Berkeley Community Theater
The "Bird Cage" | |
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  Berkeley Community Theater Location within California | |
| Location | Berkeley, California |
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| Coordinates | 37°52′06″N 122°16′17″W / 37.86845°N 122.27147°WCoordinates: 37°52′06″N 122°16′17″W / 37.86845°N 122.27147°W |
| Type | Theater |
| Capacity | 3491 |
| Opened | 5 June 1950 |
Berkeley Community Theater is a theater located in Berkeley, California, on the campus of Berkeley High School. The theater is administered by the Berkeley Unified School District.
Description[]
The theater building, a City of Berkeley Landmark since 1992, also holds the Florence Schwimley Little Theater, a smaller venue often used for Berkeley High School music and theater performances. The Art Deco-style theater has 3,491 seats, including a balcony section. A large stage is extended by an orchestra pit that can be raised or lowered.<refname=BAHA>Thompson, Daniella; Susan Cerny (2003–2008). "Berkeley High School". Berkeley Landmarks. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref>
History[]
The theater was designed in 1938 and construction began in 1941, but was not completed until 1950, due to delays caused by World War II. Students attending Berkeley High during the war years often called it the "Bird Cage" since the exposed metal framework was a roost for many seagulls waiting for students to finish their lunches.[1]
The theater was designed to house a Theater organ, but one was not installed at the time of construction. In the 1980s, an organ was moved from the Paramount Theater in Toledo, Ohio and installed in the Berkeley Community Theater by the Nor-Cal Theater Organ Society. Now with 41 ranks (sets of pipes) and two fully functional 4-manual (four keyboards plus pedals) consoles, this Wurlitzer is one of the largest and finest in existence. The organ is maintained solely by the volunteer work of the Society.[2]
Dido (singer), Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Paul Robeson, Dream Theater, Bob Dylan, Tangerine Dream, Stan Getz, The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Robin Trower, Frank Zappa, James Taylor, Richie Havens, Alice Cooper, Lenny Bruce, Harry Chapin, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Band are among other performers who have played shows at the theater. Numerous albums have been recorded in the theater, including one of Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony.[3]
Famous speakers have included the Dalai Lama, Lenny Bruce, Bernie Sanders, Maya Angelou, Timothy Leary, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Al Franken, and Amy Goodman.[4]
In the Spring semester 1970, the Community High School (an alternative school within Berkeley High) commenced, using the foyers of the Community Theater as classrooms before moving in the Fall of 1970 to the upper level of the old administration building. In 2004, the Berkeley Unified School District began to use the theater foyers, green rooms, stage shop, and dressing rooms as classrooms. The stage shop was in the process of being made a computer lab, although that was moved to the green room due to security. The facility is now difficult to use due to the presence of classrooms; before every show, the classroom desks, chairs, and bookshelves must be moved out.
The theater is currently maintained by Fernando Robles (General Services Theater Manager) and his student Tech Crew.
Funding and Renovations[]
The citizens of Berkeley have directed funds towards the theater on numerous occasions. Berkeley voters passed measure AA in 2000, allocating around $15 million to the theater for renovation. These funds were later taken to build the new administration building at Berkeley High School. A few of the funds came back into the building in renovating the fire alarm system. Yet during this process the grand curtain was damaged. It was finally replaced as well as all other soft goods in July 2009.
In Spring 2010, a new sound system was installed in the theater.
Major renovations began in July 2020 with funding from a 2010 school facilities bond measure.[5]
External Links[]
References[]
- ^ Smith, Harvey L. (2014). Berkeley and the New Deal. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9781467132398.
- ^ "About Our Organ". NorCal Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Berkeley Community Theater". Discogs. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ The Berkeley Community Theater & The Florence Schwimley Little Theater https://theaters.berkeleyschools.net/. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Renovations underway at historic Berkeley Community Theatre". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
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- Art Deco architecture in California
- Buildings and structures in Berkeley, California
- Theatres in California
- Culture of Berkeley, California
- Tourist attractions in Berkeley, California
- Theatres completed in 1950
- Music venues in the San Francisco Bay Area
- 1950 establishments in California