Cal Performances
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Cal Performances brings the world’s most exciting artists to the Bay Area. We share live art at its most powerful, visionary, and entertaining—set in a culture of fearless thinking.
Our stages welcome a rich variety of music, dance, theater, interdisciplinary arts, and speakers across approximately 80 performances each season. You’ll be transported by must-see renowned performers and emerging talent. In both grand and intimate venues, you’ll enjoy classics and world premieres—and explore both timeless themes and the pressing questions of today. Our productions reflect the full spectrum of human experiences, igniting joy and awe and opening up new ways of seeing the world. Source
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| Scope | National |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesBeyond the Harmonies: Ten Pianists on Philip Glass’s Etudes
October 28, 2026 Artists Aaron Diehl, Jason Moran, and more explore Glass' impact ahead of his 90th birthday. By Weslan Hansen, Cal Performances Engagement Writer From New York City, to London, to Moscow, renowned composer and pianist Philip Glass’ Etudes have carried innovative harmonies to concert halls around the world. And on November 20, they will make their way to Berkeley ahead of his 90th birthday.
A Vast Theatrical Reckoning: William Kentridge’s The Head & the Load
September 28, 2026 William Kentridge returns to Cal Performances—and kicks off a five-year initiative devoted to his interdisciplinary performance works. By Thomas May, Cal Performances-commissioned writer, critic, educator, and translator Before The Head & the Load filled a stage too wide to take in from a single seat, it began with a sentence in a letter.
Think Deeply, Feel Fully: The Philosopher’s Guide to the 2026–27 Season
April 28, 2026 Thought-provoking performances exploring concepts of "Innocence & Experience." If you love performances that make you think—sometimes for days or even weeks afterwards—our “Philosopher” guide will point you in the right direction. The offerings listed here are all part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations programming—a series of performances, lectures, and conversations designed to explore pressing topics of today by connecting extraordinary artistry with groundbreaking scholarship.
Familiar Favorites: The World-Renowned Artists Who’ve Made Berkeley a Second Home
September 3, 2026 These frequent performers are a staple of Cal Performances programming across seasons, offering consistent artistry and fresh perspectives with each new performance. By El Zager, Cal Performances’ Social Media, Digital Content and Engagement Specialist Every season, Cal Performances curates a lineup of approximately 80 performances spanning an incredible range of genres, styles, and cultural traditions.
Around the World in 80 Performances: The World-Traveler’s Guide to the 2026–27 Season
April 28, 2026 Transporting performances steeped in cultural traditions and pride If you’re someone who loves to experience cultural performance traditions from around the world, our “World-Traveler” guide will prove a great point of departure for your adventures—no plane ticket required! Each season, Cal Performances brings the world’s best artists from all across the globe to Berkeley, and the 2026–27 season is certainly no exception.
Legends of the Stage: The Iconnoisseur’s Guide to the 2026–27 Season
April 28, 2026 Performances spotlighting the biggest names—with enormous talent to back it up. The “Iconnoisseur” guide is for loyalists who aspire to see living legends and legendary works. You want to experience world-class art that has stood the test of time, and yet still feels fresh and inspiring with every encounter. In this tailored list, you’ll find creators and performers with the biggest names, and enormous talent to back them up.
“Innocence & Experience”: Love & the Politics of Innocence
September 4, 2026 Scholars and artists discuss whose love gets labeled as “innocent”—and who assigns that label. Produced and directed by Mina Girgis, Cal Performances’ Director of Education, Campus and Community Engagement; directed and edited by Lindsay Gauthier. Full credits below. Whose love gets to be labeled as “innocent“—and who assigns that label?
Honoring Robert Cole
July 16, 2026 A tribute to the visionary leader who transformed Cal Performances into one of the world's most admired performing arts centers. The performing arts world has lost one of its great champions. Robert Cole, who served as Director of Cal Performances from 1986 to 2009, was a singular force in American arts presenting—a conductor and musician by training who brought a performer’s instinct and an institution-builder’s vision to everything he touched.
Jeremy Geffen Introduces the 2026–27 Season
April 28, 2026 Cal Performances' Executive and Artistic Director shares top-level highlights across the season.
Humans at the Heart: The Storyteller’s Guide to the 2026–27 Season
April 28, 2026 Performances that give you someone to cheer for, learn from, and connect to. There’s a reason we’ve been telling stories since the beginning of human history: hearing another person’s experience, real or imagined, makes us feel at once more connected. If getting to witness a deeply human journey unfold before you is what draws you to the performing arts, this is the guide for you.