The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation. Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, standalone events that delve into each of these operas. This event shines a light on Rigoletto by Guiseppe Verdi.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
Calling all theater-lovers and -goers! Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the stories, artists, and productions bringing Berkeley Rep’s 2025/26 season to life — presented by Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Join us as Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen walks us through Cal Performances’ 2025–26 season of over 80 music, dance, and theater performances. He'll share personal insights, anecdotes, and expertise contextualizing what makes each performance a unique and integral part of the upcoming season.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation. Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, standalone events that delve into each of these operas. This event shines a light on Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
OLLI @Berkeley's Fall Open House is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with faculty, members, and the OLLI team as we gear up for the start of a new academic year. Want to chat about upcoming courses? Now's the time! Get a feel for the community? Come on over! Learn about ways to get involved? You bet. You can even register on the spot.
[Free and open to all • Learn more and register]
Over the years, OLLI has offered dozens of writing courses that have helped members express themselves through personal essay, memoir, creative non-fiction, autobiography, and legacy letters. In this month's in-person Vital Aging gathering with Sara Orem, you'll learn ways to weave your ideas and writing into a cohesive whole.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Planning to go to the festive and joyfully packed (about 250,000 visitors last year!) Solano Stroll on Sunday, Sept. 14? Stop by our table in front of 1737 Solano Ave and say hi! We'll be there from 10 AM – 5 PM with fall brochures, good cheer, great info, hopefully-not-melting candy, and some snazzy pens.
Join us for deep dives into war and peace in the Persian Gulf, the economics of health care in the Trump era, AI facts and fallacies, the life and times of MLK, Jr., cybersecurity, the string quartet, opera, Irish literature, planning for retirement, biology and society, and more. All taught by Berkeley faculty and other top scholars. Fall courses are available exclusively for OLLI members. Not a member yet? Learn about membership, fee assistance and new member discounts ... plus all the benefits that come with being part of our vibrant 2,000-strong community!
We exist in a moment when anger, despair and cynicism seem to be everywhere. How do we find balance and even hope amidst the chaos and uncertainty assaulting our communities, country and planet? This online Town Hall panel discussion will focus not only on compelling reasons why a more positive response is warranted, but also on possible pathways of constructive action that can benefit everyone in the interest of the greater good.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Calling all movie buffs! Join us for an exciting day of film-going at the 48th annual Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) on Friday, Oct. 3, plus pre- and post-event talks by MVFF film programmer Karen Davis. This three-part series marks the beginning of an exciting new collaboration between OLLI @Berkeley and the California Film Institute.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
At a time when many people are concerned about the future of American democracy, there is considerable anxiety over the durability of its founding document, the US Constitution. Similarly, there is a pervasive sense of dismay over the vibrancy of the rule of law in the United States. Is all this fear misplaced or overdone? This Words Over Time intergenerational dialogue between OLLI members and Cal undergraduates is intended to forge a civil discussion that is engaging, innovative, transformative, and empowering.
[For members only • Learn more and register]
Are predictions of the dollar's demise greatly exaggerated? Berkeley economist Barry Eichengreen, one of nation's foremost experts on the international financial system, will discuss the implications of the U.S. dollar in the age of cryptocurrency and government deregulation, and the forces propelling both.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation. Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, standalone events that delve into each of these operas. This event shines a light on Parsifal by Richard Wagner.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
What happened to the bold vision of a more democratic, egalitarian and humane America that energized a generation in the 1960s? Why did a movement that sparked sweeping change ultimately fall apart? Professor Barbara Epstein will discuss the driving ideals behind this transformative time and the hard truths behind its decline.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]
The San Francisco Opera’s fall season brings four powerful works to the stage — Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and The Monkey King — each grappling with timeless questions of good and evil, innocence and retribution, punishment and salvation. Join Carol Christ and Naniette Coleman for OLLI @Berkeley's San Francisco Opera Primer, standalone events that delve into each of these operas. This event shines a light on The Monkey King by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang.
[Open to all • Learn more and register]