Patron Information
What you need to know about Will Call, disability-related accommodations, ticket donations, lost or misplaced tickets, etc. Plus, answers to our most frequently asked questions about everything from ticket policies to “How come I can’t find the event I’m looking for on your site?”
FAQs
Here are some answers to the questions we field the most. If you don’t see your question here, please contact us at www@calperformances.org or tickets@calperformances.org and we’ll be able to answer personally.
As our list of sold-out performances continues to grow at Cal Performances, we thought we take the time to explain why we appear to encourage you to check back later on availability for tickets.
While we can never guarantee that seats will open up, it is possible that if you come to the performance the night or day of the show, a few tickets might be available at that time. Sometimes, the artist or other complimentary ticket holders may release their tickets at the last minute. Perhaps a subscriber has exchanged their tickets for another event, thus opening up a seat. Or Non-subscribers, facing last minute conflicts, may have graciously decided to donate their tickets back to Cal Performances for the event rather than let them go unused.
So if you absolutely, positively have to see a sold out event, check back with our Ticket Office a couple of days before the performance to see if anything has opened up. You can also sign up for our email notification lists, which can be accessed on the event page of a sold-out show. If tickets become available for the performance, we will send you an email notifying you to call us or visit the website to purchase tickets. Or, better yet (because most seats don’t open up until the very last minute), come the night or day of performance and get in line at the Ticket Office window for any releases. We can’t guarantee you will be successful and only you can decide if it’s worth the risk, but we wanted you to know all your options.
For most events, food is permitted in paper or plastic bags or small soft-sided coolers (no large solid coolers or picnic baskets). There is also a variety of food available there, ranging from french fries and other snacks to burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, burritos, pizza, and veggie burgers. No alcohol (it is sold there), no cans or bottles; non-alcoholic beverages in factory sealed plastic bottles are okay. No lawn furniture, no glass containers of any kind. Blankets, pillows, or seat cushions permitted. No cameras or recording devices. All patrons are subject to search before entry.
The following items are PROHIBITED inside Zellerbach Auditorium, Zellerbach Playhouse, Hertz Hall, and Wheeler Auditorium:
- Glass bottles / aluminum cans
- Food and beverages (with the exception of plastic bottled water)
- Coolers / Ice chests
- Baby strollers (designated parking is available inside)
- Skateboards / Bicycles / Scooters
- Musical instruments
- Noise-makers / Airhorns / Fireworks
- Rolls of toilet paper
- Balloons (may be tied-off in the lobby at own discretion)
- Signs / Banners / Flags
- Tripods / Monopods / Selfie sticks
- Animals (with the exception of documented service animals)
- Lawn furniture or chairs
- Wearing masks of any kind
- Packages
- Any items that can be perceived as weapons
Please note this list is not exhaustive. All bags are subject to search.
In addition to being one of the world’s finest presenters of the performing arts, Cal Performances also manages several of the performances stages on the UC Berkeley Campus, including Zellerbach Hall, Greek Theatre, and Wheeler Auditorium. These performance spaces are often rented out to other University groups and public organizations or event promoters throughout the year, including Bill Graham Presents, the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Some of these organizations also contract with Cal Performances’ Ticket Office on campus to sell tickets for their events as well.
Therefore, its highly possible that detailed information or ticket availability for a show (or other events such as UCB graduations!) you may have seen advertised as being presented “in association with Cal Performances” may not be available through our web site as the site is designed to provide only information and ticket sales for those events which make up Cal Performances’ annual performing arts season. Please check the Ticket Office@Zellerbach Hall site to see if the event is listed and on sale there.
Like other arts organizations, Cal Performances depends upon our subscribers — those who commit to attend a certain number of performances in advance — for a large portion of earned income and, thus, our ability to bring the world’s best performing artists to our stages. In order to encourage patrons to subscribe and to thank them for their commitment, we make available to them a number of exclusive benefits. To some degree, it is our subscribers that make Special Events possible in the first place, and therefore we believe they should have the first opportunity to order tickets to what are sure to be the most popular performances.
Like most arts organizations that depend upon private support to bring artists to the stage, we provide donors with benefits and privileges as a way to encourage giving and thank those who, through their financial support, are keeping ticket prices at reasonable levels for all of our patrons. While we depend upon and are thankful for gifts of all sizes, we are not able to provide the same level of benefits for all donors. Donor benefits correspond to the level of giving.
