Berkeley Community Theatre

I had a decent experience here from the only show I have ever experienced. I went with the husband and we parked for free on the street (always a plus in my book) and within walking distance. We got there early so we wandered the area and it is right near Shattuck and tons of places to grab a drink or a bite.As for the show (we saw Primus), I had no complaints. Our seats were good, we were up front in the first section of seats after general admission. I didn't even book the tickets right when they went on sale and we still lucked out with great seats. I found my seat comfortable, enough leg room for what you would expect.They did not allow photos, no one really does anymore though. We didn't try to eat or drink at the theater so their rules were not an issue for us.

I is be a smart people.We had excellent tickets to see Flight of the Conchords... never been to this theater, I was clever enough to read yelps. This one worried me:Jess s.11/23/2008'This venue is falling apart! Heres what I got to experience for a $50 ticket to a show here:5 minute wait for the only ladies bathroom (5 working stalls), plus the entire bathroom was flooded with toilet water!'Before the show, all of the women's rooms were packed with lines of about 40+ squeezing their knees together or doing the pee pee dance. Being the ballsy girl that I am, I stomped over to the men's room. In and out... I was so proud of myself, I wanted to shake my imaginary penis.Halfway through the show, I need to go again. Guess what? The bathroom floor was flooded with ... you know.... toilet water, tinted with a nice shade of yellow and some floaters. Nice, huh?Leaving the show was a nightmare. The first show ran late, because it started late.... so the line for the next show was a mob of angry people. And the first show goers (me) just wanted out.I would prefer not to return to this theater. Unless it was someone totally awesome. Also.... the air circulation is poor. They did have the doors open to help... which with the bay breeze, made it nice... but there is no way in hell I would ever go to a show in the summer time.

As far as venues in the bay area go the Berkeley Community Theatre is definitely middle of the pack for me. The good include a fairly intimate setting, reserved seating with good sightlines (I've sat everywhere from front row to back of the balcony) decent acoustics and close to BART. The bad? -The bathroom lines are out of control (even for the guys)-No food allowed inside -No drinking at a concert? Are you kidding me? I know it's a high school auditorium but it's not like school's in session!

Saw the Keane Concert 27-Jan-2007. Parking --- Street parking available if you get there early enough. There are a few garages in the area too. Venue --- Small/Medium sized venue with great headliners.Sound --- The sound was clean and good. Food --- none --- chips and water was about it. The Berkeley Community Theater is a great place for a concert. The intimate atmosphere, phenomenal sound quality, and walking distance from Shattuck to pre and post concert libations makes this place a winner.

Maybe the Oakland Paramount's, long lost, less flashy sibling. The seating and space layout are almost identical, it's just not nearly as ornate. However, it is no less acoustically fantastic. The last I was here Tool had previewed Lateralus on force. Cut to years later and the Foo Fighters are doing an acoustic set. I had seen them at Bridge School in the same fashion but always felt they were at their best rocking out. From the power of "In Your Honor" to the slow burn and buildup of "February Stars" I was blown away by how well the re-composition of songs sounded in this space. Every nuance in Dave's voice to the singularity of each instrument. Phenomenal.

I had a great time seeing Cheech and Chong at the Berkeley Community Theatre. In the 28 years if you would of told me that I was gonna see Cheech and Chong perform I would have never believed it. Well it happened and it was a blast! I had seats in the lower balcony and I thought was the perfect area to enjoy the show. The only bad thing is the numbering of the seats. Its very confusing and even the staff had trouble looking for the seats -1 star. During the show a circuit breaker blew so we sat in the dark for 15min -1. This totally cut right through Chong's bit and killed it. -1 star for the audience talking and yelling while the Theater staff was trying to explain the situation. +1 star for Chong trying to get the crowed settled down and meditating. -1 star for waiting 10min for the crowed to dwindle down only to get stuck at the exit to the street. Finding yourself moving like a herd of cattle. Only to find out its due to the people selling merchandise are right smack in the middle of the moving crowed and creating traffic. +1 for seeing the girl who killed cookie monster, which made a good laugh (maybe an inside joke). So in total I don't recall how many stars we have because I'm sorta high from all the smoke in the theatre. ROCK ON!! Cheech and Chong!

For a high school theatre, this is an amazing space. I was three rows back in the pit for the acoustic Foo Fighters show so my seats were great, but the venue is small enough that I can't imagine that the balcony seats are at all bad. Because of the proximity to BART and the nice sized venue, I'll definitely be checking out their calender for upcoming shows.

This place blows. HOWEVER, Ryan Adams did what he could with it as did I.5 stars for one of the best shows of 2007.1 star for one of the worst venues to see a show of 2007(the sound is great, but that doesn't make up for the rest)A Kiss Before I GoPlease do not let me goGoodnight RosePeaceful ValleyTwoEasy PlateauBeautiful SortaMockingbirdHappy Birthday (Summer Rae Brown)When Stars Go BlueI Taught Myself How To Grow OldEverybody KnowsLet it RideBlue HotelElizabeth, You Were Born to Play That PartDear ChicagoWildflowersWhat Sin Replaces LoveCold RosesShakedown On 9th StreetI See Monsters

For a show that ran over three hours, this venue couldn't make time go by any faster. I can see how this venue would be favorable among performers, but I'm writing for the 99% that is the audience.The only upside I see to having events here is the large stage and seating capacity. Everything else is a bust. It's great that the venue can seat over 3,000 people, but how they utilize and care for the space is beyond me. There's no surround speaker system, only one central source front and center. The air was stale and smelled like old farts, the bathroom was flooded and just as gross, and I could feel the springs in my seat!And to put a damper on the entire show, the manager made her grand debut on stage after intermission and had to lecture a whole crowd of college students to clear the aisles. Way to kill the buzz and make it feel like back-to-school night...

I will always remember one of the best times of my teenage life was at the Berkeley Community Theatre - Live 105's Green Xmas in 1995. Friends had to lie to their parents to be able to go to a venue so far from home and I remember seeing The Rentals, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, and Oasis. We had to leave for BART before Oasis was done because the last train was coming. That was such a bummer!In college I heard Salman Rushdie speak here, which was awesome - he was very entertaining and funny. I've also seen Modest Mouse, Keane, and a few others. Though going here as someone in my late 20s I always feel old, because it seems like the last few shows have been full of teenagers and college students (the theater is on the Berkeley High campus).The sound is only OK and the seats are pretty uncomfortable. Plus, just sitting the whole time isn't that fun. Unfortunately, I think the chances of me seeing a great show here are lessening as I get older.