Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2010-2011 – coming in early April!

The second show of our 2009-2010 season, “Rain” opens March 6, and runs for three weekends only. Pay What You Can Thursday is March 18 at 7:30. Singin’ in the Rain is great for all ages. The Playhouse’s new home, the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, is the perfect place to enjoy theatre – rain or shine. Directed by Matthew Graham Smith, with choreography by Chris Black. All tickets are reserved, so get your tickets now to ensure the best seats. Pay What You Can Night just announced! Click here to see show dates & times, or to get tickets.

Run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission

Is Singing in the Rain right for my child?

With its witty script, hilarious high-jinks, acrobatic antics and unforgettable song & dance numbers,  Singin’ in the Rain has  been a family favorite since the early 1950’s.  The Berkeley Playhouse production directed by Matthew Graham Smith, a graduate of Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, aims to enrich the fun, fast-paced experience even further by turning the beautiful Julia Morgan Theatre into a 1920’s Hollywood sound stage.  Smith’s production seduces the imagination with old movie making tricks and illusions. Most suited to ages 4 and up, children will not only enjoy the clowning and dance choreography in numbers like “Make em Laugh” and  “Moses Supposes”,  but will also be mesmerized by the use of old Hollywood devices in creating  effects such as the rain in the title song, “Singin’ in the Rain”!

What is it about:

Silent movie star, Don Lockwood, is paired on screen with the glamorous but narcissistic Lina Lamont, who would like nothing more than to be paired with Don off screen as well. Much to the chagrin of Lina, however, Don has fallen in love with a down-to-earth chorus girl, Kathy Seldon,  a dancer he’d met by chance on set.

When a competing studio comes out with the first talking movie, The Jazz Singer,  Don and Lina are encouraged to capitalize on their Hollywood-faked chemistry and stardom to make a talking movie too, but the results are disastrous.  Obvious to all in the studio, but Lina Lamont herself, Lina’s speaking voice is totally unsuited to talkies!

Don, Kathy and Don’s best friend, Cosmo, brainstorm a way to save the show by turning the production into a musical and dubbing Kathy’s voice over Lina’s.  When the jealous Lina finds out she refuses to share the credit and tricks Kathy into dubbing all her movies, taking all the credit, until she is inadvertently tricked into exposing herself and Kathy in front of an adoring audience.

The run time for Singin’ in the Rain is 2 hours and 20 minutes with intermission.

How to make your child’s experience better:

The stage production of Singin’ in the Rain is based on the MGM musical (in fact it was one of the first musicals to go from movie to stage, as opposed to the other way round) so parents of young children may want to familiarize them with the story by renting the movie. The movie, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’ Connor and Debbie Reynolds is considered the gold standard in movie musicals because it has it all: big stars, hilarious script, romance, hit tunes and big productions numbers.

Upon completion of the registration process, you will receive a receipt and confirmation via email.

CLICK HERE FOR PRE-SCHOOL AGE

CLICK HERE FOR GRADES K-2

CLICK HERE FOR GRADES 3-5

CLICK HERE FOR GRADES 6-12

CLICK HERE FOR ADULT CLASSES

The first Youth Company auditions for Summer 2010 took place on Saturday, January 23. Results of those auditions were communicated with families on January 29. We still have a few spots open in our auditioned programs (Planet Z for Grades 8-12, and Guys & Dolls for Grades 4-7), but you must act fast. Email us at: conservatory@ berkeleyplayhouse.com (see below for details). Just added: Another exciting program for teens and pre-teens for Summer 2010. This a non-auditioned program, although some experience is necessary:

Teen Studio One-Act Musical “Little Luncheonette of Terror”/ Grades 6-10 / Starts July 12
Begins July 12, runs thru July 30, Monday-Friday, 9-4pm, with a final studio showing of the one-act play on the last day of camp. 3-week program is ideal for the intermediate level teen performer. Acting, dance, and singing rehearsal with basic skills development will be woven into this fast paced performance program. Some theatre experience is required.

TUITION: $945.00 (including a $50 materials fee), payable in three installments. $315.00 is due upon registration to hold your space (no later than Feb 15), with two additional payments of $315.00 due on March 15, April 15.

