Gemma Megumi Fa-Kaji

Madison Logan V. Phan

BERKELEY — Berkeley Repertory Theatre may be celebrating its 40th birthday, but in the theater’s next show, the spotlight is on two local girls.

Tony Award-winner Frank Galati has cast 6-year-old Gemma Megumi Fa-Kaji of Berkeley and 9-year-old Madison Logan V. Phan of Richmond in “After the Quake,” a play based on the book of the same name by acclaimed author Haruki Murakami.

The pair alternates playing the role of Sala, a child who lives in Kobe.

“Sala is the fulcrum in this story,” Galati remarks. “The center of the center. She’s this warm, intelligent child with a delightful sense of humor — yet she’s legitimately terrified in the aftermath of the Kobe quake.

“The adults’ need to protect her and make her feel secure drives everything else in the play, so in a very real way, ‘After the Quake’ is launched by the little girl, and it’s landed by the little girl.

“It’s a wonderful role for a young actor, and I look forward to revisiting it with these two young girls, and to continuing to explore this play with the cast for the Berkeley Rep production.”

A Berkeley native, Gemma is enrolled in first grade at Thousand Oaks Elementary School. She has staged numerous productions for family and friends, but “After the Quake” will be her theatrical debut.

In addition to acting and playwriting, she enjoys singing, dancing, swimming, playing soccer, and creating art in any form.

Madison, a fourth-grader at St. John the Baptist School in El Cerrito, began training with the Berkeley Ballet Theater when she was 3 years old, and has appeared annually in the company’s spring showcase and “The Nutcracker.”

Over the past two years, she has also participated in the Summer Theatre Camp at California Shakespeare Theater, performing in student productions of “Macbeth” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”

The girls share their slice of Berkeley Rep’s birthday cake with four seasoned actors from film, television, and Broadway: Paul H. Juhn, Keong Sim, Jennifer Shin, and Hanson Tse.

Two musicians, Jason McDermott on cello and Jeff Wichmann on koto, provide live music for the onstage party.

All of them appear on Berkeley Rep’s intimate Thrust Stage, located at 2025 Addison St. near Shattuck, one block from Berkeley’s downtown BART station and close to AC Transit bus lines.

“After the Quake” begins previews on Friday, Oct. 12, opens Wednesday, Oct. 17, and closes Sunday, Nov. 25.

The show is based on the stories “Honey Pie” and “Superfrog Saves Tokyo” from Murakami’s novel After the Quake. It comes to Berkeley from Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and is produced in association with La Jolla Playhouse.

In honor of its birthday, Berkeley Rep has introduced new prices that invite everyone to celebrate. Tickets start as low as $27, with discounts available for students, seniors, and anyone under 30 years of age. Seats are even more affordable as part of a multi-play subscription package.

For tickets or information, call (510) 647-2949 or 888-4-BRT-Tix, or go on-line to www.berkeleyrep.org.

Dates and Times

Previews: Oct. 12 to 16.

Performances: Oct. 17 to Nov. 25. Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m.

No performances on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 22. No matinees during previews or on Oct. 18, Oct. 27, Nov. 1, Nov. 10 and Nov. 15.

Special Events

Target Teen Night, Friday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Opening night: Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.

Sushi tasting: Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.

Book Club: Friday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m.

Post-play discussions: Thursday, Nov. 1, Tuesday, Nov. 13, and Friday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m.

Docent presentations: Tuesdays, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.; Thursdays, Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.

Prices (Section B, Section A, Premium)

Previews: $27, $33, $37

Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m.: $33, $45, $50

Thursday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m.: $37, $49, $55

Friday at 8 p.m.: $43, $55, $61

Saturday at 8 p.m.: $49, $61, $69

Discounts:

Half-price tickets available for anyone under 30 years of age.

$10 discount for students and seniors one hour before curtain.

For groups of 10 or more, call (510) 647-2918 or e-mail groups [at] berkeleyrep.org.

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