The Pirates of Penzance is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic finds out, however, that he was born on 29 February, and so, technically, he only has a birthday each leap year. His apprenticeship indentures state that he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, and so he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic’s only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully. Pirates was the fifth Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration and introduced the much-parodied major-General’s Song.

I am the very model of a modern Major-General,
I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical,
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;
I’m very well acquainted too with matters mathematical,
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,
About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news—
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

ETC. with the hilarity.

Here is what you should know about the Berkeley Playhouse production of The Pirates of Penzance:

1. Since this is an “operetta,” most of the story is told through lyrics and song. There is very little dialogue. Children should be encouraged to listen to the lyrics of the song to understand the action in the story. Very young children might find the story hard to follow or understand.
2. Music Director, Jonathan Fadner has added punk, ska and rock to the original music. The music and choreography will be fun (a cross between “American Idiot” and “Glee”), but there may be times when sensitive children find the songs loud.
3. Fight Choreographer, Dave Maier, has choreographed exciting stage combat scenes with authentic looking weaponry (which both young and old brandish).  Sensitive children may find these scenes loud and intense. There are a lot of  “groin shots” which most children find funny.
4. Director, Jon Tracy (well-known in the area for adapting or re-vamping classic works such as Animal Farm or The Tempest) has a unique vision for the show.  The scenery and costumes in this production of  Pirates of Penzance  are unexpected and different from other productions. This might bother POP purists.

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A WARM WELCOME TO 42ND STREET MOON FANS!

Experience the Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera in a way you’ve never seen before  – as a rock opera with a touch of post-atomic punk! Director Jon Tracy casts the Victorian elements askew to give us a Pirate King who is female, a Major General who is the poster child for the 1%, and willful punk-strong women who woo duck-tailed teddy-boy pirates. It’s a post atomic world that is bolder, fiercer, and dare we  say, more funny. “American Idiot” meets “Glee” as rock riffs punctuate the famous lyrics and melodies. Parkour and pole acrobatics punch up the fight scenes. Gilbert and Sullivan were famous for lampooning Victorian society’s norms and values and director, Jon Tracy, continues the tradition with fresh and inventive focus – tossing many a scabbard and dagger (actually, chainsaw and wrench) at the scoundrels, we mean leaders, in politics today!

Berkeley Playhouse is thrilled to offer  Moon fans 20% off tickets for any Friday or Saturday night with the code MOON. Offer ends midnight February 24. Simply go Purchase Tickets under the box-office on the menu, select your preferred Friday or Saturday 7pm performance for Pirates, purchase your seats, and enter the code MOON on the final purchase page. Or CLICK HERE.

February 25- April 1/JULIA MORGAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS / 2640 College Ave. Show-times:  Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 12pm and 5pm. Tix: Adult $35/ Senior $33/ Youth $25/ Tot $17

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Welcome Parents and Students of Return to Planet Z!

Here you will find important information from your teacher and Berkeley Playhouse such as the latest schedule, parent volunteer opportunities and publicity tools. For now, we have very preliminary information, so please check back as we continue to work on this show together.

If you have been offered a spot in Planet Z and need to enroll or make a tuition payment, click here.

Schedule:

Rehearsals: February 29 – April 29
Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:30-7:00pm, Some Weekend days
Tech: April 23-26 and April 30 – May 2, 4-9pm
Shows: Friday, May 4 at 4pm & 7pm
Saturday, May 5 at 2pm
Sunday, May 6 at 4pm and 7pm

Download the Full Calendar Here

Welcome Parents and Students of Honk Jr!

Here you will find important information from your teacher and Berkeley Playhouse such as the latest schedule, parent volunteer opportunities and publicity tools. For now, we have very preliminary information, so please check back as we continue to work on this wonderful show together.

If you have been offered a spot in Honk Jr and need to enroll or make a tuition payment, click here.

Schedule:

Rehearsals: February 13 – May 27, Mondays and Thursdays, 4:00-6:00pm
Some Saturdays/Sundays
Tech Week: May 29-June 1, 4-9pm
Shows: June 2-3, Times TBD

Download the Full Calendar Here

Dear Friends of Berkeley Playhouse,

As the new Managing Director of Berkeley Playhouse, I must tell you I’m so happy to be here!  Before I took this position,  I had been concerned, along with many other theatre managers, about the ‘graying’ of our audiences.  How do we get young audiences into our institutions, and how do we educate young theatre goers to become life-long patrons? This question was answered the moment I saw a Berkeley Playhouse production and was introduced to its blossoming Conservatory!