While there are no guarantees, your best bet is to subscribe and order early! As you may know, renewing Subscribers have priority over new Subscribers, and all Subscribers have priority over the general public for ordering tickets to our newly-announced seasons and added events. Within what we call the priority renewal or ordering periods, all ticket orders are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you really want those great seats, be sure to order the minute you receive your brochure or added event notice!
While all ticket sales are final, most tickets may be exchanged for another Cal Performances event or donated back to Cal Performances. Please see our exchange policies and ticket donations pages for more information.
All ticket sales are final and the Ticket Office is unable to re-sell the ticket for you. However, most tickets may be exchanged for another Cal Performances event or donated back to Cal Performances. Please see our exchange policies and ticket donations pages for more information.
Most tickets may be exchanged (certain restrictions apply). Please see our exchange policies and ticket donations pages for more information.
As we’re sure you might have noticed, our possible Series options, which include a very flexible Choose-Your-Own format, can vary greatly from year to year in artists appearing, number of performances, and the halls in which we present events. Therefore, it’s not possible for us offer the same seats year after year.
If it’s any consolation, we here at Cal Performances struggle daily with this question as well! Our Audience Guide, mailed with your tickets, provides some suggestions for parking close to the performance halls. (Or see the parking page located on this site for information.) And because conflicting events can often occur on the UCB campus, be sure to check for parking alerts associated with individual events for advance notice of when parking availability will be especially impacted. We also have suggestions for taking public transportation located on the site as well.
Finally, you might try out what we like to think of as our “secret parking weapon:” Pre-performance Talks events. These lively, informative discussions with artists and scholars help to ensure that you will arrive early enough at the theater to find a parking space with a minimum amount of hassle!
Unfortunately, it usually means that you will have to wait to take your seat until intermission, or at an appropriate interval in the program, as requested and advised by the artists. While we do have a monitor in the lobby of Zellerbach Hall to watch the action on stage while you wait, nothing compares to the real thing. So because parking can be difficult to find in Berkeley close to curtain time, we encourage you to arrive 30–40 minutes prior to an event to ensure that you are in your seat before the curtain rises.
Because we do so much of our ticket selling conveniently over the phone, checking your UCB, senior, or other student ID at the door is the easiest way for us to actually verify eligibility. If you forget your ID, we will have to ask you to visit the Ticket Office window before you take your seat and change your ticket to full price. We’d hate for you to miss a single moment of the exceptional performances on our stages, so please, before you head for the concert hall, remember to tuck your applicable ID in your wallet.
Most performances are not recommended for children under the age of seven; please check with the Ticket Office if you are unsure if a performance is appropriate for younger audience members. As a courtesy to others, parents or guardians may be asked to remove children creating a disturbance during the performance. Please note: All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theater.
Please visit our staff listings located on our General Information site for a complete list of who does what at Cal Performances and how to contact them.
Review our job listings and volunteer openings for details on how you can become a part of Cal Performances staff or extensive group of volunteers.
Our completed on-line program notes actually follow the same publishing schedule as those notes provided in the program book the day or night of your performance. To provide you with information that is as current as possible when printed, we finalize editing and production about 2 weeks prior to an event. As soon as the notes are ready to send to the printer, we also make them available on-line.
While Cal Performances makes every effort to obtain full programming information at the time we print our brochures, occasionally the artists are not able to provide us with detailed program information as far in advance as we announce our events (sometimes up to a year ahead of time!). Also, an artist may still be putting the finishing touches on a brand new work, or in the process of deciding which repertoire to concentrate on.
While we do not give out an artist’s direct contact information, when available, we provide a link on the event page to the artist’s or companies’ web site, where you might be able to find contact information.
Many artists do perform at Cal Performances as part of a national tour. In cases where it is available, we have provided a link directly to the artists’ web sites where you might be able to find the artist or companies’ exact touring schedule.
Unfortunately, we don’t have that flexibility when booking premier artists, who are often on national tours and have only a few dates available to appear in the Bay Area. We realize that it can often be inconvenient for our patrons, but we try to look at it as a small price to pay for being able to call one of the world’s greatest (and busiest!) Universities our home! We also make every effort to send out notices to all ticket holders when we are aware of parking conflicts. (You can also check out possible parking conflicts online at Parking Alerts.)And, you never, know! Maybe the Bears supporters are asking Athletics why they can’t reschedule games so as not to coincide with our recital events!
