We have been going to Cal Shakes productions since we were just college kids. It is a lot of fun! We always get there at 6pm, grab a picnic table, and eat a wonderful potluck. For a while we got super fancy and once even brought a fancy candlestick with multiple candles. As we got older and we got lazier, our tablecloths have gotten simpler but our food has gotten yummier. Our wine has gotten better too! Go, enjoy a picnic, bring layers because that place can get really cold even in the middle of summer!
Lovely situated amphitheatre with top grade perfmances of classical and sometimes more modern works. The grounds are well set up for Al fresco picnic before the show. You can bring your own food and drinks, or buy on site.
We saw a Midsummers Night Dream and it was one of the most entertaining Shakespeare performances Ive ever seen. However, be aware that a significant part of the theater is directly in the sun for most of the day. No matter what I would bring sunscreen and a hat, otherwise your day could be made a lot less tolerable.
This place has FANTASTIC shows at a fantastic price! I have been going for about 10 years now, and I absolutely love it. Bring a picnic before the show or try out some of the food you can buy there. The grounds are so beautiful, so go early so you can enjoy them!
I just saw Black Odyssey at Cal Shakes. It was my first time at this venue. The venue is Beautiful and the full moon added to the ambience!!! Next time I will pack a picnic as there are an abundance of picnic tables. The majority of the audience brought their own wine and edibles, and there is a lovely food and full bar there. I would suggest arriving an hour to 45 minutes before the performance to eat AND there is a Q and A by cast members 45 minutes before the show!!! The production was amazing!!! I definitely look forward to next season!!! By and by there really isnt a bad seat in the house!!!
A wonderful experience. Bring your picnic, listen to the dramaturg, watch a play put on by talented people under the stars. What more could you want? Dont forget a blanket!
Saw Macbeth here. It was AMAZING.Pros: Outdoor theater with oakland hills and starry sky as backdrop. You cannot hear the freeway, just crickets. They offer blankets if you get cold, for a suggested donation of $5. Intimate setting, space not too large.Artistic Directior Eric Ting gave an amazing introduction to the show. I was very impressed.Cons: None
Do you like a night at the theater? Youll like Calshakes. Come early, bring a picnic, bring some wine and enjoy yourself.
This was one of the best performance ive seen. So much passion for the art of acting. 100% worth it, experience was wonderful, show was wonderful, everything was wonderful!
Hidden gem with A mix of contemporary performances. Nice space to enjoy wine and a picnic style meal prior to the shower. Bring layers or a blanket though as it gets significantly cooler at night.
Great little theater. The concession stand is hit or miss. More often than not I get some little jerk working there. The other staff is amazing. Productions are spirited and full of energy when when the show itself is subpar.
Love this place. Fabulous setting. Innovative and wonderful every time. Go early with a picnic. Take a blanket and revel in the Spectacle.
Cal Shakes has the most stunning theater venue in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because its in Orinda, people dismiss it as remote, but its insanely easy to get there with a short BART trip to the Orinda station followed by their free shuttle bus. Acting, staging, costumes are professional and top-rate. Their repertoire runs the gamut from Shakespeare and classics to mind-stretching original work. Theres nothing like a night under the stars at Cal Shakes.
Great seating for viewing all around. Rolling wooded hills open air theater in Orinda pleasing.
Love this place for seeing a play. The best part about it is that the production cant rely on fantastical sets to prop up a play. This is pure acting and bare bones set design. I havent seen a play yet here that wasnt great. I subtracted one star because if you come here for an evening show, you will FREEZE if you dont come prepared with a nice warm jacket, a warm cap, some gloves and a big blanket to keep you warm. They provide the blankets, if you need them, but bring your own. Also, you will appreciate a thermos of hot tea or chocolate. Dont say that I didnt warn you!
Wonderful performance. I am never disappointed at Can Shakes.
This is the best place to watch a play. Seating and performance is outdoor. Intimate stadium seating. You can bring food and drink into the show. They have a full kitchen to order from, plus treats and coffee. Sit among trees and listen/participate in a live in-person discussionabout the author/playwright or play. Just a great experience overall! Be sure to bundle up for the cooler evening shows.
Whats not to like about live theater under the stars! Beautiful venue. Go early and enjoy a picnic meal under the eucalyptus trees. The pre-performance talk was fun while we ate. Lap blankets and hand warmers available was a nice touch.
Always an excellent show. Outdoor theatre set in beautiful eucalyptus grove.
Fine open air theater. I saw a play there, Black Odyssey. The acting was first rate and the play interesting. Before the play we picnicked at tables set up for that purpose on a mild September evening.
I love the plays produced, the grove talks by Phiipa and the picnic grove.
