Andy Liu
Cal students in the Bare Troupe group performed show tunes at Sather Gate. They were among several student singing groups featured during the day.
Steven Finacom
Cal students in the Bare Troupe group performed show tunes at Sather Gate. They were among several student singing groups featured during the day.
Steven Finacom
Lines were long outside many of the venues but umbrellas closed up as the drizzling rain diminished.
Andy Liu
The Pi Clown comedy troupe performed in front of hundreds of adults and children in Pauley Ballroom at Cal Performance's Free for All day in Berkeley.
Steve Finacom
Balloons marked the best routes from venue to venue through the Berkeley campus.
Steve Finacom
The Men’s and Women’s Chorale Ensembles joined forces for a Sproul Plaza performance.
Steve Finacom
There were elements of both cacophony and musical precociousness in the “Instrument Petting Zoo” for children on the third floor of the Student Union.
Steve Finacom
Perfect Fifth, another Cal student group, had an enthusiastic set of younger fans in the breezeway between the Music Department buildings.
Steven Finacom
Lower Sproul Plaza in front of Zellerbach Hall was filled with a large performance tent and food, information, and entertainment booths, providing shelter from the morning rain.
Steven Finacom
We ran into Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington who happily showed off his autographed copy of the autobiography of actress Jane Lynch. She spoke in Pauley Ballroom.
Steven Finacom
Two spectators waited in vain for an outdoor dance performance in the Eucalyptus Grove. It was apparently cancelled because of the rain.
Steven Finacom
As the afternoon wore on, weary attendees took a break in front of Zellerbach Hall, while others lined up under the portico to buy tickets to upcoming Cal Performances events. Pairs of tickets were discounted 25% for those who had signed up in advance on the Cal Performances website.
The first rain storm of the season dampened the morning of the second annual Cal Performances “Free For All” on the UC Berkeley campus and drove many of the attendees and some of the shows inside. But by mid-afternoon the sun was coming out and thousands of spectators had made their way to dozens of free events spread out over several concert halls, auditoriums, and plazas.
The all day, second annual, September 25, 2011 event showcased performances from Gamelan Sari Raras to African music and dance, to Cal spirit songs and improvisational clowning. No tickets were needed, and seating was first come, first served.
The program was open to the general public, and it appeared that thousands responded. Walking about the campus and pausing to look at many of the events we ran into Cal students, staff, alumni, Berkeley townspeople, and visitors from as far away as San Jose. Here’s a photo essay of just a fraction of the performances and sights on Sunday.
