THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE written by Leigh Fondakowski with Greg Pierotti, Stephen Wangh and Margo Hall directed by Leigh Fondakowski April 15–June 5, 2005 The Roda Theatre WORLD PREMIERE running time: 2 hours and 50 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND THROUGH JUNE 5! Added performances—Thursday, June 2, 8PM / Friday, June 3, 8PM / Saturday, June 4, 8PM / final performance Sunday, June 5, 2PM “Astounding…True genius!” (Contra Costa Times) “One of the most penetrating and significant works of the season…Turns the theater into a temple of community healing.” (San Francisco Chronicle) “What you don’t expect is the joy…that’s what comes through.” (Oakland Tribune) Click here to read The People’s Temple feature in the New York Times (You must have Adobe Acrobat to view this document. Download a free Adobe Acrobat reader.) Click here to read The People’s Temple feature in the Los Angeles Times (You must have Adobe Acrobat to view this document. Download a free Adobe Acrobat reader.) Please Join Us for The People’s Temple Dialogues—FREE Would you like a free presentation about this production—at your house? Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to stage the world premiere of The People’s Temple, a theatrical exploration of the roots, the rise and the tragic demise in Jonestown, Guyana of the movement led by the Reverend Jim Jones. The show—which emphasizes moving forward rather than looking back—is directed by Leigh Fondakowski, best known for her work on The Laramie Project, a groundbreaking play that received its West Coast premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2001. As head writer for Laramie, Fondakowski led her collaborators in sculpting interviews with Wyoming residents into a stirring portrait of the effects of hatred on a small town. Her newest work explores the unique mix of radical politics, racial integration and Pentecostal fervor that attracted thousands of followers to Peoples Temple and its leader, Jim Jones. A tale of faith, community and survival, the show spans 25 years of Temple history—which culminated in 1978 with 914 deaths at the jungle settlement known as Jonestown, the assassination of Congressman Leo J. Ryan and the murders of three journalists. The play weaves together gospel music from the Temple, archival materials and interviews with survivors to create a conversation between the living and the dead. After decades enshrouded in secrecy, the stories of Jonestown survivors are now being told, many for the first time. In its quest to make sense of the inexplicable—and perhaps to find healing in the process—The People’s Temple explores this historic event with a candor only hindsight can provide. Produced in association with Z Space Studio. PRODUCTION SPONSORS                            SEASON SPONSOR

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