Such a cool venue! Located in just off the 24 in Orinda, took me maybe 40 mins to get there from SF.Not a 5 star review because there was one food truck and we easily spent 40 minutes waiting for food. Bar only had packaged chips.Highlights : the gorgeous hills are the backdrop for this venue, seating was not preassigned, plenty of alcohol choices, lots of tables and benches outside of the auditorium, clean non-gender bathrooms, parking was not a nightmare and they have a really beautiful light installation that frames the stage and changes colors with the music. Staff was helpful and friendly all night, no long delays between sets. Sound was great, I saw Thao and the Get Down Stay Down and multiple times, Thao did not use a mic.Suggestions to you : bring bug spray esp. in the warmer months, bring a jacket and/or blanket it gets nippy. Also no outside liquids allowed inside.Suggestions to the venue : make the first two rows standing only for concert series, so people can dance next to the stage and not block anyone. Two or more food trucks please.
Costumes magnificent actors great. Story line weak
Great show, great people, fantastic view. Bring a jacket.
This theater is everything. Its located on gorgeous rolling California hills, so you can see Shakespeare or innovative, thought provoking modern theater under the stars. They support their community, giving school kids free tickets, taking shows into prisons, shelters, and community centers. They take on important and sometimes provocative themes and honor local artists. They serve great food-or you can bring a huge picnic if your own and use their picnic tables or even nosh (quietly) during the show.They have a free shuttle from Orinda BART and plenty of parking if you want to drive. There is a large hill to walk up at the beginning, so be aware (but they do have a shuttle for those who need it). It can get quite cold at night- for fall shows I wear a down jacket, hat, and bring a sleeping bag or blanket . You can rent blankets for a couple dollars but theyre thin- just dress warmly!
Wonderful state-of-the-art facility in a gorgeous setting. Bring a jacket and a blanket because once sun sets, it gets chilly. Easily accessible to Bart via shuttle.
Its one of the best places in the Bay Area. Just go.
Great outdoor theater with innovative new shows
We saw a fantastic modern take on Othello this summer and enjoyed every minute of the show. The venue is beautiful, set in the golden east bay hills far enough off the highway to block the sound of cars, but still convenient. Make sure you come early and have a picnic at the tables just a short walk from the venue.
6/13/13HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE (!!)I really had no idea what to expect from this performance venue but any expectations I may have formed were met and more! This place is so awesome!!Showing up a little early for shows is common sense. Showing up a LOT early is only appropriate some of the time. Here is a time where you want to make sure you arrive a LOT early. Relax and chat with friends over some cheese and wine at a shady picnic table with a light breeze. Oh? You forgot to bring your bottle of wine with you? Thats OK, they sell food and wine at reasonable prices! Enjoy. Your designated driver will find non-alcoholic beverages at the same concession bar.The seating is wonderful and I preferred being in the back of the audience - great spot. Our rented chairs ($3) were comfortable. It would have been more crowded for a sold-out show, but we had just enough room to move around and set our bag next to us. We brought one blanket and one pillow. Next time we will each bring our own blanket/pillow. It can get chilly in the evenings!The acoustics and lighting were fantastic. The one-act performance was great. Our tickets were gifted. The experience as a whole was all-around great. It was nice to be allowed to bring our own snacks and beverages. Dont get carried away though! I used the restroom before leaving and a woman ahead of me in line kept insisting the far stall was unoccupied. She was leaning down to look and eventually just fell over onto the bathroom floor. I try to limit my exposure to bathroom floors. (She was fine, and seemed to laugh it off. The stall was indeed occupied). I crossed my fingers that Ms. Too-Much-Fun wasnt driving, but made sure to get on the road before she did, just in case.
Wonderful plays set in the hills. Bring blankets and dress warm. Bring snacks and picnic there!
The space is beautiful and the experience is fenomenal. Not to mention the play, production, actors,. Ive never seen a bad show there.
Never disappointed. Absolutely top notch acting and well written plays. Fantastic theater experience.
Amazing venue, outside, and every show is fun and impactful. Bring a blanket or rent one there, season tickets highly recommended.
Im not the type of person that usually enjoys live theater, However Ive gone to about a dozen plays here and Ive enjoyed all of them except one!You can tell that the actors put their all into it In are able to throw some humor in to a play thats a drama.My sister went to calshakes for 2 seasons and absolutely loved it. She was just about to start high School & Calshakes inspired her to sign up for the drama club when shed always had had stage fright.
Just remember gets cold at night. Great picnic spot
Great outdoor activity with entertaining plays. One of the things that makes the bay area a great place to live.
Saw War of the Roses, and we were thoroughly entertained. The company and audience were also very inviting.
