BERKELEY REP ANNOUNCES FOUR DYNAMIC SHOWS FOR 2016–17
SUBSCRIPTION SEASON
Season features a U.S. premiere and the West Coast premiere of an acclaimed Broadway hit – plus three more shows to be announced!
Renewals begin March 4, 2016
March 3, 2016 – Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced today a dynamic collection of shows for its 49th season. Berkeley Rep’s Michael Leibert Artistic Director, Tony Taccone, revealed four of the seven shows selected for the 2016-17 subscription programming.
Selections include The Last Tiger in Haiti, a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse and directed by Joshua Kahan Brody; and the return of Kneehigh with the U.S. premiere of 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, in association with Kneehigh and Birmingham and Repertory Theatre and helmed by Emma Rice. After a successful Broadway run, the irreverent comedy Hand to God, directed by David Ivers, will have its West Coast premiere; and Roe, a new play by Lisa Loomer and a co-production with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arena Stage, complete the four-show announcement.
“Each season, we offer a range of stories that we hope unlock new ideas, new ways of connecting with our community, and even new ways of thinking about theatre itself,” says Taccone. “This year we offer our audiences vibrant new works that range from Kneehigh’s latest music-infused creation to the fallout of high-stakes politics and an irreverent religious satire. There is definitely something for everyone.”
Kneehigh returns with 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips. The theatrical alchemists who brought us Tristan & Yseult and The Wild Bride return with a tender new coming-of-age tale that uncovers the secrets behind World War II’s D-Day landings. In the idyllic seaside village of Slapton, the lives of Lily, her family, and her fiercely independent cat, Adolphus Tips, are barely touched by war…until American soldiers occupy their house and land. With swingin’ live music, enchanting puppetry, and signature stage sorcery, Kneehigh conjures a story of love, war, and prejudice that crosses borders both geographical and generational.
The Last Tiger in Haiti is the story of five kids in modern-day Haiti, all entangled in a dark history of servitude. Huddled in a tent, they’d spin spellbinding folktales, vying for the title of best storyteller — and dreaming of freedom. When two of them reunite 15 years later, the boundary between reality and fiction vanishes, revealing secrets of their past more haunting than any of the tales they told. In The Last Tiger in Haiti, Jeff Augustin weaves a remarkable and gripping narrative of survival, betrayal, and the power of a story. Developed at The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.
The Tony Award-nominated smash Broadway hit, Hand to God, will have its West Coast premiere in the Peet’s Theatre. Be not deceived: The devil is lurking at the Christian Puppet Ministry in Cypress, Texas. And his name is…Tyrone. He may look like an innocent sock puppet, but when he infiltrates the angst-ridden church youth group and takes possession of Jason’s arm, well, all hell breaks loose. Spectacularly foul-mouthed and wickedly scandalous, Tyrone shocks the congregation with his outrageous insinuations, exposing their deepest secrets — and teaching us all about love, grief, and what it means to be human. This fast-paced irreverent comedy is “darkly delightful,” declares the New York Times.
Roe v. Wade – the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion is still fiercely debated, over 40 years later. In her newest play, Roe, acclaimed writer Lisa Loomer cuts through the headlines and rhetoric to reveal the divergent personal journeys of lawyer Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”) in the years following the fateful decision. In turns shocking, humorous, and poignant, Roe reflects the polarization in America today while illuminating the heart and passion each person has for their cause.
For the 2016-17 season, Berkeley Rep recognizes the generosity of BART and Wells Fargo who have generously renewed their commitment as Berkeley Rep’s official season sponsors. Berkeley Rep is proud to have Peet’s Coffee as a second-year season sponsor. Berkeley Rep is also delighted to have the Strauch Kulhanjian Family, Jack and Betty Schafer, and Michael and Sue Steinberg on board as a season sponsors.
Subscribers to Berkeley Rep get the best seats for these shows at the consistently lowest prices. The 7-play Full Season package guarantees tickets for Last Tiger in Haiti, 946, Hand to God, Roe, as well as two additional shows to be announced. Best of all, subscribers have guaranteed seats to sold-out plays and can renew their packages now; 7-play Full Season packages are available from $175 to $602, while 5-play Main Season packages range from $125 to $430. In addition to significant savings, subscribers receive valuable advantages such as the ability to reschedule performances for free, discounts when purchasing tickets for friends, and the opportunity to secure seats before the general public for special events. Additional discounts are available for senior citizens and pre-K–12 educators. Students and patrons under 30 receive 50 percent off most subscription packages.
ABOUT BERKELEY REP
Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities – which include the 400-seat Peet’s Theatre, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the Osher Studio, and a spacious campus in West Berkeley – are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org
ABOUT THE GROUND FLOOR: BERKELEY REP’S CENTER FOR THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK
As the umbrella for all new play activity at Berkeley Rep, The Ground Floor is a bold initiative designed to raise the bar on the Tony Award–winning nonprofit’s already successful record of artistic innovation. Think of it as an incubator for theatrical start-ups or a top-notch R&D facility for artists. The Ground Floor is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America; the Kenneth Rainin Foundation; supporters of Berkeley Rep’s Create Campaign; and ArtPlace (artplaceamerica.org), a collaboration of top national foundations; the National Endowment for the Arts; and various federal agencies to accelerate creative place making across the U.S. For more information on each project, and for future announcements or opportunities to interact, visit berkeleyrep.org/groundfloor.
###
2016-17 SEASON
Season features a U.S. premiere and the West Coast premiere of an acclaimed Broadway hit – plus three more shows to be announced!
THE LAST TIGER IN HAITI
By Jeff Augustin
Directed by Joshua Kahan Brody
Main Season — Peet’s Theatre
A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse
946: THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS
Adapted by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Rice
Directed by Emma Rice
Main Season — Roda Theatre
In association with Kneehigh and Birmingham Repertory Theatre
U.S. premiere
HAND TO GOD
By Robert Askins
Directed by David Ivers
Main Season — Peet’s Theatre
West Coast premiere
ROE
By Lisa Loomer
Directed by Bill Rauch
Limited Season — Roda Theatre
A co-production with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arena Stage
