A Cornucopia of Services

'Buy-Out' Fundraiser 'Theater Party'

Over our 60 years of community service the founders created a very unique SUCCESSFUL 'FUNDRAISING CONCEPT' called the THEATER 'BUY-OUT' PARTY.

It has supported over 700 different professional organizations, churches, sororities/fraternities, Scholarship committees, and a multiplicity of Auxiliaries and ministries.

Since the early 1960's Co-Founders Birel & Nora Vaughn, of the Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater, conceived a 'symbiotic way' to stay in business. As 'The Keeper Of The Culture' while helping other COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, who were also striving to raise financial support for their respective causes.

By supporting 'OTHERS-IN-NEED' through FUND-RAISING-THEATER-PARTIES you too, can raise the necessary funds to strengthen your finances in an efforts to support your cause.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: Seats to ALL of our upcoming shows in our 61st MAINSTAGE SEASON can be purchased and resold at extremely discounted rates. Thereby leaving the fundraiser a hefty margin. As A Ticket re-seller (similar to A GROUPON), you keep the LIONS SHARE' of the tickets you sell and you help to keep BRG going as they head towards the century mark.

Programs

Ticket Pricing

WHAT BRG SELLS THEIR TICKETS FOR: $35 is our premium ticket — A Theater Party Seat with complimentary amenities PRIOR TO DATE OF EVENT. A RED CARPET Experience and various amenities enable the opportunity for organizations to raise funds and justify ticket prices beyond BRG's general admission.

For example one of our agencies FAMILIES FIRST raised $10,000 in one evening. They only paid $1,600 for their seats, had a SILENT AUCTION, VENDORS, and a RAFFLE. It was a VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER! Together we will 'KEEP THE CULTURE ALIVE'!

Vendor Fairs, Events

Located 1 block South of ASHBY BART, we are a theater space that provides vendors with the perfect locale, with high foot traffic, visibility, and the necessary infrastructure to facilitate sales and create an engaging experience for patrons. Location, Location, Location, and layout.

Vendor Booths

• Prime placement: Vendors should be located in high-traffic areas, such as the lobby, near entrances and exits, and around concession stands.
• Flexible layouts: BRG offers various options, such as providing tables and chairs, or allowing vendors to use modular setups and vertical displays to attract attention.
• Ample space: Vendors need enough room for their booth (6'x2'), display, and a queue without obstructing the flow of foot traffic.

Essential Infrastructure & Amenities

• Access to power and utilities: Reliable access to electricity is crucial for lighting, POS systems, and any equipment the vendor may use. BRG has these amenities.
• High-speed Wi-Fi: Fast and reliable internet for processing digital payments and for vendors to use devices like iPads or laptops. We have it on site, accessible on guest Wi-Fi.
• Sufficient storage: Our theater provides a secure, designated area for vendors to store inventory, boxes, and other supplies. Each day vendors are required to take what is brought to facility.
• Tables, chairs, and other equipment: Providing basic equipment like tables and chairs is a valuable amenity. Single vendor space is regulated (6'x2'). We offer in-house equipment rentals for audio/visual staging & lighting gear.

Marketing & Visibility

• Marketing and visibility cross-promotion: Our theater will include vendor spotlights on our website, in newsletters and on social media. The theater's signage can also be used to promote vendors during the event.
• Event integration: Integrating vendors with the event's theme creates a more cohesive experience. Our theater can partner with a local business for exclusive pre-show events or themed offerings.
• Advertising space: Offering space in the show's program or providing signage areas near the vendor's booth can increase a vendor's visibility to patrons.
• Operational and logistical support and security: Both the theater and vendors need a secure environment, especially when handling cash and valuable products. A theater with in-house security services can be a major selling point for vendors.
• Dedicated support staff: An in-house event manager who can assist with setup, logistics, and troubleshooting helps the event run smoothly and ensures a positive experience for vendors.

Celebrate Special Events

We host a wide variety of special events, moving beyond traditional staged performances, which include movie screenings to accommodate private and corporate functions.

Personal Celebrations

• Birthday parties: The most common personal event, offering a private theater viewing of a new release or classic film, often with special party rooms and concession deals.
• Family reunions: An ideal way to gather a large group for a fun and unique experience.
• Anniversaries: Couples can book a private screening of a favorite movie to celebrate their relationship.
• Marriage proposals: BRG can provide theme consultation and a cornucopia of options and floral arrangements.
• Homegoing celebrations: Theaters can provide a respectful and large space for showing a memorial slideshow or home movies to honor a loved one's life.
• Services: Our theater does rent out their auditoriums for church fundraisers & services, on a non repetitive basis.
• Graduation parties: Families can rent a space to show a graduate's achievements on the big screen.
• Quinceañera, Bat/Bar Mitzvah, Cotillion, Fashion extravaganza, Casting Calls/Photo shoots, Theme events: Additional events include but are not limited to these celebrations.

