Hearst Greek Theatre

Infobox_nrhp | name =Hearst Greek Theatre
nrhp_type =

---

caption = Sign at the front entrance to the Greek Theatre
location= Gayley Road, Berkeley, California
lat_degrees = 37
lat_minutes = 52
lat_seconds = 25.66
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 122
long_minutes = 15
long_seconds = 11.58
long_direction = W
locmapin = California
area =
built =1903
architect= John Galen Howard
architecture= Greek Revival
added = March 25, 1982
governing_body = State
mpsub=Berkeley, University of California MRA
refnum=82004644cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre, known locally as simply the Greek Theatre, is an 8,500-seat amphitheater owned and operated by the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California, USA.

The Greek Theatre hosts The Berkeley Jazz Festival, pop, rock, and world music concerts, UC Berkeley graduation ceremonies, occasional addresses by noted speakers, and other events. Past speakers include President Theodore Roosevelt, William Randolph Hearst, and the Dalai Lama.

History

The Greek Theater was built in 1903 on the site of a rough outdoor bowl already in use as an amphitheater since 1894 known as "Ben Weed's Amphitheater". The project was championed by University of California president Benjamin Ide Wheeler and was the first University building designed by John Galen Howard. Its construction was financed by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, after whom it was named. The design of the theater is based directly on the ancient Greek theater of Epidaurus.

It officially opened on September 24, 1903 with a student production of "The Birds" by Aristophanes. However, while still under construction in May 1903, the theatre hosted a graduation ceremony with an address by President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a friend of Wheeler's from New York.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Over the years, the Greek Theatre has seen performances from hundreds of musical and theatrical artists including the Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, Sarah Bernhardt, Dave Matthews Band, Mickey Rooney, Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Sarah McLachlan, Bob Dylan, Manu Chao, Tracy Chapman, Arcade Fire, The String Cheese Incident, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Death Cab for Cutie, Daft Punk, and Stone Temple Pilots. The Greek has also long been the venue for a number of annual UC Berkeley events including departmental graduation ceremonies, the Commencement Convocation for graduating seniors, and the Big Game Bonfire Rally before the Big Game each year with Stanford.

Gallery

ee also

*List of contemporary amphitheatres

References

*cite web
title = UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre turns 100 years old this month
url = http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/09/11_greek.shtml
accessyear = 2005
accessdate = October 3
author = UC Berkeley Media Relations
*cite web
title = About Us-History
url = http://ls.berkeley.edu/dept/theater/AboutUs/history.html
accessyear = 2005
accessdate = October 3
author = UC Berkeley Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
*cite web
title = Greek Theatre Technical Specifications
url = http://facilities.calperfs.berkeley.edu/greek/techspecs.php
accessyear = 2005
accessdate = October 3
author = [http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/ Cal Performances]