every event in their calendar, and did I have an unlimited budget I'd surely attend them all. For my first visit, I saw an amazing performance of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake performed by the Mariinsky Ballet set to music performed by the St. Petersburg Orchestra. It was stunningly beautiful - the staging and costume design, the grace and athleticism of the ballerinas, the majesty of the music. The space is conducive to performances such as these, with incredible acoustics, a large stage, and tiered seating which can accommodate over 2000 people. Don't be discouraged just because the architecture is a throwback to the swingin' 60s - the space does its job and does it well. I'm pretty sure I could hear the notes of every single instrument contributing to that orchestra. I'm looking forward to seeing two of the Marsalis brothers perform jazz here this year, both Wynton and Delfeayo, as well as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (if you've never been, they're unreal). Check the calendar (here! https://commerce.cpsma.berkeley.edu/CPPresents/calendar/index.aspx), put on your Sunday best, and head to the theater!!! read more

Zellerbach Auditorium + Ryan Adams & The Cardinals made for one of the best concerts of my life. The auditorium's small size created an intimate environment which was awesome considering that some of the artists that play here are normally found playing arenas. When you see a band play at this small auditorium, it feels like you have been transported back to the 8th grade and you're on one of those reality shows where the principal surprises the school with their favorite band taking the stage. The sound was as good as it gets. Even though we sat in the balcony, we could see perfectly. However, if you do want to drink, be prepared to chug in the lobby because drinks are not allowed inside. Definitely one of the coolest venues I've gone to for a concert. read more

A couple weeks ago, I went to see the Mariinsky Ballet's production of Swan Lake with my family. We love seeing the San Francisco Ballet so seeing the Mariinsky Ballet was going to be a treat for us. The Zellerbach itself is a great venue. It's modern, spacious, easily accessible from BART, and on the UC Berkeley campus. We had some desserts upstairs and while they were expensive, they were delicious. So, the reason for the 2 STARS, you ask? The staff! Now maybe I'm spoiled from San Francisco Ballet, or maybe I've just turned into a "ballet snob", but when is it ever acceptable to seat people DURING a performance? When is it ever acceptable to allow children to make noise during a performance? When is it ever acceptable to allow people to get up and switch seats, and talk loudly, during a performance? It's common sense to seat people who arrive late during the intermission and usually you don't bring children to performances like this (with the exception of The Nutcracker), unless they are really, really, REALLY, well-behaved. I was so disappointed with how the staff handled the seating situation and people in the audience. Having people constantly getting up to find their seats, switch seats, and hearing kids crying throughout the performance, really made the whole thing very unenjoyable. I honestly couldn't wait until it was over! I don't think I'll be seeing any more performances at the Zellerbach; I'll stick with San Francisco Ballet. #sorryi'mnotsorry read more

What a great experience. We had mezzanine seats and I think they were probably the best in the house. Looking down on the stage and orchestra was perfect, being able to see EVERYTHING! The sound is fabulous. The seats are a little close to the row in front, so don't expect a lot of leg room. It would have been more comfortable if they could have squeezed in an extra inch. But all in all, the building is beautiful, the experience was priceless and to have such a venue so close to home is wonderful! read more

Berkeley brings some killer venues to Zellerbach. I've had the chance to see Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Sufjan Stevens, Stephen Hawking, Haruki Murakami, and most recently Circus Oz. This place is a steal for students. Students get 50% off all ticket prices. Also, rush tickets are available 1 hour before showing times for $10. Seeing Yo-Yo Ma for $10? DEALBREAKER. The venue is nice in terms of the acoustics. Great sound even if you're up in the balcony. You might want to bring some binoculars or something if you're in the back row of the balcony. The total ambiance is better than what I've experienced at other colleges though. I highly recommend seeing a show or concert here for a date since it's on campus. Circus Oz last night was very very fun for $10 rush tickets. I am only familiar with Zellerbach as a performance hall so when it was transformed into an acrobatics and circus venue the room seemed all that much less formal. I think we're pretty lucky to have a killer venue on campus. read more

This building is rather old, but in a good way. It is a classic building that is a historic theater with a rich history on the U.C. Berkeley campus. Momentous occasions including concerts, graduations, comedy shows, and dance performances have taken place at Zellerbach Hall. Zellerbach is the Bay Area venue for the legendary Alvin Ailey dance troupe every Spring. I have sat in every section from the front to the rear and can say that there are not really any bad seats in the house. Please give yourself extra time for parking as it is located near Bancroft Way and Telegraph and the parking can be a challenge. read more

