Three actors raise their right hands to the ceiling as they perform on a colorfully illuminated stage in costume.
Accessible Theater Options for Students
I have loved musical theater for as long as I can remember. Since joining a student theater club in my freshman year, I’ve learned that Berkeley has many hidden gems in clubs and companies. Here I dive into my favorite on- and off-campus associations for music, theater, and performances, and what I love about being involved in the student org BareStage Productions.
On-Campus Performances
Music Classes: Consisting of an entire major, the Music program offers music theory classes, private piano and voice lessons, along with multiple student choruses. The student choruses — University, Chamber, Gospel, and Golden Bear Voices — perform multiple times each semester at Hertz Hall and perform off campus as well.
Chamber chorus members performing in all black.
A Cappella Groups: Under the UC Choral ensemble, student a cappella groups cater to different styles of music and performance. You’ve probably seen at least one of them performing at Sather Gate, which most do, and some of these groups also compete internationally. All groups hold auditions at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Notable groups include:
- Noteworthy: A co-ed, lower voices group. They’re the only ones on campus that perform original music, which has gone viral on YouTube multiple times.
- Men’s Octet: Two-time international collegiate a cappella winners, Octet’s male voices repertoire ranges from pop to barbershop arrangements. Founded in 1948, they’re one of the oldest a cappella groups on campus. Lots of their covers from the 2000s have gotten hundreds of thousands of YouTube views.
- California Golden Overtones: Founded in the 70’s, the female vocal group has placed as high as second internationally. Instantly recognizable for their identical attire of black pants and dress shirts, the group has performed many times at football games.
BareStage Productions Theatre Company: Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, BareStage is the premier student-run theatre company on campus. I found this club on CalLink at the beginning of freshman year when I was looking for performing arts clubs.
No prior experience is needed to participate in the club, and there are members from virtually every major that the University offers. BareStage’s performance opportunities include:
- Auditions at the start of the semester:
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- A full-scale play and musical each semester
- Two ensemble groups that perform at the end of each semester: a playwriting/acting troupe (BarePage) and the only vocal ensemble that specializes in musical theater repertoire (BareTroupe)
- A brand new Shakespeare Society that will become official this spring
- Auditions near the end of the semester:
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- A play and musical at the end of each semester put on in just 24 hours
The general meetings at the start of each semester are a great way to learn about performance opportunities, as well as meet production team members and board members.
Cal Performances: At home in Zellerbach Hall on campus, Cal Performances is a presenter of arts at UC Berkeley. Each season, Cal Performances brings about 75 of the best dance, music, and theater performances to campus, with discounted tickets for students. They also have job openings for student workers.
TDPS: The Theater Dance Performance Studies department (TDPS) is UC Berkeley’s official and most established organization for student theater. Produced and directed by Faculty, TDPS puts on multiple productions a year in the Durham Studio Theater. While auditions are for TDPS majors only, tickets are cheaper for current students.
Off-Campus Performances
While it is a blessing to be just a BART or bus ride away from San Francisco, and thus close to amazingly high-quality shows in venues like the Orpheum Theater, there are various professional theater organizations closer to campus. While tickets in the city can cost an arm and a leg, these places have very affordable options for students. These venues include:
Berkeley Playhouse: A unique place that produces both professional and youth theater, the Playhouse holds pay-what-you-can performances, making high-quality performances very affordable.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Probably the most prestigious theater company in the city of Berkeley itself, Berkeley Rep housed the premiers of successful Broadway productions such as the musicals Amelie, Ain’t Too Proud, and most notably, the hit Green Day musical American Idiot. Rush tickets get you amazing front-row seats for cheap, and shows with low attendance will sometimes offer free “filler” tickets so students will take up the seats.
Shotgun Players: Very close to the Ashby BART station stop, Shotgun Players also has pay-what-you-can-night, offering affordable tickets friendly towards a student budget at a small venue where every seat is a good one.
Performers of Prom dance in glittering costumes under purple stage lights.
Go Support Local Theater!
One of my favorite things about Berkeley is that there are so many sights to see and so many things to do. Even if you’re not a die=hard arts enthusiast or theater kid, the affordability of these on- and off-campus options presents a unique opportunity to be an active part of the community. Putting yourself in a seat is one of the best ways to support local theater, and the proximity and low prices for tickets at these venues makes it an enticing option for students.
Nolan Zils, Class of 2027, is majoring in media studies and minoring in journalism and creative writing.
Want More?
- Get a student’s take on Cal Performances.
- Dive into over 1,500 Clubs at Cal.
- Explore tips for joining clubs as a transfer student.