The Berkeley Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer and Managing Director Tom Parrish announced the seven productions that will make up the organization's 2025/26 season.

It kicks off with Jake Brasch's "The Reservoir," the West Coast premiere of Jez Butterworth's "The Hills of California," the world premiere of Jessica Huang's "Mother of Exiles," the world premiere of Jacob Ming-Trent's "How Shakespeare Saved My Life," Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," the West Coast premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu's "The Monsters" and the world premiere musical, "The Lunchbox." Casting and full creative teams will be announced at a later date.

"I am thrilled to be bringing to life projects both epic and intimate in this coming season, including three world premieres,” says Pfaelzer. "The robust audiences that have joined us in this current season have made it abundantly clear that their appetite for theatrical storytelling is wide-ranging, and their belief in the necessity of this art form is deep. I look forward to welcoming home artists with deep history in the Bay Area, and introducing this community to new talents who I trust they will embrace."

"As multiple Berkeley Rep-originated works found future life on Broadway and beyond, the current season has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by shattered box office records, sold-out runs, a growing subscriber base, and buzz-worthy productions that sparked important community conversations,"
says Parrish. "In addition, with the 2025/26 season, we are poised to build on that remarkable momentum. Berkeley Rep audiences—especially our thousands of dedicated season subscribers who enjoy the best seats at the best prices—are among the first to experience what is new, next, and necessary in American theatre and storytelling. We remain committed to meeting this moment with artistic ambition and cultural relevance—not only on our stages, but also through our School of Theatre, In Dialogue community engagement programs, and The Ground Floor, our nationally recognized incubator for new work. All of us at Berkeley Rep are deeply grateful to our subscribers and donors, whose steadfast support makes our bold and impactful work possible."

The 2025/26 season will feature Jake Brasch's "The Reservoir" (September 5 through October 12, 2025). Josh is a hot mess of a queer twenty-something. He's dropped out of school to get his life together—but can't manage to stay sober. Struggling with fogginess and memory loss, he finds unlikely allies in his four hilarious grandparents. Desperate for a sense of purpose, Josh sets out to bring them along on his road to recovery. He drags them to Jazzercise at the JCC. He makes them play memory games. He insists they eat spinach by the handful. Eventually, he slams up against the limits of his quest. When he can no longer help his grandparents, they begin to help him. The Reservoir is Jake Brasch's sharply funny and deeply heartfelt new comedy about family, memory, and the path toward healing. Performances of "The Reservoir" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Peet's Theatre.

Next, Berkeley Rep will present the West Coast premiere of "The Hills of California" (October 31-December 7, 2025). The Internationally renowned Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth ("The Ferryman" and "Jerusalem") weaves the compelling, tender, and savagely funny tale of the Webb sisters' return to their childhood home in an English seaside town. As girls, their fierce and ambitious mother trained them for a singing career a la The Andrews Sisters. Now, past and present collide within the once vibrant guesthouse, as memories resurface with haunting clarity.

"The Hills of California" explores how sibling bonds both sustain and suffocate, and how songs of youth echo through life. Loretta Greco returns to the Bay Area to direct the West Coast debut of this masterwork, following its acclaimed West End and Broadway productions. "The Hills of California" is a co-production with The Huntington. Performances of "The Hills of California" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre.

Berkeley Rep will then present the world premiere of Jessica Huang's "Mother of Exiles" (November 14-December 21, 2025). In 1898, on Angel Island, a pregnant Eddie Loi faces deportation amid America's tightening immigration laws. A century later, her grandson Braulio, through his role in the Miami border patrol, inadvertently conjures her spirit—unleashing a witty, opinionated ancestor.

By 2063, their descendants, beset by climate catastrophe, embark on a perilous oceanic journey seeking sanctuary. From detention to diaspora, Mother of Exiles follows a single family's century-and-a-half odyssey—tracing their flight, fight, and the futures they dare imagine. Jessica Huang's multigenerational triptych blends historical drama with supernatural encounters, weaving moments of surprising humor into a powerful portrait of belonging and resilience. The performances of "Mother of Exiles" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Peet's Theatre.

Ringing in the new year, Berkeley Rep will present the world premiere of Jacob Ming-Trent's "How Shakespeare Saved My Life" (January 23–March 1, 2026). In an autobiographical and music-filled tour de-force, award-winning performer Jacob Ming-Trent dares to rescue himself from the "slings and arrows" of his past. He is born with a gift for poetry but rejected as unfit to play the poet, and his search for home yields results both hilarious and tragic. Invoking artistic geniuses like Biggie, Tupac, and Basquiat, he takes us on a propulsive ride that reaffirms the power of language and music.

Directed by Tony Taccone, "How Shakespeare Saved My Life" begins with the Bard but becomes a ritual of communal salvation. "How Shakespeare Saved My Life" is a co-production with Folger Theatre and Red Bull Theater. Performances of "How Shakespeare Saved My Life" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Peet's Theatre.

