Events › Berkeley Rep Docent Talk: Out of Character

Join us for a Docent talk about Berkeley Rep’s latest production Out of Character, a world premiere written and performed by Ari’el Stachel and directed by Tony Taccone.

Before he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (The Band’s Visit), Ari’el Stachel grew up in Berkeley, an Israeli American of Yemeni Jewish descent. Then came 9/11. Desperate to avoid taunts and threats at school, Ari hides his Middle Eastern background – setting off a years-long journey of trying on different identities, code switching, and navigating debilitating anxiety. Now a successful stage and screen actor, Ari comes home to Berkeley and joins with former artistic director Tony Taccone to tell his story in his new solo show. Out of Character explores the intersections of race, mental health, and survival in a way that’s raw, authentic, and entertaining. Out of Character was developed in The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.

Berkeley Rep Docent Talks provide context and lively discussions around their current productions. You do not need to have seen the play to enjoy and participate in this presentation.