{{Short description|Theater in Berkeley, California, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Berkeley Community Theater | nickname = The "Bird Cage" | native_name = | native_name_lang = | fullname = | former_names = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = Berkeley Community Theater.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | pushpin_map = California | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | address = | location = Berkeley, California, U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|37.86845|-122.27147|region:US_type:landmark|display=title, inline}} | elevation = <!-- {{cvt|...|ft|m}} or {{cvt|...|m|ft}} --> | type = Theater | event = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = {{Start date|1950|06|05|df=y}} | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = | operator = | surface = | scoreboard = | production = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | seating_type = | capacity = 3,491<!--Main theater--> | suites = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | volume = | tenants = | embedded = {{Infobox historic site | designation1 = Berkeley Landmark | designation1_number = 179<ref name="BAHA2" /> | designation1_date = December 7, 1992 }} | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | public_transit = }}
'''Berkeley Community Theater''' is a theater located in Berkeley, California, United States, on the campus of Berkeley High School. The theater is administered by the Berkeley Unified School District. It is listed as a Berkeley Landmark (no. 179) since December 7, 1992.<ref name="BAHA2">{{Cite web |title=Berkeley Landmarks Designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Berkeley, CA |url=http://berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmarks/landmarks101-200.html |website=Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA)}}</ref><ref name="BAHA" /> It is part of the Berkeley High School Campus Historic District,<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web |author= |date=January 7, 2008 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Berkeley High School Campus Historic District |url={{NRHP url|id=07001350}} |accessdate=July 1, 2023 |publisher=National Park Service}} With {{NRHP url|id=07001350|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref> and the Berkeley Historic Civic Center District.<ref name="nrhpdoc2">{{cite web |author= |date=December 3, 1998 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Berkeley Historic Civic Center District |url={{NRHP url|id=98000963}} |accessdate=July 1, 2023 |publisher=National Park Service}} With {{NRHP url|id=98000963|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=BAHA>{{cite web|url=http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmarks/berkeley_highschool.html|title=Berkeley High School|last=Thompson|first=Daniella|author2=Susan Cerny|date=2003–2008|work=Berkeley Landmarks|publisher=Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association|accessdate=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.<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Harvey L. |title=Berkeley and the New Deal |date=2014 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |location=Charleston, South Carolina |isbn=9781467132398|page=41}}</ref>
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. It is maintained solely by the volunteer work of the Society.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Our Organ |url=https://norcaltos.org/about-our-organ |website=NorCal Theatre Organ Society |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
Bruce Springsteen, Dido, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Paul Robeson, Dream Theater, Bob Dylan, Stan Getz, Joni Mitchell, Robin Trower, Frank Zappa, James Taylor, Richie Havens, Alice Cooper, Lenny Bruce, Harry Chapin, Elton John, David Bowie, Genesis, The Band, The Doors, King Crimson, The Clash, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, The Kinks, Tangerine Dream, Humble Pie, The Tubes, Bay City Rollers, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop, and Iron Butterfly have played shows at the theater. Numerous albums have been recorded in the theater, including ''S&M'' by Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Berkeley Community Theater |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/468650-Berkeley-Community-Theatre |website=Discogs |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
The Grateful Dead played a total of twenty-four shows at the Community Theater, and Jerry Garcia another six times - two with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, two with Merl Saunders, one with Maria Muldaur and one acoustic show with John Kahn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grateful Dead Venues: Berkeley Community Theater |url=https://jerrybase.com/venues/64|access-date= March 19, 2026}}</ref>
Famous speakers have included the Dalai Lama, Lenny Bruce, Bernie Sanders, Maya Angelou, Timothy Leary, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Al Franken, and Amy Goodman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theaters.berkeleyschools.net |title=The Berkeley Community Theater & The Florence Schwimley Little Theater |website=Berkeley Schools |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
==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. During this process the grand curtain was damaged. It was finally replaced as well as all other soft goods in July 2009.
In the spring of 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Renovations underway at historic Berkeley Community Theatre |url=https://www.berkeleyside.com/2020/07/09/renovations-underway-at-historic-berkeley-community-theatre |website=Berkeleyside |date=9 July 2020 |access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Berkeley Community Theater (Berkeley, California)}} * [https://theaters.berkeleyschools.net/ Official site] * [https://www.chickenonaunicycle.com/Berkeley%20Community%20Theater.htm Chicken on a Unicycle]
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Category:Art Deco architecture in California Category:Buildings and structures in Berkeley, California Category:Theatres in California Category:Culture of Berkeley, California Category:Tourist attractions in Berkeley, California Category:Theatres completed in 1950 Category:Music venues in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:1950 establishments in California Category:Berkeley landmarks in Berkeley, California