The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, directed by Jay Manley with Jane Goodwin

One of the most treasured comedies in English-speaking theater, Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST never fails to delight and amuse audiences - and it provides nine of the most delicious roles in the canon.  A madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret romantic engagements, and acute social class satire, EARNEST also contains one of the theater’s wittiest and most sophisticated texts.  

EARNEST opens October 2nd, 2026 and runs through Friday/Saturday and Sunday matinees through October 18th. Live Oak Theater is at 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, within (a long) walking distance of downtown Berkeley BART. our Fall 2026 production in Live Oak Theater, Berkeley of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, directed by Jay Manley, assisted by Jane Goodwin. After a long absence, Actors Ensemble of Berkeley will return to the charming and intimate Live Oak Theatre for this re-imagining of this theater classic.

Advance Tickets (including fees) are $30 general, $25 senior/under 30, $22 wheelchair users and their companions, $15 early bird (limited availability)
Tickets at the door are $30, Cash and Venmo accepted
Pay-What-You will tickets at curtain time.

Cast:

Jack - Nikolas Greene
Lady Bracknell - Paulette Herring
Gwendolen - Bri Hunter
Algernon - Moshe Quinn
Cecily - Sophie Ruf
Miss Prism - Linda Scaparotti
Rev. Chasuble - Mark Shepard
Lane/Merriman - Jeff Trescott

Crew and Creatives:

Director - Jay Manley
Associate Director - Jane Goodwin 
Stage Manager - José Garcia
Costume Designer - Lyre Alston
Lighting Design - Michael Sweeney
Properties - Susan Dunn
Producer - Jerome Solberg