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(l to r) Britt Faulkner, Evelyn Spahr, Katie Lowes, Felicia Curry, and Irene Sofia Lucio in Liberation. Photo: Kevin Berne

Liberation

Fri, Oct 23, 2026 - Sun, Nov 29, 2026

By Bess Wohl
Directed by Whitney White
A co-production with Geffen Playhouse, Studio Theatre, and American Repertory Theater
West Coast premiere
Roda Theatre

It’s 1970s Ohio, and Lizzie has gathered a group of women in a rec center basement to change their lives and maybe the world. Decades later, Lizzie’s daughter delves into her mother’s history to find answers to the feminist revolution’s unanswered questions, reliving those necessary, messy, and impassioned meetings that asked: What does it mean for a woman to be free? Direct from its acclaimed Broadway run, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Bess Wohl (Grand Horizons) and two-time Tony Award-nominated director Whitney White (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) bring ferocious wit and emotional precision to this intensely relevant and bitingly funny memory play about what we inherit, what we forget, and what we’re still fighting to understand.

“An unadulterated pleasure. Powerfully moving and funny. When these women talk, we want to hear every word.” — Critic’s Pick, The New York Times

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“A beautiful West Coast premiere [that] is tailor made for the Bay Area’s progressive mindset.”
BroadwayWorld
“A consciousness-raising masterpiece…One of the best documents, fictional or otherwise, that we will likely get of this period of our history.”
SFist
“‘Liberation’ is a hit…Superb acting and top-notch design enhance the poignant script.”
Theatrius
“A highly entertaining comedy with a serious theme…Lots of fun along the way.”
Local News Matters
“With an extraordinary ensemble, stunning design, and several genuinely thought-provoking moments, Berkeley Rep has delivered a production that invites audiences to reflect.”
Broadway with AJ
“A beautiful West Coast premiere [that] is tailor made for the Bay Area’s progressive mindset.”
BroadwayWorld
“A consciousness-raising masterpiece…One of the best documents, fictional or otherwise, that we will likely get of this period of our history.”
SFist
“‘Liberation’ is a hit…Superb acting and top-notch design enhance the poignant script.”
Theatrius
“A highly entertaining comedy with a serious theme…Lots of fun along the way.”
Local News Matters
“With an extraordinary ensemble, stunning design, and several genuinely thought-provoking moments, Berkeley Rep has delivered a production that invites audiences to reflect.”
Broadway with AJ
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Katie Lowes in Liberation. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Irene Sofia Lucio, Felicia Curry, Evelyn Spahr, and Mary Gordon Murray in Liberation. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Katie Lowes in Liberation. (background, l to r) Irene Sofia Lucio, Evelyn Spahr, and Britt Faulkner. Photo by Kevin Berne
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Felicia Curry and Veronica Otim in Liberation. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Britt Faulkner, Felicia Curry, and Evelyn Spahr in Liberation. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Production information

  • Runtime: Two hours and 20 minutes including one 15-minute intermission
  • Age recommendation: Suitable for ages 13 and up
  • Stage effects advisory: Contains theatrical haze, stage smoke, and onstage smoking of herbal cigarettes
  • Content advisory: Contains adult language, full nudity, and mature themes including sexism, racism, and brief discussions of abuse
  • Phone- and camera-free: To protect the privacy of our performers, this production is phone- and camera-free. Upon arrival, devices must be powered off and locked in secure Yondr pouches. Guests maintain possession of their phones for the duration of the performance. All pouches will be opened at the end of the performance. Anyone caught using a device will be immediately escorted from the theatre and will not be readmitted or refunded.

 

Important dates

  • Masks required: Oct 25 evening, Nov 3 evening, and Nov 8 matinee
  • Closed captioning: evenings Oct 29 and 30, Nov 1, 3, and 4; and every matinee through Nov 24
  • Audio description: Nov 28 matinee
  • Postshow discussions: evenings Nov 5, Nov 13, and Nov 17 — guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team
  • Docent-led postshow discussions: after all matinees

 

Events and extras

  • Rooted in Liberation: Art, Lineage, and Action: Join us on Nov 10 for an illuminating postshow conversation moderated by Meena Harris, Phenomenal Media CEO and New York Times bestselling author. This discussion brings together Eisa Davis, playwright of Bulrusher (Berkeley Rep, 2023) and co-author with Lin-Manuel Miranda of the Broadway musical Warriors; Ericka Huggins, educator, human rights advocate, and former Black Panther Party leader; and Katie Lowes, acclaimed stage and screen actor. Together, they’ll explore Black liberation, feminist movements, and theatrical storytelling, examining the demands of collective action today and the work that remains. Admission to the postshow event is free. Performance tickets sold separately.
  • An Evening Revival: Blues & Soul community celebration: Join us on Nov 13 for a preshow community celebration with Oakland-based, blues and Americana singer-songwriter Miko Marks and her band, singing selections from her new album, Hell or High Water, and more. Arrive early to enjoy complimentary tastings from Theopolis Vineyards and catered light bites. Free with RSVP. Performance tickets sold separately.
  • Theatre Explorers: While you enjoy the Nov 14 matinee, your K–5 student can dive into an exciting, age-appropriate workshop just next door at our School of Theatre! Professional teaching artists lead theatre games and hands-on art projects designed to spark imagination. Registration is $35 per child; advance reservation required.
  • Raising Consciousness: Then and Now: Join us on Nov 18 for a postshow conversation featuring District 7 Berkeley City Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra and University of San Francisco professor of politics Elisabeth Jay Friedman. Dive into an insightful intergenerational conversation exploring the evolution of consciousness-raising, women’s liberation, and strategies for inclusive social justice. Admission to the postshow event is free. Performance tickets sold separately.

Who’s who

Cast

Felicia Curry* | Celeste
Britt Faulkner* | Dora
Katie Lowes* | Lizzie
Irene Sofia Lucio* | Isidora
Gunnar Manchester* | Bill
Mary Gordon Murray* | Margie
Veronica Otim* | Joanna
Evelyn Spahr* | Susan
Rolanda D. Bell | Understudy Celeste, Joanne
Nancy Carlin* | Understudy Isidora, Margie
Rachel Clausen* | Understudy Dora, Lizzie, Susan
Jeremy Kahn* | Understudy Bill

 

Creative team

Bess Wohl | Playwright
Whitney White | Director
David Zinn | Scenic Design
Qween Jean | Costume Design
Cha See | Lighting Design
Palmer Hefferan | Sound Design
Nikiya Mathis | Wigs and Hair Design
C12 Casting, Jillian Cimini, CSA | Casting
Gigi Buffington | Voice and Dialect Coach
Kelsey Rainwater | Intimacy Consultant
Annabel Heacock | Associate Director
Andie Leigh Burns* | Stage Manager
Kathleen Rose Gallardo* | Assistant Stage Manager

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

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