Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Established in 1968 as a storefront community theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre produces ambitious new and classic plays. Located in downtown Berkeley, and presenting shows in two theaters to over 110,000 patrons annually, Berkeley Rep is a local arts leader with a growing national reputation. Berkeley Rep had raised $17 million towards a $25 million 40th anniversary campaign to eliminate its debt, build cash reserves, provide increased funding for new play development and purchase a permanent home for its School of Theatre. An anonymous donor has offered the company a match if it can raise $2,000,000 by November 30, 2008 to purchase the school facility which Berkeley Rep currently leases and is adjacent to its theater complex on Addison street. As of October 15,2008 the company had raised $1,200,000 towards this goal. The School of Theatre was established in 1997 as both an on-site venue for theater training for young people and a base for the educational programming that in 2007 included in-school work in 500 Bay Area classrooms. Berkeley Rep’s School of Theatre serves 22,000 annually and the company is a regional leader in making sophisticated, challenging theater accessible to young people. Through its bold, relevant programming, its technologically savvy marketing and its discounted ticket prices it has increased the number of under-30 patrons by 50% in just the last year (from 10,750 to 16,000). Support for Berkeley Rep’s continued investment in theater education and the development of the next generation’s actors, and audiences contributes towards programmatic objectives to advance arts education and increase public support and appreciation of the performing arts.