Berkeley Rep Awards 15 Fellowships For Upcoming Season

Today Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced that 15 college graduates from across the nation - including five natives of Northern California - have been awarded fellowships for the upcoming season. Every year, through this prestigious training program, young leaders from across America learn their craft alongside accomplished professionals at this Tony Award-winning nonprofit. In the upcoming season, fellows will collaborate on eight shows with renowned artists such as Lemony Snicket and Sarah Ruhl - even as Berkeley Rep sends a second show to London.

"These talented young people are the future of American theatre," said Susan Medak, Berkeley Rep's managing director. "Our fellows go on to work as artists, artisans, and administrators at theatres across the country. We look forward to teaching them - and learning from them - over the next year, as our united efforts create another year of unforgettable shows at Berkeley Rep."

Fellowships at Berkeley Rep combine hands-on practical experience with educational seminars that provide insight into the operation and inner workings of a professional theatre. The program, one of the nation's most esteemed and most extensive, offers training in more than a dozen different disciplines. Fellows make an 11-month commitment to the Theatre, generally starting in August and concluding their residencies in June. The partnership between Berkeley Rep and the fellowship recipient provides invaluable experience and professional contacts, providing a pathway to employment. Many of Berkeley Rep's staff members are former fellows, and a full two-thirds of past fellows continue to work professionally in the industry.

Fellowships for the 2010-11 Season have been awarded to the following 15 young people:

Daniela Becerra, a native of San Dimas and graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, will be mentored by Master Electrician Fred Geffken and the electrics crew.
Amy Bobeda, a native of Santa Cruz and graduate of UC Santa Cruz, will be mentored by Costume Director Maggi Yule.
Samantha Budd, an Ohio native and graduate of Ohio University, will be mentored by Art Director Cheshire Isaacs.
Lindsay Cramond, a Virginia native and graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, will be mentored by Technical Director Jim Smith in the scene shop.
Wendi Gross, a native of Baltimore and graduate of Rollins College, will be mentored by Director of Development Lynn Eve Komaromi.
Champagne Hughes, a native of Hayward and graduate of San Jose State University, will be mentored by Company Manager Megan Wygant.
Margot Leonard, a Massachusetts native and graduate of Smith College, will be mentored by Scenic Artist Lisa Lázár.
Candice Renee McDowell, a native of Vallejo and graduate of Regent University, will be mentored by Rachel Fink, director of the School of Theatre.
Jamaica Montgomery-Glenn, a native of Santa Cruz and graduate of UC Berkeley, will be mentored by Properties Manager Ashley Dawn.
Krys Ritchie, a native of Tucson and graduate of the University of Arizona, will be mentored by Production Manager Tom Pearl.
Rachel Steinberg, a native of Ontario, holds a Master's degree from the University of Toronto and will serve as the Peter Sloss Literary and Dramaturgy Fellow under Literary Manager Madeleine Oldham.
Kate Vangeloff, a native of Indianapolis and graduate of Emory University, will be mentored by Director of Marketing and Communications Robert Sweibel.
Amanda Warner, a native of Sacramento and graduate of UCLA, will be mentored by Production Stage Manager Michael Suenkel.
Allison Whorton, a native of Los Angeles and graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, will be mentored by Rachel Fink, director of the School of Theatre.
Jennifer Wills, an Illinois native and graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, will serve as the Bret C. Harte Directing Fellow under Artistic Director Tony Taccone.

This fresh class of fellows joins Berkeley Rep as it prepares a series of stunning scripts and stellar performers for the coming year. Starting in September, the season features three world premieres: Rinne Groff's compelling Compulsion, a delightful new look at The Composer is Dead, and a tantalizing show written by Artistic Director Tony Taccone that stars legendary actress Rita Moreno. Two West Coast premieres take the stage as well: celebrated collaborators Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters reunite for a refreshing new translation of Anton Chekhov's The Three Sisters while Berkeley Rep welcomes The Great Game: Afghanistan, an unprecedented cycle of 12 short scripts that caused a sensation in London. The upcoming season also introduces local audiences to Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined and two audacious new monologues from Mike Daisey: The Last Cargo Cult and The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. This ambitious, adventurous, and entertaining line-up is supported by BART and Wells Fargo, the official sponsors of Berkeley Rep's 2010-11 Season. Meanwhile, following in the footsteps of Continental Divide, Berkeley Rep's production of Tiny Kushner is headed to London this fall - and American Idiot continues to rock Broadway.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to a national leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. The Theatre welcomes an annual audience of 180,000, serves 20,000 students, and hosts dozens of community groups, thanks to 1,000 volunteers and more than 400 artists, artisans, and administrators. With two stages, a school, and a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Berkeley Rep is proud to premiere exhilarating new plays. In the last five years alone, the company has helped send five shows to Broadway: American Idiot, Bridge & Tunnel, In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), Passing Strange, and Wishful Drinking.

Come see tomorrow's plays today at Berkeley Rep. Subscriptions are now on sale for the upcoming season, and individual tickets go on sale August 29. For details, call (510) 647-2949 or toll-free at (888) 4-BRT-tix - or simply click berkeleyrep.org.