Hearst Greek Theatre

2001 Gayley Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

The William Randolph Hearst Greek Theater, known locally as simply the Greek Theater, is an amphitheater owned and operated by the University of California , Berkeley, Berkeley, California , USA.

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

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

Hearst Greek Theater (1903) is a 6,500-seat amphitheater set in the hills. The first campus building designed by campus architect John Galen Howard, the theater was a gift from late newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The Greek Theater of Berkeley uses the ancient amphitheater of Epidaurus, Greece, as a model, but it also includes Roman elements.

Based on the ancient theater of Epidaurus, the "Greek," as locals call it, lets you enjoy concerts in an elegant open-air setting at the base of the Berkeley Hills, on the edge of the U.C. The campus of Berkeley. A gift from William Randolph Hearst, a millionaire publisher of his name, the theater opened in September 1903—but even before it was officially opened, President Theodore Roosevelt addressed young graduates earlier that year as part of the U.C. Berkeley's celebration of the beginning, as the finishing touches were still on the theater.

Graduation ceremonies are still held here every year, along with performances by headliners such as James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Cheryl Crow, and local Green Day boys. Take it from Jeff Tweedy, the leader of the alt-rock band Wilco, who called The Greek the most beautiful concert venue in the world.

Through its efforts at the Greek Theater, Another Planet Entertainment continues to set the standard for environmentally responsible concert production. In 2006, it was the first major music venue to fully implement the environmental program during the concert season. In 2007, APE again made history at The Greek, becoming the first major music venue to implement a site-wide composting program, gathering and composting all food scraps, plates, utensils and napkins. All recycled paper and bathroom products are used throughout the premises. If you have any questions, there is an on-site Green Team to help train concert participants on best practices for recycling and composting.