Right here at Berkeley Playhouse is where tomorrow’s audiences are being introduced to musical theatre! 

Berkeley Playhouse’s mission is to enrich the lives of Bay Area families through live musical theatre and theatre education. Children and adults in the Conservatory receive training from the best Bay Area teaching artists – many of them directors or performers in our unique professional season. This season is like no other I’ve seen where audiences regularly enjoy non-traditional, multicultural and multi-generational casting, fresh interpretations of familiar classics, as well insightful, exciting new works.  All of this in the 102 year old, 328-seat Julia Morgan designed theatre  – a beautiful, contemplative space where patrons can feel relaxed and at home.

I couldn’t be happier to serve such a fantastic, fun, and important non-profit theatre company.

Last year Berkeley Playhouse booked over 32,000 tickets to youth and professional shows, served over 450 kids and adults in educational programs, developed and produced an important new musical, and made countless improvements to the cosmetic appearance of the beautiful Julia Morgan Theatre.

While public education in the arts is floundering, here at Berkeley Playhouse it’s flourishing! Yet, despite all this terrific news, did you know that only 30% of what the Playhouse needs to survive comes from ticket sales and fees?

As a public charity Berkeley Playhouse relies heavily on donations from friends like you who understand that that the future of theatre and the performing arts lies in the potential of entertaining and educating younger generations, and that professional programming and trademark education programs can only survive with public support.

Please, won’t you consider a donation to this worthwhile organization at this time?  Every size gift counts. For example:

• A donation of $25.00 will fund one free ticket for a child to see a school matinee.
• A donation of $100.00 will fund a five-pack of booster seats.
• A donation of $500.00 will provide two scholarships for music theatre classes or one scholarship for summer music theatre camp.
• A donation of $1,000 will help fund our drives for lighting and sound improvements, wheelchair seating and access, assisted hearing devices, and lobby and outdoor patron improvements.

I  hope you will join me in supporting Berkeley Playhouse this year. I wish you and yours a magical and loving holiday season and a fabulous, festive New Year.

Lauren Hewitt,

MANAGING DIRECTOR

CLICK THIS LINK TO GO TO OUR CONTRIBUTION PAGE

Annie is a spunky depression-era orphan living in miserable times when a wealthy industrialist borrows her for a PR stunt. The fiery Annie quickly warms his cold heart, and leapin’ lizards – both their lives are forever changed! Set in hard-knock times reflective of our own, Annie’s inspirational journey reminds us that “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” and there’s always room for hope and optimism!

GET 20% OFF ADULT TICKETS THIS FRIDAY 11/11 7PM SHOW WITH CODE: GOOGLEFRI  – OR -  SATURDAY 11/12 7PM SHOW WITH CODE: GOOGLESAT. Reserve your seats and enter code for Friday or Saturday show on final purchase page.

CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS NOW

SHOW TIMES: October 29- December 4, 2011. Weekends: Thurs, Fri and Sat at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 12pm and 5pm. “Meet and Greets” with cast members after Saturday and Sunday matinee shows! Read more about the show, browse our parental advisory by scrolling down below.

TICKETS: $35 Adults / $33 Senior / $25 Youth / $17 Tot (5 and under)

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Directed by MINA MORITA. Music Direction by JONATHAN FADNER. Choreography DANE PAUL ANDRES.  Annie features an exciting cast of professional actors and artists, as well as two alternating casts of youth actors who play Annie and the orphans.  Click here to view cast list.

CLICK HERE TO GO ON FACEBOOK -  see photos, share our Annie Event, and go behind the scenes . Or click here to see a slide show!

THE STORY IN A NUTSHELL:

ANNIE is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

PARENTAL ADVISORY: Is Annie right for my child?

Parents often ask us if our plays are suitable for this or that specific age, and of course, since we don’t know your child, it’s hard for us to say. What might be scary for one child might be titillating for another, so what we like to do is tell you more about the show, and let you make the decision yourself.  You know your child best. While Annie has been a perennial favorite with families since the 70′s here is an overview of some the material that might need pre-show warning or discussion with your child.

