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Photo: Kevin Berne

How Shakespeare Saved My Life

Fri 23 Jan - Sun 1 Mar

Written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent
Directed by Tony Taccone
A co-production with Folger Theatre and Red Bull Theater
World premiere
Peet’s Theatre

“America tried to take my life, and somehow a five-hundred-year-old white dude saved it.”

In an autobiographical and music-filled tour-de-force, award-winning performer Jacob Ming-Trent dares to rescue himself from the “slings and arrows” of his past. Born with a gift for poetry but rejected as unfit to play the poet, his search for home yields results both hilarious and tragic. Invoking artistic geniuses like Biggie, Tupac, and Basquiat, he takes us on a propulsive ride that reaffirms the power of language and music. Directed by Tony Taccone, How Shakespeare Saved My Life begins with the Bard but becomes a ritual of communal salvation.

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“Brilliant and eminently theatrical.”
San Francisco Chronicle
“The unlikely combination of Shakespeare and hip-hop becomes a compelling tribute to the power of language and music.”
East Bay Times
“A captivating showcase for everything Ming-Trent has to offer. He’s warm, funny and easy to like.”
Theater Dogs
“Nothing short of a must-see…an incredible mixture of gripping intensity, laugh-out-loud fun, and exciting engagement.”
Theatre Eddys
“The way he brings every fiber of his Black, funny, beautifully generous self to Shakespeare — feels like a gift.”
Local News Matters
“Ming-Trent champions joy and love. His message rings true.”
Theatrius
“Live theater at its best, nothing you can fully experience through streaming, film, or any other art form.”
CultureVulture
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Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life. Photo: Kevin Berne
Zoom in
Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life. Photo: Kevin Berne
Zoom in
Jacob Ming-Trent in How Shakespeare Saved My Life. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Production information

  • Runtime: 95 minutes, no intermission
  • Age recommendation: Suitable for ages 12 and up
  • Stage effects advisory: Use of theatrical haze, strobe, and loud sound effects including gunshots
  • Content advisory: Contains strong language, references to drug use, suicidal ideation, gun violence, police violence, and discussions of racism and mental health

 

Important dates

  • Masks required: Jan 25, Feb 1 (matinee and evening), Feb 3, and Feb 8 (matinee)
  • Closed captioning: evenings Jan 29 and 30, Feb 1, 3, and 4; and every matinee through Feb 26
  • Audio description: Feb 28 matinee
  • Theatre Explorers: Feb 14 matinee — K–5 workshop for families
  • Postshow discussions: Feb 6, Feb 12, and Feb 17 — guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team
  • Docent-led postshow discussions: after all matinees

Who’s who

Cast

Jacob Ming-Trent* | Jacob

 

Creative team

Jacob Ming-Trent | Playwright
Tony Taccone | Director
Tiffany Rachelle Stewart | Choreographer
Takeshi Kata | Scenic Design
Danielle Preston | Costume Design
Alan C. Edwards | Lighting Design
Jake Rodriguez | Sound Design and Original Music
Alexander V. Nichols | Projections Design
Sofie Miller* | Stage Manager
Paige Weissenburger | Assistant Stage Manager

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Season presenting sponsor

Peet’s Coffee

Season sponsor

I Fly OAK

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Directions, parking, dining tips, and visitor info to make your theatre experience smooth and enjoyable.

Accessibility

Berkeley Rep is wheelchair accessible and offers assistive listening devices (ALDs), closed captioning, and audio description for the hearing-impaired.

Health and safety

In the 2025/26 season, masks are encouraged for all performances, but are required in our theatres on select Sunday and Tuesday performances.

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