Posted inCity

After years of deferred maintenance, Berkeley asks nonprofits to pay for fixes

The Berkeley Rowing Club.  Photo: BRC The Berkeley Rowing Club.  Photo: BRC After years of neglect, Berkeley has begun requiring nonprofit organizations renting buildings from the city to undertake and pay for long-deferred maintenance and capital improvements. About one dozen nonprofits have entered into lease negotiations with the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront department over the […]

Posted inArts

YMTC’s new original musical ‘Don’t Stop Me’ explores darker side of high school life

Sophia Sinsheimer (left) and Hannah Miller take the lead in YMTC’s first original musical, Don’t Stop Me Photo: Francesca Paris By Francesca Paris “I think my weird might be weirder than yours,” sings Hannah Miller in Don’t Stop Me, Youth Musical Theater Company’s (YMTC) first original musical. The song, like the show itself, explores the high-school experience: the insecurity, powerlessness […]

Posted inArts

YMTC: Some enchanted singing (and dancing and acting)

The YMTC ensemble perform “Thanksgiving Follies” in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” at the El Cerrito Performing Arts Theater. Photo: David Greenberg and Katrinka Reinhart The YMTC ensemble perform “Thanksgiving Follies” in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” at the El Cerrito Performing Arts Theater. Photo: David Greenberg and Katrinka Reinhart By James Corr If you want […]

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Berkeley Oaks Theatre efforts stall in negotiations

A local group spearheaded by Councilman Laurie Capitelli hopes to turn the Oaks Theatre into a community arts space. Photo: Oaks Theatre Consortium [Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. with additional information from Councilman Laurie Capitelli.] A local consortium’s attempts to come to an agreement to use North Berkeley’s Oaks Theatre on Solano […]

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Last chance: Oaks Theatre survey; sketches revealed

Visions of how Solano Avenue’s Oaks Theatre could one day look if Laurie Capitelli’s vision becomes a reality. Illustration: Miguel Lievano Visions of how Solano Avenue’s Oaks Theatre could one day look if Laurie Capitelli’s vision becomes a reality. Illustration: Miguel Lievano The possible transformation into a performance space of the shuttered Oaks Theatre on Solano […]

Posted inArts

Wonderful Town: A high-energy, entertaining romp

George Coker, Greyson Gove, Caitlin Cobb-Vialet, Sam Hopkinson and Lena Mayer singing “Conversation Piece” in YMTC’s production of ‘Wonderful Town’ playing March 8 and 9 in Berkeley. Photo: Dave Weiland George Coker, Greyson Gove, Caitlin Cobb-Vialet, Sam Hopkinson and Lena Mayer singing “Conversation Piece” in YMTC’s production of ‘Wonderful Town’ playing March 8 and 9 […]