Performing arts events
Each year hundreds of outstanding productions and personalities visit the campus. The variety has included the Berkeley Jazz Festival, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Lura, Wynton Marsalis, the Talking Heads, George Lucas, and the Kirov Orchestra. Upcoming events are publicized in The Daily Californian and the Berkeleyan, posted on campus bulletin boards and kiosks, and can be found online at events.berkeley.edu.
Cal Performances
Now in its 101st season, Cal Performances serves some 250,000 people annually through performances in Zellerbach Hall and Playhouse, Hertz Hall, Wheeler Hall, the Hearst Greek Theatre, and some off-campus venues; education and community programs; and music festivals and exhibitions. It brings to Berkeley the best artists the world has to offer in jazz, classical, world, and 21st century music, as well as dance, theater and opera. This year's highlights include David Sedaris, the Kirov Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cecilia Bartoli, and Paco de Lucia. Season and other program information can be found online or by picking up a free season program brochure at Cal Performances' Ticket Office. UC Berkeley students receive a 50% discount with valid Cal 1 Card (student ID) (www.calperformances.net; 510/642-9988).
Most Cal Performances departments offer paid positions through the campus work-study program (510/642-0212).
SUPERB Productions
SUPERB (Student Union Programming, Entertainment, and Recreation Board) is a student-run, nonprofit branch of the ASUC, dedicated to providing low-cost entertainment to the campus and community. Programs include: the Friday Film Series in Wheeler Auditorium, free noon concerts on Lower Sproul Plaza, Games Tournaments, free Sneak Previews, Comedy Shows, Free Spring Concert, big name Concerts, and more. You can get involved by working for various departments or by joining the volunteer committee. In return, you'll get free admission to films and concerts, gain professional experience, work with celebrities, and meet other students with similar interests (superb.berkeley.edu; 4 Eshleman Hall; superb@ocf.berkeley.edu; 510/642-7477).
Off-campus events
From museums to hockey games, opera to art openings, you can find out what's happening on the Bay Area entertainment scene by looking in the Datebook section of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Time Out section of the Contra Costa Times, or the free weekly newspapers that come out on Wednesdays including East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
San Francisco Symphony Howard Skinner Student Forum features less than half-price concert series on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings in Davies Symphony Hall. Series tickets are sold pre-season (April through September), during which time student representatives sign up subscribers outside the Cal Student Store. The symphony season runs from September to May. Call the hotline for student rush tickets (www.sfsymphony.org; San Francisco Symphony, Davies Symphony Hall; 415/552-8000).
Tickets
Cal Performances tickets are half-price for UCB students with a Cal 1 Card (student ID). When available, Student Rush Tickets can be purchased for $10 by Berkeley students one hour before curtain time at the box office (Zellerbach Hall, Lower Sproul Plaza; 510/642-9988).
California Golden Bear Student Reserved Season Sports Tickets for all men's and women's events can be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office (calbears.com; M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm; 2223 Fulton Street, first floor; 64-BEARS or 800/GO-BEARS).
TIX sells half-price tickets for same-day Bay Area events; you must, however, come to the box office (cash or travelers checks only). TIX is also a BASS/tickets.com and Ticketmaster outlet (theatrebayarea.org/tix/; Union Square, on Powell between Post and Geary, San Francisco; 415/433-7827).
Online ticketing
You can get tickets on the web for many Bay Area venues including popular San Francisco nightspots at Ticketweb (ticketweb.com). The site includes information on age restrictions and drink minimums, where applicable, and the service charges are considerably less than those you might find at Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com).