Zellerbach Playhouse Rental

Overview

Conveniently located at one of the main entrances to the busy UC Berkeley campus, this intimate space features excellent sightlines, unique flexible seating capacities, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and a spacious lobby for pre-show mingling and intermission activities. The Playhouse is also a lab and performance space for the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies and, in general, is available for rental during parts of December, March, May, June, July, and August. All Zellerbach Playhouse rentals are expertly staffed and managed by Cal Performances’ stage crew, event management, front-of-house, and ticketing professionals.

Suggested Uses: smaller-scale concerts, spoken word performances, comedy events, plays, musicals, dance performances, conferences, meetings, and lectures

Audience Capacity: 439–547

Location

Zellerbach Playhouse Address

2413 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

GPS address

2413 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Technical Specifications

Stage Dimensions & Floor

Proscenium: 66’ x 20′

Curtain to rear wall: 33′ 10″

Distance to grid: 53′

Black/white Rosco marley dance floor available

Audio & Sound Systems

State-of-the-art lighting and sound systems

S4x Channels Shure ULX microphone system

Wing space varies with soft goods masking configuration

Video, Broadcast & Connectivity

Dedicated projection capabilities available in the Playhouse at all times

Wired guest network with 1G upload and download speeds

Artist Amenities & Backstage

Steinway & Sons, New York 9 ft concert grand piano

House Capacity and Seating Chart

Zellerbach Playhouse House Capacity:

Maximum Seating 547

Total Fixed seating 439

House Capacity and Seating Chart

Zellerbach Playhouse House Capacity:

Maximum Seating 547

Total Fixed seating 439

Venue Use Fees

Campus Rates

UC Berkeley Campus Departments: $5,125 per day

UC Berkeley Registered Student Organizations: $5,635 per day

External Rates

Nonprofits: $5,895 per day

General: $7,175 per day

Venue Rental Use Rates and Service Costs (PDF)

Rates currently shown are subject to change

What’s Included

Daily Single Use rates include the use of the venue for all event activities in a single 12-hour day, and use of the venue infrastructure in standard setup position (see full facilities information sheet).

Additional rental costs include all stage production labor, non-standard equipment or equipment labor set up fees, insurance, ticketing services, front-of-house labor, custodial services, parking, and/or security fees and are estimated and billed separately. Merchandise sales, concessions, catering, video and audio streaming, and recording require separate agreements and fees. Please see service costs and policies for more information.

Offering professional venues and services at cost to UC Berkeley departments is an important part of how Cal Performances serves our campus community. In addition, venue rental revenue from off-campus renters contributes to the funding of Cal Performances’ organizational mission to unite exceptional artists, ideas, and audiences through live performance to enlighten and enrich lives.

Service Costs and Policies

All fees and expenses as outlined are in addition to the venue use daily rental rate.

Venue Rental Use Rates and Service Costs (PDF)

Professional ticketing services must be provided by Cal Performances’ Ticket Office and incur additional fees. Limited buy-outs for commercial renters and print jobs are available for certain event types only (e.g. commencements) and subject to approval. See Rates Sheet for more information.

All performances and events held at our venue require union stage labor (University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), Local 1, which is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA)), and use of our professional front-of-house staff, event managers, and security, custodial, and technical services. A complete labor cost estimate will be provided once the exact nature of the event is determined, including technical riders, timeline, expected audience count, and desired ticketing services.

Additional necessary services such as custodial, parking services, and UC Police or private event security are provided to UC campus departments at cost and to registered student organizations, nonprofits, and general renters at a 10–20% mark-up.

Estimates for any additional equipment rentals required to meet event specifications will be provided upon booking.

All venue rental clients must provide a certificate of insurance, endorsed to include “The Regents of the University of California” as an additional insured, no later than 30 days prior to their event. Insurance must include Worker’s Compensation coverage, Commercial General liability coverage of $2 million, plus Products, Personal and Advertising Injury, and Business Auto Liability up to $1 million.