Always an enlightening time. Friendly event staff, great theater, nice cafe now. My only complaint is that I often have trouble with the ticketing phone system. Year after year, I want to throw my phone through a window. It's maddening. So if you can get your tickets online, do. read more

Zellerbach Hall - Light fixtures in the lobby. - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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In spite of the traffic alerts due to construction, we had a smooth sailing and parked at the garage for $10 with a special events pass. Event staff dressed in green jackets were helpful in directing us to the theater. We saw the Peking Acrobats and it was an amazing show. I give kudos to those who worked at the venue for giving us an entertaining show. read more

I just saw Eddie Vedder at Zellerbach the past two nights. The sound there is brilliant, there is not a bad seat in the house. I hope more musicians play there. read more

I am glad I arrived an hour early for the event, because after circling the venue, which if you have never been there like me, you, too, would have no idea where the hall was actually located. It was definitely not visible from the street, but my GPS assured me I had arrived; even though, I could see no sign indicating that fact. I circled that place so many times, I lost track (all those numerous one way streets made my joy complete). I finally tried to park in a lot near the location, but was told that they only accepted permit parking. By the time, I located a public parking space, in some obscure parking lot a block over, I found I had only 10 minutes to spare! Now, this part is my fault, I had on chunky heels (the ladies will understand this part). I would have been better off with flats, which unfortunately I had left in my vehicle because I was now running later than expected, especially when walking uphill. My calves couldn't decide whether to make a major or minor protest, but since I was trying to get there before the curtain went up, I had to ignore them and keep it moving. ;-) I felt there was quite a bit of walking involved, and stairs, stairs, stairs - the majority of them cement! I thought buying a ticket in the balcony would give me a great view, but that was another mistake. I was right in the first row, dead center, of the balcony with my legs (I am only 5' 5" tall) jammed up to the point where I could not stretch them out very far. Remember, I also had on heels (about 3-1/2 inches high, with screaming calves that I could not stretch out properly). Between squirming in my seat, trying to discretely stretch out my legs, and trying to block out the people next to me, who kept talking, it was not a fun time had by all/me. The seats are also very close together and you are better off sitting a little forward in your chair than to sit back and attempt to share those armrests with your "neighbors". Leaving was definitely not an option, since I was wedged in between all those people. The performance was so-so, but I will not mention what I saw because this review is only for the venue, itself. For all the reasons listed above, I would not recommend this venue, unless you are already familiar with the setting, know where to park, and need to get in some more steps to reach your quota of 10,000 per day. If I ever go there, again, I will be better prepared. But, in all fairness, I would rather take my hundred dollars and go somewhere else, where I can enjoy a show in relative comfort. That is all, goodnight! ;-) read more

Saw The Berkeley Symphony 4/30/15 here, performing choruses from Adams' Klinghoffer opera, and a Mozart Requiem. The performance was fabulous, but Zellerbach's handling of online ticketing, including through Goldstar, Groupon, and Amazon Local (my ticket, bought 3/24) was a fail. I arrived a half-hour early. After I got through the Will Call line, I was told they had not printed our tickets in time, so we'd all have to go through the Ticket Office line. How did they not have enough time to print the tickets? Apparently they also didn't have time to send a notification to all the online-bought ticket holders. I asked the young lady at the Will Call table if they could at least make a sign or an announcement so everybody wouldn't have to waste time in the wrong line. "Um, no, I'm just an employee." The Ticket Office line eventually snaked around the plaza and down the steps, extending to what looked like about 200 people (I was about 50th in line). At some point, a guy came along line, writing people's voucher numbers on the back of an envelope, "to expedite printing out the tickets". His chatting a while constantly didn't seem to contribute much to the expediting process. With the regular staff of two handling the Ticket Office desk, I finally got to my seat in 45 minutes. To accommodate this ticket problem, the concert was delayed another 15 minutes, but I don't know if the 150 or so people behind me were taken care of. So. MUSIC: 5 Star. VENUE: Not So Much. read more

Love the great service here! The people are so kind and always down to help! :) they are super

5 stars because I love berkeley. I graduated here. I was in the best VSA culture show held ever in VSA's history. SOLD OUT SHOW! I danced here representing The Movement. An awesome venue to dance in compared to Julia Morgan Theatre on College Ave. read more

