Actors Ensemble: Call for Proposals for Summer 2026

[Jerome Solberg]

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley

Request for Proposals
Summer 2026 in John Hinkel Park

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

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:
prop...@aeofberkeley.org -
prop...@aeofberkeley.org?subject=Call%20for%20Proposals

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.

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley
P.O. Box 663
Berkeley, California 94701
US