Poverty/Desperation
We’re in the midst of a great recession in this country and some children might be hearing about people on the brink of losing their jobs, homes and belongings.  Annie is set in the 1930′s during The Great Depression and she observes some of the desperation firsthand when she comes across a “Hooverville” shanty-town.  In one scene, the homeless residents express their anger and frustration at Herbert Hoover, the political establishment, and the society that has failed them.

Drinking
Miss Hannigan drinks to excess, as do some of the denizens of Hooverville. In this production, Hannigan is a real person in a desperate situation, not just a caricature or purely a villain.

Warbucks also alludes to drinking, and suggests getting Annie a brandy. (This is played as an endearing joke – he doesn’t know what to do with a kid.) All the servants drink a champagne toast to celebrate Annie’s adoption.

Violence
Miss Hannigan is brutal and bullying with the orphans.  The orphans, under Miss Hannigan’s “care,” have learned to be aggressive with one other.  They threaten each other and get into a few physical fights.

In Rooster and Lily’s plot to pose as Annie’s parents to obtain reward money, he suggests making her “disappear,” alluding that Annie will be murdered.  The show does not contain the kidnapping scene from the movie (viewers might remember a scene where Annie is hanging off a bridge.) Annie never leaves the Warbucks mansion and is never in physical danger with regard to Rooster.

The Dogcatcher threatens that Sandy will be “put to sleep” if he catches the dog out without a leash again.

Orphans/Orphanage/Adoption
A large part of the play takes place in an orphanage. Ms. Hannigan, the evil overseer makes many disparaging comments about the orphans such as, “Who would want to be an orphan?”  She also suggests that their parents would never come back for them.

Scary moments for the extra-tiny kids.
There will be a loud siren during  the scene with a police raid on Hooverville.
There is a scary moment when Hannigan catches Annie by surprise when she is trying to escape.

Helpful Discussion Points for Parents with Older Children:

1. What does it mean to be a good parent? (Warbucks tries to win Annie’s affections with a shiny new locket, but ultimately has to prove his love to her not through material means, but by going to the effort of trying to find her new parents, and protecting her from Hannigan/Rooster.)
2. Annie’s hope and optimism make the world around her a better place. In the face of a desperate situation is it possible to stay positive and try to change the world instead of giving up?
3. Cycle of violence: the orphans are violent and aggressive because their background is violent. How can violence/bad behavior lead to more bad behavior? How can it be stopped?
4. One thing that we are going for with this Annie is that Hannigan is a real person in a desperate situation, not just a caricature or purely a villain. What might have happened with Hannigan to make her so angry and depressed? Can she change?

Things to think about with children under five:

The musical is two hours long.  If your child is able to watch a movie or enjoys being read to or told stories, they will be ready for an afternoon of musical theatre.  Live theatre is mesmerizing and many young children enjoy the spectacle and excitement of seeing live actors singing and dancing on stage, no matter what their understanding of the story.

There will be moments when the theatre fades to darkness before the lights fade up again. This can be disconcerting to some young children.

Please feel free to email the box-office with any other questions or concerns about the show. boxoffice@berkeleyplayhouse.org

Rehearsal and Performance Schedule:

Unless otherwise indicated, all rehearsals and performances take place at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts.

Rehearsals: Start Oct 12, Wednesdays and Fridays, 6-8:30pm (No reh Dec
19-31)
Saturday rehearsals 2-5pm: Nov. 5, Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 17, Jan. 7,
Jan. 14,
Sunday rehearsals 10am-3pm: Jan. 8, Jan. 15
Extended rehearsals: Jan. 21-22, 10am-5pm
Tech week: Mon-Fri, Jan. 23-27
Performances: Jan. 28: 2pm and 7pm, Jan. 29: 12pm and 5pm

WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE 

Wed Jan 11
Studio D
6-7:20pm, Staging Act 2 Scene 5 with “All Choked Up”
Called: ALL

Studio One
7:30-8:30pm, “All Choked Up” Continued
Called: ALL

Fri Jan 13
Studio D
6-7:20pm, Review Act 2
Called: ALL

Studio One
7:30-8:30pm, Review Act 2, Con’t
Called: ALL

SATURDAY JAN 14^th is OFF (Instead, we’ve added Thurs Jan 19^th)

