Dear Friends:
Fortunately, there are wonderful exceptions to every rule, and when we have the opportunity to introduce you to three elite and distinctly different theater companies — all of which have never been seen on the West Coast before — we jump at the chance, even if it means that our entire Theater series takes place in the span of just a few short weeks!
Piccolo Teatro di Milano I'm equally excited however, about the many Education and Community events we've scheduled around this production in order to give both students and the general public an opportunity to further explore and learn more about this timeless and influential art form. Held in association with UC Berkeley's Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies and the Consortium for the Arts, the week-long festivities include an exhibition of costumes at Zellerbach Playhouse during the run of the performances; a presentation on making theater by the great Ferrucio Soleri himself; a conference on taboo humor; and Sightlines talks and Schooltime events. For a complete schedule of these Education and Community events, many of which are free and open to the public, please see our website.
Beijing People's Art Theatre
Propeller
I hope you'll be able to join us for one (or more) of these diverse and exciting theater presentations at Cal Performances. Next up in our From the Director email series, a look at one of my favorite events of the year — Mark Morris' The Hard Nut, when I get a chance to actually be a part of the production rather than a part of the audience!
Sincerely, |
People often ask me why we don't present more theater events at Cal Performances. The answer, in fact, is rather simple: in the world of theater companies, both national and international, very few actually tour (unlike dance companies which always seem to be on the move!) and so we literally have less to choose from in this area in our zeal to bring the world's most unique and acclaimed artists to our stages.
This week, there will be lots of laughter heard on the UC Berkeley campus as we host the world's foremost commedia dell'arte company, Piccolo Teatro di Milano. We'll enjoy their signature production of Goldoni's centuries-old classic of the genre, Arlecchino, Servant of Two Masters, and marvel at the comic mastery of revered Italian actor Ferrucio Soleri in the title role — a part this definitive commedia dell'arte actor has called his own for over 45 years.
Next weekend, we'll travel figuratively from Italy to China as West Coast audiences get their first opportunity to view yet another masterpiece of world theater — Lao She's The Teahouse, a fascinating look at the turbulent Chinese history of the first half of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of a traditional teahouse owner and his customers. More than half a million people around the world have seen this signature production of the Beijing People's Art Theatre and we're pleased to be hosting this distinguished Chinese company on their very first tour of the United States.
Last, but not least, on our whirlwind theater tour, you'll have a chance to experience a new take on a classic work as the extraordinary all-male British theater group Propeller brings its production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale to Zellerbach Playhouse. The troupe made its American debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music back in 2004 with a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and garnered rave reviews for its fresh, yet serious, approach to Shakespeare. Director Edward Hall and the company are determined to break down the notion that Shakespeare is something of a necessary evil of theatergoing—good for you, but somehow an experience to be endured rather than enjoyed. (Hard to imagine for you serious theater lovers, I know!) Thus, carrying on a historic tradition (stretching back to the earliest days of Greek theater and through Shakespeare's time) of all-male theater troupes, the company mixes a rigorous approach to the texts with a modern physical aesthetic and populist appeal, and the resulting critical acclaim and box office successes suggest that they are making great progress in their quest! Their latest production, The Winter's Tale, has also been greeted with almost universal acclaim, receiving five stars in London's The Independent and four stars in The Times and The Guardian. And as usual, Cal Performances is in great company in our presentation of this event: The Winter's Tale comes to our stage immediately following a run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival and will travel to the Kennedy Center immediately following its run here in Berkeley!