The University partially supports our administrative costs, but this does not extend to our artistic, educational, and community programs. As ticket sales alone only over 33% of the costs to bring the world’s premiere artists to our stages and to the community, we rely on generous contributions to help bridge the gap.
This performance will be sign interpreted for people who are deaf or hearing impaired. If you or anyone in your party would like to utilize this service or request it for another performance, please contact the Ticket Office directly at 510.642.9988 or tickets@calperformances.org so that our staff can help you find the best available seats for viewing the interpreter.
All Cal Performances venues are wheelchair accessible. Transfer seats may also be available. Please contact the Ticket Office directly at 510.642.9988 or tickets@calperformances.org to purchase accessible seating.
Zellerbach Hall is equipped with an Assistive Listening System. Assistive Listening devices (ALDs) may be requested from any usher or house manager upon arrival at the performance. Please note that a photo ID or credit card is required to check out an ALD for the duration of the performance.
Pre-performance Dining Available. For Cal Performances events in Zellerbach Hall, we offer dinner, snacks and beverages on the Mezzanine at Café Zellerbach. Pre-performance dining begins 90 minutes before curtain (matinee shows will only have walk-up service and the intermission menu). More information >>
Service fees, which are waived for single tickets at the Ticket Office window, are charged per ticket order. These fees help cover the cost of providing internet and phone services, as well as order delivery.
To learn if we found your lost item, please fill out our form and someone will get back to you.
General Information
Accessibility
All venues are wheelchair accessible. Please contact the Ticket Office directly to purchase accessible seating. Persons who wish to request additional disability-related accommodations, including sign language interpreters, should contact the Ticket Office at 510.642.9988 at least two weeks in advance of the performance to ensure best possible arrangements. Patrons using a TTY, please contact us via California Relay Service by dialing 711 or (800) 735-2929.
Will Call
Ticket orders received less than 10 days prior to the performance and all reprinted tickets will be held at Will Call, which opens one hour prior to curtain. Photo ID of original purchaser is required to pick up tickets at Will Call.
Alternate pick up names
For most performances, if you would like to have your tickets picked up at Will Call by another party, you may provide that party with a photocopy of your picture ID and a note authorizing said party to claim your tickets at Will Call. Please note that your guest will need to provide their photo ID as well. For some events (such as those with ticket limits or exclusive availability), alternate pick-up names may not be permitted; please check with the Ticket Office if you are unsure if your event qualifies. Please note that for the protection of our patrons, we can not accept alternate pick-up name requests by phone or e-mail.
Late Seating
Latecomers will be asked to wait in the lobby until intermission or an appropriate interval in the program, as designated by the artists. Please see Parking Alerts for event specific information that may assist you in arriving to the theater on time.
Lost or Misplaced tickets
Can’t find your reserved seat tickets? Call the Ticket Office at 510.642.9988 and we will have duplicate tickets waiting for you at Will Call. Reprints are free of charge for Producer’s Circle Donors and Subscribers. Single ticket reprints are $5 per order. Photo ID will be required for pick up; we do not mail reprinted tickets. General Admission tickets can not be reprinted. Lost, misplaced, or reprinted tickets can not be exchanged or donated.
Refunds
Due to the nature of the performing arts, artists, and programs are subject to change without notice. Refunds are given only in the case of event cancellation. Handling fees not refundable. ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL.
Children
Most performances are not recommended for children under the age of seven; please check with the Ticket Office if you are unsure if a performance is appropriate for younger audience members. As a courtesy to others, parents or guardians may be asked to remove children creating a disturbance during the performance. Please note: All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theater.
Donations
If you unexpectedly cannot attend a performance, tickets may be returned to Cal Performances as a donation up until performance time. Ticket donations may be made over the telephone (510.642.9988) or in person during regular business hours. After regular business hours, ticket donations are accepted at the venue box office for that performance up until the performance begins. A receipt for your ticket donation will be mailed to you. Please note that receipts for donations made via telephone can not be issued until the tickets are received by the Ticket Office.
Please Note
Cameras and recording devices are not permitted in any performance facility.
Lost and Found
To learn if we found your lost item, please fill out our form and someone will get back to you.
Escort Service
If you wish to have the Campus Escort Service provide you with an escort to your car following a performance, please notify the House Manager at the end of the performance.