Place is a jewel. Very special
One of my summertime favorites. Great performances, excellent facilities, runs very smoothly. Got to see a play there
Some of the best theater in the country if not the world. Dress warm and bring a picnic basket and bottle of wine.
I volunteered and was lucky to see Black Odyssey a second time. Great production in fabulous surroundings.
Excellent outdoor amphitheater with a cafe and picnic tables, truly amazing shows and performers, dont sleep on Cal Shakes!
Beautiful place to see Shakespeare!
Beautiful place to see a play. Typically performances are of very high quality.
It is a beautiful setting, we take a picnic and enjoy every show, they have always done an amazing job. High caliber work! Favorite place every year!
Lovely evening under the stars. Inspired theater as usual.
Saw Quixote Nuevo and totally loved it. Great venue as well in a warm summer evening
It was good and funny.
Intimate little place in the Orinda hills. The parking is free and you no longer have to bring your own chair! My family and I saw War of the Roses which was great. My only issue is their restroom situation which is not adequate enough to accommodate 100 women who desperately need to use the bathroom within a 15 minute intermission during a 4 hour play. No woman likes portapottys, the Orinda facility needs more real restrooms.
Beautiful setting and fantastic performances!
One of my favorite places in the Bay
Very nice outdoor theatre and park! Orinda gem. We saw the wonderful Quixote Nuevo show June 2018.
Fabulous location to share time with friends and enjoying the wonderful plays they put on
Weve had season tickets to Cal Shakes for 6+ years and its truly my favorite summer activity. Our daughters have a great love for theater now and we usually laugh out loud and smile through every show. Bring an elaborate picnic and grab a table up in the trees beforehand. Warm jackets and fleece blankets are recommended! Intermission is always just enough time to grab a cup of Peets coffee or hot chocolate. Everyone is SO nice and there is truly not a bad seat in the house. Even if you only go once, youll never forget this magical venue.
Are there other venues where youre sitting in the middle of the forest, looking at the stars, and also taking in a play while twinkly hipster lights pose for your Instagram?Ive been to two productions here and both were memorable outings.Small cafe with reasonable prices for hot cocoa (youll want one for your hands!), sandwiches, etc. Plenty of seating area for your own picnic foods!Free shuttle from BART.Pro tip: Dress warmly, and bring a comfy blanket. Sitting for long periods of time in plastic chairs in the Bay Area summer may be hazardous to your health.
Great place for a play but the once a year music concert for Notes for Hope is a win win that you can not beat. Hopefully you can get a ticket.
Absolutely magnificent theatre
Great amphitheatre (might cold late at night), and good acting/directing make for a wonderful night of Shakespeare (or a newer play, too)
Really amazing people
Great place but very cold
Really nice oitdpor space, with great sound.
Great venue, shuttle to Bart, nice staff, decent show.
Just a great play!
Beautiful site and it seems as every seat in the house is good. However many seats are in the direct sun which for afternoon performances is HOT and one must contend with glare.
Such a hidden gem to catch a show. The venue is located in the wood of Orinda. Any seat in the house offers a perfect view. They also serve sandwhiches and salads there but you can also bring your own food. It tends to get very windy there so bring extra layers of clothing and bundle up!
Wonderful outdoor theater experience with top-notch performances. But bring a blanket for evening shows -- it can get cold!
By far one of the finest places to see a show in the Bay Area. Wear layers, bring a picnic, and enjoy some theater under the stars!
Ive liked alot of the plays in the past but havent been impressed with the recent ones.
Great outdoor theater venue with imaginative programming
Ive seen two performances here and theyve both been excellent.
Very nice facility and personnel.
Magnificent setting, very talented actors, challenging new play.
Its not the same since they lost Brittney White. Hey is amazing.
I like The Bard talks. I also like the venue.
Outdoor Shakespeare in a beautiful setting. Get there early for a picnic!
It was great..
Excellent Theater build within nature and concrete
Its not just Shakespeare! they put on new plays as well, and the occasional classic reinterpreted.
Fun performance
Always fun entertainment and atmosphere.
Excellent
Great performances, beautiful outdoor theater.
Great place
Gets cold at night!
Wonderful plays in the Orinda hills
Plastic chairs
Wonderful!
Fantastic location!
Awesome, just awesome!
Wonderful venue.
There is no more beautiful outdoor venue.
Black Odyssey was a blast
- Address:100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda, CA 94563, United States
- Site:http://calshakes.org/Echoes
- Phone:+1 510-548-9666
- Performing arts theater
- NFC mobile payments:Yes
Similar organizations
- California Shakespeare Theater100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda, CA 94563, United States