Business and Corporate Events

• Corporate meetings and presentations: Our theater is equipped with additional rental opportunities for advanced audio-visual technology and comfortable seating. An excellent venue for business meetings, conferences, training seminars, and speaking tours.
• Employee appreciation and holiday parties: Companies can treat their staff to a private movie screening and a catered event.
• Product launches: Businesses can rent and leverage the screen and cinematic experience to make a big impact when unveiling new products.

Entertainment and Community Gatherings

• Gaming events: Our large screen and powerful sound systems make us a top choice for esports tournaments or private video game parties.
• Film festivals and premieres: We often host local and independent film festivals or private premieres for filmmakers to screen their work.
• Educational field trips: Schools can book a private, educational film screening for students.
• Live performances: We are the perfect size for rental of an intimate venue at 250 seats, with an array accessories and accoutrements, with thematic preferences of your choice.
• Patio: We also have a courtyard space with sound and lighting equipment as we sometimes host live music, comedy shows, and other performances in the outdoor space.
• Themed movie nights: Sometimes we host thematic/programmatic special screenings of topical and/or cult classics, throwbacks, or other themed content for the specific audience or general public.

New Arts Experience

New playwrights opportunities exist through quality submissions. NEW ARTS EXPERIENCE runs concurrently with our MAINSTAGE season. Our development program lets new playwrights' offers theater companies and their patrons with fresh work.

The New Arts Experience provides unique alternative for writers avenues for exposure. Showcasing their work by submitting to smaller indie theaters, community theater festivals, and university programs can also provide additional visibility and a chance for more stage play production.

The Berkeley-based Black Repertory Group (BRG) has a long history of arts education, dating back to its founding in 1964 as a church drama program for youth. Over the decades, the group developed several arts-focused programs as part of its mission to educate the Black community and serve underprivileged populations.

Founding vision: Nora Vaughn founded the BRG with the goal of teaching Black children their history through the works of Black playwrights. The program initially offered a creative outlet for church youth and gave a voice to the Black community through theater.

Multifaceted mission: The BRG expanded over time to encompass a multi-stage approach to theater arts education, using the theatrical process to build confidence and communication skills in young people.

Current Promotions

The '1/2 off til Nov' promotion is a potential discount campaign for our 61st Season, starting on September 1st thru October and lasting until November 31st. This promotion is only until the approved date. BRG will hold this offer until Black Friday.

Black November: Many retailers kick off their holiday sales in November, a month-long event called 'Black November.' BRG is offering a discount like 'half off' is a way to celebrate our patrons.

Discounts for Specific Groups

• Students and younger audiences: Many theaters offer discounted tickets to young people to foster a new generation of theater-goers. Age qualifications vary, with some theaters setting the limit at under 30, under 35, or under 40.
• Seniors: Patrons over a certain age, often 60 & older can receive reduced prices.
• Teachers: Educators are sometimes offered special rates to encourage their engagement with the arts.
• Military personnel: Special rates may be available for military members.
• Community and loyalty members: Free or paid loyalty programs can give members access to exclusive discounts on tickets and concessions.
• Season ticket holders: Theaters incentivize season-long commitments with lower per-show prices and exclusive perks like priority seating, free ticket exchanges, and discounts on concessions.

The Big News

This past fall we began hosting classes in filmmaking effectively. We offer a structured curriculum that builds on core storytelling principles and gradually introduces more complex techniques tailored to each specific skill levels.

The course culminates in a final project where students will apply their knowledge, with special guest filmmakers providing inspiration and real-world insights.

We welcome veteran Film makers. She will host a course on NOV. 15 2025.

Special Guest Filmmakers

The guests will cover a range of expertise to appeal to all levels and showcase different career paths.

• Mobile film festival winner: A filmmaker who has successfully created award-winning work using only a smartphone can inspire students by demonstrating the artistic potential of the technology.
• Cinematographer or camera operator: Discusses lighting, composition, camera movement, and practical 'DIY' gear hacks for mobile devices.
• Sound designer or mixer: Teaches the underappreciated but critical importance of high-quality audio and explains how to capture and design sound effectively.
• Writer/director: Shares their process for developing ideas, scripting, and directing actors, emphasizing that story is always the priority.
• Editor: Walks students through the editing process, from assembling a sequence on a phone or computer to the final color grading and export.

Curriculum