Sun Jan 15
Studio One
10-11:30pm, Work Notes
11:30-12pm, Dance & Fight Call
Break for lunch 12-12:30pm
12:30-2:30pm, Run Through
2:30-3pm, Notes
Called: ALL 

Wed Jan 18
JMCA Stage
6-9pm, Work through/Spacing Act 1 on stage
Called: ALL

Thurs Jan 19
JMCA Stage
6-9pm, Work through/Spacing Act 2 on stage
Called: ALL

Fri Jan 20
JMCA Stage
6-9pm, Run Through on Stage
Called: ALL

Sat Jan 21
JMCA Stage
11-1:30pm, Tech Act 1
2-6pm, Tech Act 1 Con’t
Called: ALL

Sun Jan 22
JMCA Stage
10-12:30pm, Tech Act 2
1-5pm, Tech Act 2 Con’t
Called: ALL

Tues Jan 24
JMCA Stage
4-9pm, Music/Sound Rehearsal & with Full Band
Called: ALL

Wed Jan 25
JMCA Stage
4-7, Dress Rehearsal #2
7-9pm, Dress Rehearsal #2 Con’t
Called: ALL

Thurs Jan 26
JMCA Stage
4-7, Dress Rehearsal #3
7-9pm, Dress Rehearsal #3 Con’t
Called: ALL

Performances

Fri Jan 28
Call time: 4pm
Show #1: 7pm

Sat Jan 29
Call time: 12:30pm
Show #2: 2pm

Call time: 5:30pm
Show #3: 7pm

Sun Jan 30
Call time: 12:30pm
Show #4: 2pm

The jungle is jumpin’ with jazz in this exciting Disney classic also including exciting “Just So Stories” by Rudyard Kipling. Find out how the camel got its hump or the leopard got its spots, then join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and the gang as they swing their way through madcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan! With specially adapted-for-stage Just So stories in Act One and a musical adapted from the beloved film, in Act Two, The Jungle Book  includes all your favorite Disney tunes, like “The Bare Necessities,” and “I Wan’na Be Like You.” With colorful characters and that toe-tapping jungle rhythm, The Jungle Book KIDS is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for audiences of all ages.

The Jungle Book is one of four shows in the Berkeley Playhouse Summer Conservatory Festival.

JULIA MORGAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2640 College Avenue, Berkeley. SHOW TIMES: Friday, Aug 19 @ 7pm;  Saturday, Aug 20 at 1pm and 6pm; Sunday August 21 at 1pm.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW

SWEENEY TODD

Book by Hugh Wheeler / Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Directed by JON TRACY. Music Direction by ANGELA ZULLINGER

A chilling, macabre, yet funny musical thriller that tells the tale of an exiled barber who returns to 19th century London to seek revenge against the judge who framed him. The Barber’s thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate barber-shop customers, while the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs suddenly has a new meat pie recipe that has all of London clamoring!

Sweeney Todd……………………….Sydney Jacobs-Allen
Mrs. Lovett……………………………Sachi Granich
Anthony……………………………….Arianna Cuevas
Johanna………………………………..Aubri  Kahalekulu
Judge Turpin………………………….Kyle Choate
Beadle…………………………………..Emily Abel
Beggar Woman……………………….Emma Choate
Tobias…………………………………..Maddie Pomaro
Pirelli…………………………………….Kenya Granich
Fogg……………………………………..Michelle Huebel
Birdseller……………………………….Amanda Drexler

ENSEMBLE
Nicole Ackerman-Greenberg
Veronica Fletcher
Jeremy Friedman,
Kristin Lew
Anna Polumbo-Levy
Hannah Tobin-Bloch

Production Photos of Seussical the Musical (Summer 2011)
(Photos by Larry Abel)

For more information, contact:  jerry@berkeleyplayhouse.org
For Advance Photos, Click Here

Rebecca Pingree is Gertrude McFuzz

William Hodgson is The Cat in the Hat

Chloe Hillebrand as Jojo (double-cast with Nandi Drayton)

Mr. & Mrs. Mayor Float into the Julia Morgan Center on a Speck of Dust

Horton Hears A Who