Oakland Public Theater

is a dynamic theater company reflecting Oakland’s rich community. Our mission is to reexamine the American experience by presenting not only new works, but also those traditional pieces capable of acknowledging our roots as a diverse culture.

From the Rickerby Hinds’ highly praised hip hop Blackballin’ to Eugene O’Niell’s The Great God Brown to Wendy Belden’s Run Perfectly Still, Oakland Public Theater (OPT) challenges the vision of a black theater company: more diverse, with classical and contemporary works spanning issues from slavery to adoption to schizophrenia.

OPT is breaking the limitations of what defines our cultural identity and experience.  Committed to staying in tune and moving forward with the community,  OPT’s re:storying  Project, our theater for families, has reached over 2000 children in libraries throughout the Bay Area.  In addition, OPT has sponsored two East Bay Theater Summits, bringing together over 20 theater companies to improve the current theater scene.