ABOUT THE SHOW: Horror and hilarity abound when Mongo, a rock-chomping beast from the center of the earth, connects with bright-eyed Pete Berserker, proprietor of Pete’s Luncheonette. Hear the upbeat and hip score and you, too, will want to stop by Pete’s Luncheonette! Fun, wild & unconventional!

ENROLLMENT OPEN NOW: Click here to register and pay your deposit online

SUMMER 2010 YOUTH COMPANY PERFORMANCE CAMPS:

GUYS & DOLLS ”Broadway” Cast/Grades 6-7/Starts June 21

Camp: June 21 – July 23/Monday thru Friday, 9-4pm, St John’s Presbyterian
Performances: July 23-25, Ashby Stage
Directed by Marissa Wolf

The Guys and Dolls Summer Youth Company performance camp is an all day camp featuring a healthy combination of rehearsals, skills-building, music training, choreography, social activities, as well as student led and teacher training artist led enrichment. The camp will culminate in four fully produced performances of the hilarious and character rich musical, Guys and Dolls at the Ashby Stage. Directed by Marissa Wolf. Participation in this camp is by audition only, but there are still a few spots left! To inquire about availability, email conservatory@ berkeleyplayhouse.org.

TUITION = $1525 (including a $50 materials fee), payable in four installments of $381.25 on 2/15, 3/15, 4/15 & 5/15/10

GUYS & DOLLS “West End” Cast /grades 4-6/Starts June 28

Camp: June 28 – July 30/Monday thru Friday, 9-4pm, St John’s Presbyterian
Performances: July 30, 31, August 1, Ashby Stage
Directed by Dane Andres

The Guys and Dolls Summer Youth Company performance camp is an all day camp featuring a healthy combination of rehearsals, skills-building, music training, choreography, social activities, as well as student led and teacher training artist led enrichment. The camp will culminate in four fully produced performances of the hilarious and character rich musical, Guys and Dolls at the Ashby Stage. Directed by Dane Andres. Participation in this camp is by audition only, but there are still a few spots left! To inquire about availability, email conservatory@ berkeleyplayhouse.org.

TUITION = $1525 (including a $50 materials fee), payable in four installments of $381.25 on 2/15, 3/15, 4/15 & 5/15/10

PLANET Z (A Jon Tracy Original)

Camp: July 12-August 13/ Monday thru Friday, 9-4pm, St John’s Presbyterian Church
Performances: August 13, 14, 15, Julia Morgan Center for the Arts  

In the mold of Rocky Horror Picture Show and Return to the Forbidden Planet, Planet Z is where pop culture meets classic mysteries and modern pop music to tell a story like no other Berkeley Playhouse has staged! The Planet Z Summer Youth Company performance camp is an all day camp featuring a healthy combination of rehearsals, skills-building, music training, choreography, social activities, as well as student led and teacher training artist led enrichment. The camp will culminate in three performances of  Planet Z at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Directed by Jon Tracy. Participation in this camp is by audition only, but there are still a few spots left! To inquire about availability, email conservatory@ berkeleyplayhouse.org.

TUITION = $1575 (including a $50 materials fee), payable in four installments of $393.75 on 2/15, 3/15, 4/15 & 5/15/10.

THE NEXT YOUTH INTERN AUDITIONS FOR OUR FALL PROFESSIONAL COMPANY MUSICAL (NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2010) WILL TAKE PLACE IN SUMMER. AUDITIONS FOR OUR UPPER ELEMENTARY DECEMBER YOUTH COMPANY SHOW WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY SUMMER.

Upon completion of the registration process, you will receive a receipt and confirmation via email.

CLICK HERE FOR PRE-SCHOOL AGE

CLICK HERE FOR GRADES K-2

CLICK HERE FOR GRADES 3-5 SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS

GRADES 6-10 SUMMER THEATRE CAMP (ONE-ACT STUDIO MUSICAL)

INFO ON YOUTH COMPANY (GRADES 4-12) PEFORMANCE CAMPS, CLICK HERE***

***Youth Company camps are audition/experience only, and culminate in ticketed public performances.

Thank you for your interest in our summer programs.