All registered student organization (RSO) and off-campus renter events held in our venues in which 300 or more people are expected to attend are subject to review and approval under UC Berkeley’s Major Event Policy, which requires a six- to eight-week lead time for notification.

Merchandise sales must be approved no less than seven days prior to an event for lobby-only sales and are subject to 15% gross sales fee, sales tax withholding, and additional labor fees.

A deposit or ASUC-approved purchase order in the amount of 100% of estimated expenses must be received with the return of the signed contract to confirm your event. The deposit (estimated total) is 50% refundable up to 60 days in advance of the event. Events canceled within 60 days forfeit 100% of the deposit (estimated total).

Audio and video recording and/or video streaming arrangements must be made no later than five business days in advance and are subject to separate agreements and labor and third party services fees.

Catering and concession options are available within our venues and are governed by UC Berkeley campus policies and procedures; please consult your event manager for further details.

Use of our venue lobby spaces is included in the general venue use fee; additional labor, catering, custodial, or event management fees may apply. Alcohol may be served within our venues via our in-house caterer and all catering and alcohol use is governed by UC Berkeley campus policies and procedures; please consult your event manager for further details.

Availability Calendar for Zellerbach Playhouse

Start the venue rental booking process by making sure your desired date is open.

Venue rental requests must be made at least eight weeks in advance, per university policy. Availability can change quickly and is subject to approval.

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Rental Process

To ensure a successful event, we partner with you through the following stages of the rental journey, from early planning to post-performance wrap-up.

  • Initial Inquiry

    Submit our online rental inquiry form. We will respond within two business days.

  • Date Confirmation

    If available and approved, we will place a hold on your date.

  • Estimate

    We will confirm event details to provide a full quote (labor, venue use fees, equipment, ticketing, custodial, etc.). We’ll also walk you through submitting your rental request for review under UC Berkeley’s Major Event Policy to see if any additional safety and security measures are necessary.

  • Contract

    Approve the final estimate, sign the rental agreement, and submit a 100% deposit (or ASUC-approved purchase order) no later than eight weeks before your event.

  • Ticketing

    Upon receiving the deposit and contract, our Ticket Office requires five business days to set up your event once all information is provided.

  • Advance

    Shortly after the full confirmation of your event at contract signing, your event manager will contact you to finalize run details, front-of-house needs, catering, merchandising, and additional equipment if necessary.

  • Insurance

    No later than 30 days prior to your event, a certificate of insurance must be submitted.

  • Performance

    On event day, our full team (event manager, ticket office, front of house, facilities, and production) will support your event.

  • Settlement

    A final settlement statement covering rental, labor, equipment, and ticketing fees will be sent within 30 days following your event.

Venue Rental FAQs

All performances and events held at our venue require union stage labor (University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), Local 1, which is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA)), and use of our professional front-of-house staff, event managers, and security, custodial and technical services. A complete labor cost estimate will be provided once the exact nature of the event is determined, including technical riders, timeline, expected audience count, and desired ticketing services.

Advanced parking arrangements are necessary to reserve spaces for your event on campus. Your event manager will be able to assist you with all parking arrangements, and all final costs will be applied to your invoice.

Access to the venue is only available only during your contracted rental time due to the heavily booked nature of our venues. Please work with your event manager to arrange shipping and load-in times and accommodations.

All venues must be left as you found them. The renter is responsible for removal of all items brought in with them, as well as disposal of all trash/recycling generated by their guests. Porter service and custodial assistance will be arranged for a fee with your event manager. If applicable, your caterer is responsible for removal of catering-related trash/recycling.

Tickets must be sold through Cal Performances Ticket Office for crowd control and safety purposes. Limited buy-outs for commercial renters and print jobs are available for certain event types only (e.g. commencements) and subject to approval.

Yes. Use of our venue lobby spaces is included in the general venue use fee; additional labor, catering, custodial, or event management fees may apply.

Yes. The in-house caterer for our venues holds rights to serve and sell alcohol within our venues, and our event managers can assist you in getting an estimate for services.

Yes; however all catering and alcohol use is governed by UC Berkeley campus policies and procedures and approval must be secured in advance. Please see your event manager for assistance.

