Actors Ensemble of Berkeley invites proposals from potential DIRECTORS for our Summer 2026 season at the John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre in Berkeley. We are seeking bold, thoughtful, and creative productions that are well-suited to our outdoor venue and align with our mission to present accessible, engaging theater to the East Bay community. 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley invites proposals from potential DIRECTORS for our Summer 2026 season at the John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre in Berkeley. We are seeking bold, thoughtful, and creative productions that are well-suited to our outdoor venue and align with our mission to present accessible, engaging theater to the East Bay community. 

The Venue:

John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre is a unique outdoor space in Berkeley, featuring natural stone terrace seating for over 200 people. Past productions have ranged from Shakespeare to original musicals and literary adaptations. Performances are weekend afternoons, mid-July through Labor Day.

Production Requirements:

• Runtime: No more than 2 hours plus a nominal 15-min intermission
• The concept should take into account the specific limitations and opportunities of the John Hinkel Park Amphitheater, noting that the production must be set up and taken down for each performance.
• Ensemble-centric productions which feature casts of 8-15 people are preferred.
• Content: Family-friendly, suitable for all ages (appropriate for a public park setting)

Recent Productions:

• A Room with a View (2023) – E.M. Forster adaptation (Original)
• Faeries of the Moonlight (2023) – Original Celtic-inspired musical.
• Imaginary Invalid (2024)  – Classic French farce
• Cymbeline (2025) – Shakespearean romance with fresh staging
• The Taming of the Shrew (2025) – Contemporary lens on a classic comedy

More information on our past productions can be seen at https://www.aeofberkeley.org/productions/past-productions, and there are recordings for certain productions on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/aeofberkeley

Proposal Guidelines:

A proposal should come from the proposed DIRECTOR of the production.  Each DIRECTOR may submit up to two proposals (max 500 words or 2 pages each), including:

• Synopsis of the play
• Directorial vision and thematic approach
• Casting needs (including gender/age/ethnicity-specific roles, if any)
• Technical/design requirements
• Preferred dates (if applicable)
• Names of design collaborators (if known)
• Theatrical résumé
• We request (but do not require) a copy of the script. Digital preferred; if submitting hard copies, include three. Finalists must submit a complete script.

Participation & Budget:

Actors Ensemble is a non-AEA, all-volunteer organization. All participants are officially volunteers. Modest travel reimbursements, and per diems are provided for the director, backstage crew, and designers, in accordance with CA AB5, along with modest budgets for costumes, set, etc. 

Timeline:

• Deadline to Submit: September 30, 2025
• Final Decisions Announced: December 15, 2025
• Auditions: March 2026
• Rehearsals: Begin mid-May (for July slot) or early July (for August slot); 6-week period
• Performances: Weekends beginning around July 4th for first slot, mid-August (concluding Labor Day or the following weekend) for the second slot.
• Finalists will be contacted for interviews to discuss proposals further.
• Selected projects will be announced in December.

Additional Opportunities:

We also produce staged readings, one-acts, and smaller projects at other indoor locations in the East Bay including Live Oak Theater and La Vals. Separate proposal calls (again from directors) for these opportunities will be shared if we decide to produce in those spaces. There is no consequence for submitting the same show twice.

To Submit:
Email proposals, résumés, and optional scripts to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Actors Ensemble:
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is a non-profit theater company that has produced plays in Berkeley for over fifty years. We value theater as entertainment, reflection, and a catalyst for change. Our ensemble model emphasizes collaboration among equals, encouraging artistic growth and community impact. Governed by a volunteer board, we rely on public support to sustain our work and keep performances free to the public.