Dear Friends:

November is almost here and that means it's time for the curtain to rise on our annual Theater Series, when we play host to some of the most acclaimed international theater companies in the world. This season, we'll give you an opportunity to experience three very different productions, written by three playwrights who can truly be said to be giants of their time and place: Samuel Beckett, Ratan Thiyam, and William Shakespeare.

The Gate Theatre of Dublin: Waiting for Godot
(Nov 1-5, Roda Theatre)

In celebration of the centenary of the birth of Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, we've brought back the Gate Theatre of Dublin's definitive version of this classic 20th century drama for an encore performance, this time in conjunction with our friends at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. If you weren't able to get tickets for this critically acclaimed production when it first debuted in 2000 (and you wouldn't have been alone; tickets were very scarce come opening night!) I would highly encourage you not to miss this second opportunity to see what the San Francisco Chronicle named as one of the top theater events of the year that season. To find links to today's (October 26, 2006) rave review of the production in The New York Times as well as to the San Francisco Chronicle's glowing report back in 2000, see our web site:

Chorus Repertory Theatre: Nine Hills One Valley (Nov 10 & 11, Zellerbach Hall)

Coming to Cal Performances following its October run at BAM's prestigious Next Wave Festival in New York, eminent Indian theater maker Ratan Thiyam's landmark new work chronicles the turmoil facing his native Manipur in southeast India. But rather than tell you more about this fascinating production here, I'm pleased to invite you to find out more through a brand new feature accessible on our website: our first ever Cal Performances- produced podcast! In this 10-minute audio feature, UC Berkeley Dance, Theatre and Performance Studies professor Sudipto Chatterjee will tell you all about Chorus Repertory Theatre's new production and the company's visit to Cal Performances on November 10 & 11. Professor Chatterjee will also interview Ratan Thiyam in person on Thursday, November 9 as one of our free Education and Community events being offered in conjunction with the performances. To download our inaugural podcast or see more Education and Community event offerings, see the links below:

Chekhov International Theatre Festival: Twelfth Night
(Dec 7-10, Zellerbach Playhouse)

This extraordinary all-Russian production also comes to us following a run at BAM's Next Wave Festival. I had the privilege of first seeing this critically acclaimed version of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night several years ago in Russia, when it opened the famed Moscow Theater Festival. I was so impressed (even without the benefit of supertitles!) that I knew then that we had to bring it to Cal Performances. Our audiences will have the benefit of being able to follow along in the Bard's original English through supertitles when enjoying this Shakespearean comic gem, directed by British theater wunderkind Declan Donnellan and powerfully performed by an all-male Russian cast in their native language.

With such a variety of different times, places, perspectives, and even languages on display this November as part of our Theater Series, I know you'll be able to find at least one intriguing reason to join us for a stimulating night of international theater! I hope to see you then.

Sincerely,

Robert Cole
Director, Cal Performances