I came here for a friend's graduation ;) and the hall was very accommodating for everyone. I love how it is 3 stories because everyone can still get a good view of the stage some any angle. I though the lobby was clean and spacious and the free food after the ceremony was a +! of course, during graduation, there are hundreds of families but I was still able to get out in a quick time :p read more

They have some great people and groups come here. My favorite has to be Alvin Ailey American Dance Company. They have a huge variety here, dance companies, musical groups, theater and for students they have guest speakers like Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton and Bill Gates. They have different priced seating so you can come here on a budget, students get 1/2 off! The only negative thing, is that if you get stuck sitting behind someone with a huge head, your view is seriously limited. read more

If you ask me, there is not one bad seat at Zellerbach Hall, and the acoustics are fantastic too. I regularly attend the Berkeley Symphony concerts there, and occasionally some Cal Performance events -if money permits. For dance shows, true, you better chose a seat more center than side, but even a side seat in the funny "tiers' rows is great and reasonably priced. Parking- well- is a challenge -hey, it's Berkeley! They hate your car in Berkeley. We come early to circle the block and find parking on the street. But Zellerbach Hall: there is nothing wrong with it, and I even enjoy its dark graphite color scheme inside that does not distract from the show (by opposition to Davies Symphony Hall in SF, which I see as a garish lingerie store by comparison in its peach and brass color scheme- yuck.) read more

My greatest regret while attending UC Berkeley years ago was the fact that I did not see more performances at this jewel on campus. The theater, with its comfortable/ample seating, amazing acoustics, and impressive size, makes for a memorable evening, no matter where you are seated. I was fortunate enough to see the Chinese ballet and a music production of The Little Prince, two performances that I will never forget. I have seen several production in various theaters in Los Angeles, and none of them compare to Zellerbach Auditorium. Students, though spending a night at Bears Lair with your buddies is tempting, save those bills and walk over to Zellerbach to see a performance. You will not regret it. read more

This place teeters beyond 3.5 and 4 stars for me. I'm a Libra, so I like to keep balance most of the time. I'll give you the pros and cons... PROS -Lots of old charm in this venue, it's a beautiful building -It's an auditorium, so don't come expecting the Fillmore (or something like that). It's laid out differently and SMALLER -Parking awesome, use the city lot across the street from the campus -Staff was polite -Have a drink on the balcony CONS -Bars are laid out poorly. -You can't take your drinks in with you to the show (I get it is an auditorium, but I digress) -It is old auditorium seating, so depending on who you see - if you are in the front, people will turn it into GA (which means you are standing next to randoms who didn't get good seats you). I saw Jessie Ware here and it was an amazing show. But depending on who was playing, I'd think twice about going back again. read more

What can I really say? This place was pretty awesome. We sat on Stage left and the seats were still amazing. I don't think there are many crappy seats. My roommate and I saw Kristin Chenoweth and she was amazing. The building was perfect for her voice and the show was great. The audio took a little bit to adjust and I couldn't hear the instrumentalist that well... Otherwise, great venue! read more

This place is the epitome of class and culture. The citizens and students of Berkeley and both lucky to have such a fine establishment in their presence. I've attended shows here for years and my time in the Bay Area is soon coming to an end so i'm posting this. Just last week I saw Bill Clinton speak. I've seen Al Gore, the Russian Ballet, International Bands / Groups / Ensembles / Jason Mraz, Contemporary Dance, Michael Pollan, and countless more. Pro Tip: Students get tickets 50% off and they offer tickets at $5+ a few minutes before the show opens if there are still any tickets left. If you volunteer, then you can see shows for FREE! read more

The acoustics here are awesome!! It's an awesome venue for concerts.The auditorium's small size created an intimate environment which was awesome considering that some of the artists that play here are normally found playing arenas. we'd scored a great row of seats towards the front of the lower gallery which made the experience wonderful. I went here for Zakir Hussain & Masters of Percussion concert and it was just AMAZING!! read more

Great venue! We saw comedian Patton Oswalt, who was hilarious! We were in orchestra row D, the seats were excellent and we had a great view of the stage. read more

Great venue, lots of space, comfortable chairs. Good views all around, and not too pricey. Been here a few times for piano concerts (Lang Lang, Bronfman), and it was good! Good acoustics too. Very clean and organized venue. read more

