Berkeley Community Theater, Art Deco theater in Berkeley, United States

Berkeley Community Theater is an Art Deco building with approximately 3,500 seats arranged across the main floor and balcony sections. The venue sits within Berkeley High School's complex and functions as a multipurpose performance space.

Construction began in 1941 but was interrupted during World War II, with the building finally opening to the public in 1950. This extended timeline shaped its role as a major cultural venue for the Bay Area.

The theater served as a gathering place where musicians and speakers performed for the community over many decades. It became a landmark venue where people came together to experience live performances and hear influential voices.

The box office operates during regular weekday hours and extends its schedule before performances. Allow extra time before shows to arrive, navigate the grounds, and settle into your seat.

The theater was designed for a pipe organ but none was installed when it opened in 1950. In the 1980s the Nor-Cal Theater Organ Society moved a Wurlitzer from the Paramount Theater in Toledo, Ohio, into the building. With 41 ranks of pipes and two four-manual consoles, volunteers maintain it and professional organists play it during concert seasons.