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The Actors Ensemble of Berkeley presents Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u201d from Aug. 22 to Sept. 7. Credit: Jane Shamaeva<\/p>\nThe Actors Ensemble of Berkeley presents Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream\u201d from Aug. 22 to Sept. 7. Credit: Jane Shamaeva<\/p>\n
Never miss local events!\u00a0Sign up for Berkeleyside\u2019s arts and culture newsletter, The Scene<\/a>. And check out our\u00a0roundup of affordable things to do anytime in Berkeley<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfad The Berkeley Actors Ensemble\u2019s Summer Season continues with Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream,\u201d a production adapted and directed by Michael R. Cohen with Ben Prusiner that leans into the madcap spirit of the Bard\u2019s tangled skein of love stories. Saturdays-Sundays, Aug. 22-Sept. 6 (and Monday Sept. 7), 4 p.m. John Hinkel Park. FREE (donation requested and reservations highly recommended)<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\uddf5 Games of Berkeley is hosting a Hobbit-inspired cozy craft night, where you can bring your own craft to complete or buy one at the store (options include origami, needle felting, coloring books and more). Snacks will be available to munch on. Thursday, Aug. 20, 4-7 p.m. 2510 Durant Ave. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udd2a Put your thinking caps on at \u201cMurder\u2026 at the Winery,\u201d an immersive improv-meets-murder-mystery show where two amateur podcasters uncover the death of a winery heiress, and audience members will help them narrow down the culprit from a list of suspects while enjoying wines from Hammerling Wines. Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. 1350 Fifth St. $67-160<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb6 Berkeley guitarist and arranger Tony Corman\u2019s Morchestra returns to Ashkenaz with his talent-packed 16-piece band and the supremely suave vocalist Nicolas Bearde, delivering a repertoire that ranges from bebop to Earth, Wind & Fire. Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. Ashkenaz. $20-$25<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\uddbc\ufe0f The ACCI Gallery debuts its newest exhibition \u201cZone 0,\u201d where artists and gardeners explore how to decorate home gardens without compromising wildfire resilience efforts in Berkeley and California. Exhibition runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 27. 1652 Shattuck Ave. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udc04 Whether you\u2019re a mahjong master or want to learn for the first time, come join an open session of Hong Kong\/Canto Mahjong. Mahjong coaches will be available to teach the game to beginners, and up to four tables will be available for experienced players. Saturday, Aug. 22, 1-4 p.m. Central Library. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda The Berkeley Poetry Festival presents Poetry Takes Root, a fundraiser featuring poetry readings by Natasha Dennerstein, Jennifer Hasegawa and James Cagney, as well as music, tarot readings, refreshments and prizes. Proceeds will go towards the festival\u2019s expansion of programs and opportunities to support poets and their audiences. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2-4:30 p.m. FREE (donations encouraged)\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf19 Enjoy the remaining hours of summer evenings at Fourth Street\u2019s Berkeley Nights, a night market featuring local makers, live music, lawn games and beginner line dancing lessons. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2-6 p.m. 1919 Fourth St. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udd8c\ufe0f Berkeley artist Yazmin Shi Shi Madriz, well-known for community centered murals, tattoos, photography, and print making, leads a presentation on mural art organized by the Berkeley Public Library that includes a stroll to the nearby mural \u201cSacred Waters Run Deep\u201d on University Avenue and Bonar Street. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2 p.m. Library\u2019s West Branch. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda East Bay author Lexie Sharabianlou will talk about her debut novel \u201cThe Blue Moon Cafe & 24-Hour Occult Emporium,\u201d a tale of a magical witness protection program and a sorceress-in-training, in conversation with Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. Mrs. Dalloway\u2019s Books. FREE (registration recommended)<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udd8c\ufe0f Inspired by her love for the arts, \u201cA Very Laufey Day\u201d encourages fans of Grammy-winning jazz-pop singer Laufey to explore museums, bookstores and other art venues on Sunday, Aug. 23. Berkeley fans are in luck \u2014 the Doug Adams Gallery is on the official Laufey Day itinerary, where you can explore their latest exhibition \u201cMFA 5: What Hands Remember.\u201d Exhibition runs through Sunday, Aug. 23. Gallery is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 2400 Ridge Road. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf77 Have some refreshments under the summer sun at the West Berkeley Art and Wine Walk, with natural wine by Tessier Winery, art and food vendors, an open mic contest, a kids zone and a clothing swap. Sunday, Aug. 23, noon-6 p.m. 1335 Fourth St. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb8 Not Loud Concerts presents Country Boogie Night, a double bill with Rebecca Roudman\u2019s rollicking Dirty Cello and the Alex Lucero Band, a hard-hitting Americana soul outfit. Sunday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. Gilman Brewing. $20<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa5 Filmmaker Poh Si Teng\u2019s documentary \u201cAmerican Doctor\u201d follows three American physicians\u2014 Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian\u2014who\u2019ve volunteered in besieged hospitals in Gaza and, upon returning home, fight for the patients and colleagues they left behind. A Q&A with the director follows the screening. Monday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. Rialto Cinemas Elmwood. $17.25<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfad Adapted from August Strindberg\u2019s \u201cMiss Julie,\u201d Terry Guest\u2019s \u201cMiss Thang!\u201d relocates Strindberg\u2019s titular character from Sweden to a New Orleans mansion owned by a wealthy Creole patriarch in this Shotgun Players-commissioned work about madness, longing, and escape via the sweat and ritual of Black club culture. Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 24-26, 7 p.m. Shotgun Players. $20<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb5 \u201cNight of Mystic Union,\u201d hosted by the Sacred Music Fellowship, will bring together Jewish Mizrahi and Sephardic song into conversation with Turkish Sufi devotional music. Through voice, oud, frame drum, sacred dance and Sufi whirling, the evening will explore the shared modal melodies, devotional poetry, and rhythmic traditions of these cultures through performance, communal singing and movement. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. 2820 Seventh St. $25<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa4 The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism hosts the panel discussion \u201cReporting on AI: Ethics, Accountability and Human Impact\u201d with journalists and Pulitzer grantees Garance Burke, Khari Johnson and Lam Thuy Vo, moderated by journalist and UC Berkeley Lecturer Jamil Smith. Wednesday, Aug. 26, 4 p.m. Logan Multimedia Center at North Gate Hall. FREE (with registration)<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f\u00a0See more things to do\u00a0in\u00a0Oakland<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Richmond<\/a>.\u00a0And check out our big list of\u00a0affordable things to do<\/a>\u00a0anytime in Berkeley.\u00a0Sign up for our\u00a0weekly arts and culture newsletter<\/a>, The Scene.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s an event you\u2019d like us to consider for this roundup, email us at\u00a0the-scene@berkeleyside.org<\/a>. The deadline to submit events for Around Berkeley is end-of-day Monday. If there\u2019s an event that you\u2019d like to promote on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our\u00a0events page<\/a>.<\/p>\n We know that most readers don’t get to the end of the article. But you did! To support our in-depth, rock-solid reporting, please consider making a donation to our nonprofit newsroom today. We rely on our readers \u2014 particularly the ones who read the whole story!<\/p>\n “*” indicates required fields<\/p>\n \t