To confirm your event booking, a deposit or an ASUC-approved purchase order covering 100% of the estimated expenses must accompany the signed contract. You will receive a 50% refund on this deposit (estimated total) for cancellations made at least 60 days prior to the event. Cancellations occurring within 60 days of the scheduled event will result in a total forfeiture of the deposit.

Under UC Berkeley’s Major Event Policy, all off-campus and commercial rental events, as well as registered student organization (RSO) events with an anticipated attendance of 300 or more guests must undergo review and approval. This process requires notification six to eight weeks in advance. Read more about this campus policy for safety, security, and event services. A member of our rental management team will help walk you through this process after your date hold is approved.

Your event manager will assist you in reserving parking spaces on campus near your venue for your event operations needs. Final costs will be applied to your settlement.

There are numerous campus and public parking lots available in the nearby vicinity to our venues. Please see parking information for more details.

All venues are wheelchair accessible and additional disability accommodations are available with advance notice. For more information, see calperformances.org/accessibility.

General hours of operation at our venues are 7am to midnight. Exceptions can be made when necessary; however, labor overtime charges may apply.

In most cases, our venue display cases are booked year-round by other departments and presenters. Please work with your event manager for further assistance.

Yes. Merchandise sales must be approved no less than seven days prior to an event for lobby-only sales and are subject to 15% gross sales fee, sales tax withholding, and additional labor fees. No food sales other than those provided by our concessions operator are permitted.

Yes. Arrangements for audio and video recording and/or video streaming must be made no later than five business days in advance and are subject to separate agreements, and labor and third party services fees.

Yes. Arrangements for livestreaming can be made through Berkeley Audio Visual (BAV) services and must be made at least five business days in advance of your event. Additional agreements, and labor and third party services fees may apply. Please ask your event manager for further assistance.

Green rooms and backstage dressing facilities are provided for bookings at both Zellerbach Auditorium and Zellerbach Playhouse. Basic dressing room space (without lights or mirrors) is offered at the Greek Theatre, while Wheeler Auditorium includes one dressing room equipped with lights and mirrors. Please note that select dressing spaces are shared and subject to availability.

Cal Performances stage labor operates under a union contract between UC Berkeley and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), Local 1—an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). All stagehands hold professional, non-student positions. Additionally, we collaborate with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 107 as needed (advance notice is required for IATSE staffing or “yellow card” productions).

To arrange a venue tour, please reach out to our rentals team at 510.642.7319 or via email at events@calperformances.org.

Basic internet access is available at all venues through the Berkeley-Visitor WiFi Network. Wired guest internet network with 1G upload and download speeds is available only at Zellerbach Auditorium.

Venue use fees include access to the venue for the contracted amount of time and use of in-house equipment inventory at each venue. (See the Facility Information Sheet links on each venue page for a full inventory of equipment.) All labor costs (including configuration labor costs for specialized equipment, systems, or house configuration uses), ticketing costs, custodial and safety expenses, catering, and other third party expenses are charged in addition to the venue use fee. A complete cost estimate will be provided once the exact nature of the event is determined, including technical riders, timeline, expected audience count, and desired ticketing services.

Unauthorized audio and video recording devices and the taking of photographs during an event is prohibited except with written permission from Cal Performances.

In a few cases, such as custodial services, renters must work with university third party suppliers for services. In addition, our venue operations staff can recommend preferred vendors that are familiar operating within the University of California, Berkeley guidelines and policies. Please work with your event manager for more details.

Animals are prohibited in all areas except dogs assisting persons with disabilities, and as required on stage for events. Open flame, fireworks, flashpots or other pyrotechnic devices are strictly prohibited. Please see your event manager for more information.

Minors are permitted on campus and in rental venues. Use of unpaid minors in productions is strictly regulated by University of California, Berkeley policies and guidelines. Please see your event manager for more information.

Get in Touch

Submit the rental inquiry form below to get the conversation going. We’ll respond within two business days. Or, if you have general questions, feel free to contact our rental team: 510.642.7319 or events@calperformances.org.