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The Reservoir

Fri 5 Sep - Sun 12 Oct
Fri Sep 5
-
Sun Oct 12

Tickets now on sale

By Jake Brasch
Directed by Mike Donahue
Peet’s Theatre

Josh is a hot mess of a queer twenty-something. He’s dropped out of school to get his life together — but can’t manage to stay sober. Struggling with fogginess and memory loss, he finds unlikely allies in his four hilarious grandparents. Desperate for a sense of purpose, Josh sets out to bring them along on his road to recovery. He drags them to Jazzercise at the JCC. He makes them play memory games. He insists they eat spinach by the handful. Eventually, he slams up against the limits of his quest. When he can no longer help his grandparents, they begin to help him. The Reservoir is Jake Brasch’s sharply funny and deeply heartfelt new comedy about family, memory, and the path toward healing.

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Important dates

  • Masks required: Sep 7, Sep 14 (matinee and evening), Sep 16, and Sep 21 (matinee)
  • Closed captioning: evenings Sep 11, 12, 14, 16, and 17; and every matinee through Oct 9
  • Audio description: Oct 11 matinee
  • Theatre Explorers: Sep 27 matinee — K–5 workshop for families; learn more about bringing children to the theatre
  • Postshow discussions: Sep 19, Sep 25, and Sep 30 — guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team
  • Docent-led postshow discussions: after all matinees

Who’s who

Cast

Michael Cullen | Hank
Ben Hirschhorn | Josh
Barbara Kingsley | Irene
Pamela Reed | Bev
Wiley Naman Strasser | Hugo/Others
Peter Van Wagner | Shrimpy
Brenda Withers | Patricia/Others
Nancy Carlin | Understudy Bev/Irene
Jennifer McGeorge | Understudy Patricia/Others
Joel Ochoa | Understudy Josh/Hugo/Others
Victor Talmadge | Understudy Shrimpy/Hank

 

Creative team

Jake Brasch | Playwright
Mike Donahue | Director
Afsoon Pajoufar | Scenic Design
Carolyn Mazuca | Costume Design
Alexander V. Nichols | Lighting Design
Jake Rodriguez | Sound Design
Erika Chong Shuch | Movement
David Möschler | Music Director
Caparelliotis Casting / David Caparelliotis CSA and Joe Gery | Casting
Elisa Guthertz | Stage Manager
Emma Walz | Assistant Stage Manager (Sep 5–28, Oct 6–12)
Anthony Lopez | Assistant Stage Manager (Sep 29–Oct 5)

The actors and stage managers on this production are members 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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Accessibility

Berkeley Rep is wheelchair accessible and offers assistive listening devices (ALDs), closed captioning, audio description, and scripts 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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