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We like to think that a ticket to a California Shakespeare Theater performance is much more than a play–it’s the Cal Shakes Experience. This short list should tell you the key things you need to know about getting the most out of what we have to offer.
1. Arrive early:
The Bruns Amphitheater is our little piece of heaven in the Siesta Valley. We open two hours before curtain time, and we strongly recommend taking advantage of that! There are plenty of picnic benches and other places to sit in our groves; museum-grade sculptural installations to explore; a gourmet café serving food, beer, wine, and more; and free, 20-minute informational Grove Talks starting 45 minutes before each and every performance. Please keep in mind that, should you arrive after curtain time, you will be seated at an appropriate interval, at the House Manager’s discretion.
2. Eat, drink, and be merry:
Not only can you picnic before the performance, you can eat whatever you like while the performance is happening, inside the amphitheater. You can bring food with you or purchase it at the Midsummer’s Night Café, and then enjoy it in the groves or in the theater. The same thing goes for beverages—your sodas and sauvignons, lattes and lager are all welcome. All we ask is that you please be mindful of noise, unwrapping, unscrewing, and uncorking all items before the performance begins, or during intermission.
3. There’s turkeys up in them thar hills:
The Bruns is built on East Bay Municipal land–so it’s parkland. And it’s, you know, outside. So you’ll probably see a hawk, owl, or bat swoop in front of the onstage lights, and you may hear coyotes howling in the distance. Herds of cattle have been known to wander over the hills that rise up behind our stage, and turkeys are occasionally heard. In the heat of summer we sometimes even have mosquitoes (bug spray is available—just ask the house staff). And yes, there are yellow jackets. We make every effort to reduce the yellow jacket population on our grounds but, as the theater is surrounded by acres of wooded watershed, we urge you to keep your food covered whenever possible, and promptly dispose of your trash and recyclables. If you do get stung, please contact House Management at once for assistance.
4. Dress code:
Gotcha! There’s no dress code, per se, although there are appropriate ways to adorn yourself. Just prepare your body for the Bruns as you would for an outdoor sports event in the Bay Area. If you’re coming to the Bruns at twilight or later, dress in warm layers and bring a blanket, as well as hat and gloves; you’ll be colder than usual because you’ll be sitting in one place for a while, and snuggling up is recommended! We do have blankets available, free of charge, on chilly nights. If you’re attending a daytime performance, dress lightly (as befits the forecasted temperature), bring sunscreen, and consider a brimmed hat and sunglasses. And sturdy shoes are recommended, for walking up our paths.
5. Seating:
If you’re seated in our Terrace section, you will need to either bring your own chair or rent one from us. The chair you bring must be low-backed, and its seat must be no higher than seven inches from the ground; so, while camping chairs are generally too high, beach chairs are great. If you need to rent one from us, they’re only $3, and we have plenty!
6. Getting here:
It couldn’t be easier. Either take Highway 24 to the Gateway Blvd. exit in Orinda and follow the signs to Shakespeare Festival Way; or take a train to the Orinda BART station and catch the free Cal Shakes shuttle that start 90 minutes prior to each performance. The shuttle stops at the entrance to the Bruns grounds to pick up additional passengers who would like to avoid the hike up the hill. (If you have guests with mobility problems, you may drive them to the lobby yourself, but you must return your car to the parking lot after dropping them off.) When the show’s over, you can catch another shuttle back to the BART station.
There’s a lot more information available here; we hope you enjoy your Cal Shakes Experience!
