Welcome

No matter how many times we embark on the journey of bringing a world premiere musical to life, I’m always astonished at how long it takes, and how labor intensive it is. And how thrillingly transcendent it is when all the pieces finally come together.

I first encountered this Galileo in the middle of a blizzard in a rehearsal room in New York City in the winter of 2019. By that summer, this illustrious team was in residence at New York Stage and Film, and since then, we have been on the long but productive road that brings us to today. Throughout this iterative process, there have been workshops, with and without actors; page by page analysis of story arcs and character relationships; music sessions; movement vocabulary development; and design treatments — and all of that was just to get us to the point where we could begin actual rehearsals for the production itself here in Berkeley!

Each step required a different structure, different combinations of people to engage, different physical needs to be met. (Do we just need music stands and a piano? Must we have stand-in pieces for scenic elements to inform the development of the choreography? At what stage is an audience useful and informative?)

I am so moved when I think about how long these artists have been committed to the telling of this particular story, and the thoughtful, rigorous efforts they have been engaged in over multiple years to bring this piece here to us, for this next phase in its journey of becoming.

You are the first audiences to see this, and your experience of it will be instrumental in the ongoing work that Michael, Danny, Zoe, Michael, David, Brian, the designers, cast, musicians, and crew will continue to do. Thank you for being part of this challenging, joyful work with all of us.

Warmly,

Johanna Pfaelzer | Artistic Director

Welcome to the much-anticipated world premiere of Galileo! When I first read the script, I was struck by its cultural resonance with the Bay Area — the story of a technological and social disruptor and maverick, fighting for truth and justice, who ultimately changed humanity’s perception of the world. Perhaps that is why Berkeley Rep has returned to Galileo’s story every 20 years or so. In 1980, Bertolt Brecht’s Galileo directed by Berkeley Rep founder Michael Liebert opened the new Thrust Stage (now the Peet’s Theatre). We then produced The Life of Galileo as the opening production of the 1999/2000 season. And now, at a time when questions of truth and power remain at the fore, we tell his story again as an original rock musical, continuing Berkeley Rep’s legacy of new works.

As we approach our season finale, Octavio Solis’ Mother Road, we are excited for the upcoming 2024/25 season, which begins in September. Featuring a phenomenal mix of music, comedy, and drama, the new season promises ever higher heights of theatrical storytelling and innovation, educational and community impact, and national and international reach.

If you have not yet subscribed to next season, we invite you to join us. As a full season subscriber, you get the best prices; the best seats; free exchange privileges; early access to special limited engagement events; and a host of other great benefits to make your theatergoing easy, flexible, and affordable. Thank you to the thousands that signed up for next season before we announced it, and the many more that have subscribed since. We value your loyalty and confidence. Performances will sell out — subscribe today!

Enjoy the show!

Tom Parrish | Managing Director