Next, Berkeley Rep will present Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" (February 20–March 29, 2026). The
American Dream comes at a price. But who truly pays it?

Arthur Miller's searing indictment of moral compromise erupts with new urgency in this groundbreaking production. Reimagined around a Puerto Rican family's hard-won success, a father's fateful decision sends aftershocks that ripple far beyond his own home and community.

Berkeley Rep's associate artistic director David Mendizabal reexamines this American classic through a lens of race, ethnicity, and class, honoring Miller's original text while sharpening its existing themes of justice and inequity.

This powerful revival reveals a tragedy where the pursuit of prosperity collides with the reality of who America was built to serve. Performances of "All My Sons" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre.

In spring 2026, Berkeley Rep will have the West Coast premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu's "The Monsters" (March 27–May 3, 2026).

For years, Lil has observed her estranged brother from the shadows--watching, waiting, studying every punch he throws. Big an aging but respected force in the local Mixed Martial Arts
circuit, he remains unaware his little sister has been secretly tracking his career from afar... until she appears unexpectedly on his doorstep.
Award-winning playwright Ngozi Anyanwu ("Good Grief," "The Homecoming Queen," and "The Last of the Love Letters") writes and stars in this West Coast premiere of a sibling love story that grapples with reunion and buried resentments. Raw and riveting, "The Monsters" delivers an emotional knockout and wrestles with the demons we must face to reconnect, rebuild, and forgive. Performances of "The Monsters" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Peet’s Theatre.

Closing out the 2025/26 season, Berkeley Rep will present the world premiere musical, "The Lunchbox" (May 17–June 28, 2026). Book and co-lyrics by Ritesh Batra, music and co-lyrics by the Lazours. Rediscover the power of human connection in The Lunchbox--a new musical adaptation of Ritesh Batra's
internationally acclaimed film that overflows with heart, humor, and hope. When a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox system connects a lonely housewife to a jaded office worker, it sets off an exchange of handwritten notes. Tucked in the folds of fragrant chapatis, amidst the vibrant pulse of Mumbai, their words blossom into a connection that might save them both.

Directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin ("Hadestown") and featuring a both sweeping and intimate score by Daniel and Patrick Lazour, "The Lunchbox" is a tale of the beauty of small gestures—one that will leave you believing in the bravery of opening your heart to the unexpected.

Performances of "The Lunchbox" will take place at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre.

Full Season (Seven-play) subscriptions start at $224 and are available now by visiting berkeleyrep.org/sub.

Berkeley Rep Full Season subscribers save up to 33 percent off individual ticket prices (or more with dynamic pricing for the most in-demand shows) and receive priority access to special limited-engagement events, free ticket exchanges, discounts on additional tickets and School of Theatre classes, and more.

Individual tickets for each production will go on sale to the general public at a later date. All prices, dates, artists, and venues are subject to change.

Berkeley Rep recognizes the generous support of Season Presenting sponsors Stephen and Susan Chamberlin, Yogen and Peggy Dalal, Bruce Golden and Michelle Mercer, Jonathan Logan and John Piane, The Strauch Kulhanjian Family, Gail and Arne Wagner, The Shubert Foundation, and Peet's Coffee; and is delighted to acknowledge Season sponsors Frances Hellman and Warren Breslau, Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney, Gisele and Kenneth F. Miller, Jack and Betty Schafer, Kelli and Steffan Tomlinson, BART, The William
and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and OAK Airport.

ABOUT THE BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE:

The Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative
theatre. Known for its ambition, relevance, and excellence, as well as its adventurous audience, the
nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. More than 6 million
people have enjoyed more than 500 shows at Berkeley Rep, including 87 world premieres. Berkeley Rep shows have gone on to win eight Tony Awards, nine Obie Awards, 11 Drama Desk Awards, a Grammy
Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and many other honors.

In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Through its annual seven-play season, together with up to four special event presentations, Berkeley Rep invites audiences to enjoy an eclectic range of theatrical experiences featuring diverse artistic voices, themes, and perspectives.

To formalize, enhance, and expand the processes by which Berkeley Rep makes theatre, The Ground Floor:
Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work was launched in 2012. Serving some 20,000 people a year, Berkeley Rep's School of Theatre ensures broad access to dynamic arts
educational activities, especially for Bay Area youth, and provides immersive training for current and future theatre makers. In 2021, Berkeley Rep launched In Dialogue, a program that places its theatre making skills and resources in service of the community. Using storytelling as an anchor, In Dialogue is developing long-term collaborations with local, socially centered organizations, as well as educating and
activating our audiences around organizations whose work aligns with the themes of our productions.

Berkeley Rep's bustling facilities—which include the 600-seat Roda Theatre, 400-seat Peet's Theatre, Medak Center, and a spacious campus in West Berkeley—are helping revitalize a renowned city.
Learn more at berkeleyrep.org.