Posted on

Berkeley Playhouse merges professionalism and community

The Berkeley Playhouse’s production of “Tarzan,” the musical with words and lyrics by Phil Collins runs through Aug 13. Photo by Keon Morley.

BERKELEY, Calif. —The Berkeley Playhouse, founded by Elizabeth McKoy 10 years ago, uses art to bring a sense of community, producing shows for all ages.

The wood-paneled walls and red doors of the historic Julia Morgan Theater make the exterior appear barn-like and give the impression of a community theater. But the Playhouse is home to professional productions. The advertisements, equipment and costumes for the current production of the musical “Tarzan” further exemplify the theater’s professionalism.

“I have a spotlight here. I have a crew here. They got a brand new light board… We have LEDs, we have M-Faders… A little bit of everything,” Jeff Bristow, three-time stage manager at the theater, said. The theater boasts youth conservatory and after-school classes in addition to a full slate of productions.

Catherine Manning, the mother of one of the actors, says her daughter, Jaina, found the summer theater experience enticing.

“It was much more intense…An amazing experience for her to be side by side with professional adults,” Manning said. “…within the six-week rehearsal period I heard her voice change.”

After a recent matinee, actors and crew alike commented on how McKoy strives to bring a sense of family to all of her cast and crew members while maintaining a professional environment.

Actor Tiana Paulding said,“Elizabeth…exudes family. She will take everyone under her wing.”

She added that “everyone here is just so supportive and very uplifting…It’s just a very good sense of camaraderie here.”

Bristow said his favorite part of being with the theater is “just working with the people. I’ve met a lot of new people, I’ve met a lot of great people, and I know a lot of them will remain my friends after this is over.”

Actors Aurelia Jordan, left, Adam Niemann, and Tiana Paulding greet the audience after the show. Photo by Rachel Winterhalter

Adam Niemann, another actor, said, “The people here [keep me coming back].”

““The theme of the show ‘Tarzan’ is family,” Nieman said of the show based on the Disney film, with music from pop legend Phil Collins.

“And I think it is quite appropriate that that’d be produced by Berkeley Playhouse because I definitely think that’s … a mission of Berkeley Playhouse.”

Posted on

Sweet, savory or spicy — it’s all the farmers’ market

BERKELEY, Calif.— Cultured, a family business established in 1996 that specializes in sauerkraut, pickled vegetables and kombucha, strives to provide its unusual organically fermented products at the weekly North Berkeley Farmers’ Market to the diverse community that shops there every Thursday.

Seamus Hozven-Farley of Cultured with some of their featured fermented products including Korean staple food Kimchi. Photo by Rachel Winterhalter

 

 

Cultured is one of the many companies that follow the policies set by the Ecology Center, which include sales of Certifiable Agricultural Products, no sales of styrofoam or ingredients that may have exposure to GMOs and much more.

Miss Bee Haven Honey touts the positive effects of Bee Pollen. Photo by Rachel Winterhalter

Massa Organics uses environmentally conscious farming techniques, such as implementing a fertilizer that contains less arsenic and using cover crops, which help soil fertility and water conservation.

“Instead of going through and mowing the lawn, the sheep go through and kind of graze, so it’s very sustainable, very natural,” employee Caitlyn Melillo said.

These vendors say they are committed to creating products in the most organic and preservative manner achievable.

Miss Bee Haven Honey works on developing organic honey that contributes to people’s health and even the bees’ existence.

“Organic honey really contributes to health and allergy as well as saving the bees and keeping them from becoming extinct … really, they’re like a superpower. Bees create honey and pollen, which is a superfood for people; it’s everything that everybody could need,” employee Jenna Dragonetti said.

The community not only focuses on the organic process of production but also puts particular efforts in packaging. The Ecology Center’s Farmers’ Market was the first in the United States to set the trend on eliminating all plastic bags and packaging.

Part of the conservation movement could be seen at Cultured’s stand, where workers provide a 25 cents if their jars are cleaned and returned.  

According to a price study conducted by ConsumerReports.org in 2015, organic foods cost an average of 47 percent more than nonorganic foods because of the extra time and effort needed to grow them. The Berkeley Ecology Center does accept food-assistance stamps and Electronic Benefit Transfers (EBT). This program helps promote an accepting community of various business partners, shoppers and friends.

Isabel Vega of Phoenix Pastificio stands at the weekly North Berkeley Farmers’ Market selling pasta and baked goods. Photo by Keisuke Nakamura

“I have regulars that I see every week, and we are able to catch up and chat while they are getting their things,” Melillo said.

In order to produce homemade products, businesses such as Cultured, use the organic products from other stands, creating an interconnected community among vendors, who also develop partnerships through which they trade their products.

“We get all our produce from this market and every one here,” Cultured’s Seamus Hozven-Farley said.