Take yourself back to school, by way of the stage

It takes much more than booking available performers to put together a season. If done well, events can be cohesive and tell a larger story, and individual performances can add up to much more than one night out. Cal Performances is a prime example of this community-focused, interconnected programming. With ties to UC Berkeley, a world-renowned educational institution, Cal Performances is steeped in a history of active learning that translates directly to the stage.

Each season, Cal Performances plans performances around a theme. In addition to what audiences see on stage, Cal Performances offers lectures and conversations that drive interaction and provoke deeper consideration of performance art. This year their series Innocence & Experience begins with The Australian Ballet’s performance of Christopher Wheeldon’s Oscar later this month.

With select performances that explore the concepts of “innocence” and “experience” through panels and Q&As, the season can be an illuminating experience in an entirely new way. — Ciara

On the Stage

The Cook

Theatre | Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Now – October 11 | Tickets
Closed Captioned: September 11, 13, 15, and 16

An aristocratic Cuban family flees from Havana to Miami on the eve of Castro’s revolution, entrusting their mansion to their devoted cook Gladys who vows to protect it until their return. 

View Program

More Events

• Beauty and the Beast | Broadway San Jose | Now – September 13
• Fallen Angels | Altarena Playhouse | Now – September 20
• Simon Boccanegra | San Francisco Opera | September 12–27
• Gregory Alan Isakov | San Francisco Symphony | September 15 | View Program

Next Line

• Bring out the welcoming committee. Berkeley Rep has added six new members to its board of trustees, each bringing their own unique experience and background to the organization.
• Even more Broadway magic is coming to the city. ATG San Francisco has announced two new shows to their 2026/27 season: SIX and The Bodyguard.