Absolutely gorgeous venue and they offer student discounts. I saw Swan Lake and it took my breath away, I wasn't sure I was breathing the entire 2+ hours. It sure is worth visiting esp if you are a student there. read more

This is a horrible, horrible concert venue! It's a real shame, with the world-class musicians, dancers, speakers, etc who visit every year, mostly through the excellent Cal Performances. This place is really dark, and consequently might put you to sleep even if the music you're listening to is otherwise tantalizing. There is so much exposed concrete that you think the auditorium is still in construction, which (unfortunately) it isn't. The acoustics aren't particularly good, either, especially going towards the back of the orchestra and the rear balcony. Despite being a relatively small venue, balcony seats feel like they're a million miles removed from the stage. The design is quite dated, but some people really like that late 60's/early 70's industrial look. Can you tell I really don't have anything positive to say about Zellerbach? I'm sorry, it just pains me that there are so many fantastic performers whose performances are somewhat diluted by this inferior venue. Also, if you're ever late, they have screens outside so you can follow the action while you wait for "a suitable break in the performance". Finally, a chance for me to give Zellerbach more than one star...but there's no volume...which, with most performances being musical in nature, makes the whole screen thing not so much useless as plain frustrating for those who are waiting to go in and can see but not hear what they're missing. Sorry, Zellerbach, until you get torn down, you remain in the dark underworld of abominable concert venues without any redeeming qualities, accompanied only by the Flint Center in Cupertino and Avery Fisher Hall in New York. read more

Really what is there to complain about? Do bring binoculars if you are sitting up high, super worth it - not required, but better. read more

Came here to see the Australian Ballet on a Friday night. Employees dealt really well with the long lines on the will call it was fast and effective. The actual hall is well suited for performances, there's ok acoustics and due to the small size good viewing angles from different places. The small bar was also efficient and surprisingly very cheap I got two bottle water, a juice and three cookies for less than I'll get a cookie and water at the bar on the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. All in all its a very good venue that offers a wide variety of different shows and performances. read more

One thing I love about this auditorium that it so flexible and accommodating. I have literally seen so many different types of performances and speeches and graduations that everything always looks different. Everything is always well organized and I have never had problems with ticketing and seating. They are super professional. I'm always really glad when things are held here :) read more

This auditorium is great! The seats are super comfy and the sound system work very well. I don't really know what else to write for auditoriums.. lol I watched my friend perform her VSA culture show. We sat behind extremely RUDE people who actually picked up their phone DURING the show and had a 5 minute conversation. Also, his daughter or whatever was leaning on my seat because she obviously couldn't sit still in her own. Anyway, that's not the auditorium's fault, so they still get 5 stars!. OH.. the only thing is parking is a BITCH. Since the show was on a Sunday we had to park in the street and the spots were SO HARD TO COME BY.. I ended up giving up and paying $10 to park in a lot. read more

Went to the Sotomayor event which was great except when i was outside at the front of the line when I witnessed a Zellerbach staff yelling at another woman and making a big scene that i could hear from outside and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm an alumni and it didn't seem very professional how this woman was behaving. I won't be attending any Zellerbach events any time soon. Get your staff under control! I expected a higher degree of professionalism from this venue read more

I love the relationship they've built with the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. The 45th international taiko festival is so mind-blowingly epic!! I sat in the first row of the top balcony (read cheap seats), I'm 5'7" and I felt like it was just me and the taiko artists! But, for being on a college campus, and especially in Berkeley, I was shocked that there were no bike parking racks. Not one anywhere near by! I locked to a railing, and fortunately didn't get told off. read more

C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER?! Alright, I'm not the only person giving this place three stars, but man... I think the only thing I liked about Zellerbach itself is, it looks nice and they don't require formal wear (that would suck because I was wearing mussed-up white oxfords and faded jeans today...). I saw the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which by the way did not fail to amaze me with its awesomeness. However, the audience was sort of meh. The coughing and sneezing was expected, but at the end of the entire work, there was insane applause of yelling, hollering, whistling, all the works... keep in mind this is an audience who paid at least $65 (okay, $32.50 for students) to watch a WORLD CLASS orchestra perform!! And yeah, that actually is enough to bring five stars to three for me when you account the rude coughing and sneezing. I don't mean to sound like a stuffy grandpa but I sort of felt like I was a track meet. read more