With an earthquake in one theatre and a ship tossed by stormy seas in the other, Berkeley Repertory Theatre is beset by disasters – but the community loves them. The Tony Award-winning theatre is riding a tidal wave of rave reviews, standing ovations and sold-out houses with its celebrated productions of “after the quake” and “Argonautika.” Amidst record sales at the box office, Berkeley Rep is adding performances of both shows to meet the earth-shattering demand for tickets.

With good reason.

“We’re honored to present two exceptional productions from America’s leading directors — and truly thankful for the phenomenal audience response,“ said Tony Taccone, artistic director. “Add to that Berkeley Rep’s 40th birthday and our recent successes on both coasts, and we certainly have a lot to celebrate. This Thanksgiving, we could not be more grateful.”

“Argonautika” opened in the Roda Theatre on Nov. 7 – and has already broken Berkeley Rep’s record for single-day sales several times. Now the show will sail on for an additional week, but it must close Dec. 23. Next door, on the Thrust Stage, five performances have been added to the run of “after the quake,” but tickets continue to disappear. so an additional matinee will be offered on Dec. 1. Nonetheless, the quake must end on Dec. 2.

Based on the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, “Argonautika” is a new masterpiece from the creator of “Metamorphoses” and “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.” Tony Award-winning director Zimmerman re-envisions Jason’s ancient quest for the Golden Fleece  which brings him into the unknown realms and catapults him into a relationship with a mesmerizing young princess named Medea. It’s journey of love and loss, hubris and honor, danger and adventure with goddess pulling strings all the way. In this magically theatrical production, the perilous voyage makes the case that love is the bane of all mankind – and yet it’s all that we know of heaven on this earth.  

Meanwhile, two incredible talents collide in “after the quake.” Writer Haruki Murakami won Japan’s equivalent of the Pulitzer for novels like “Kafka on the Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle..” Director Frank Galati earned two Tony Awards for  “The Grapes of Wrath.” With this poignant new play, they show us that a storyteller can’t dispel the world’s woes, but he can teach a child — and himself — how to face fear. A timid man woos an old flame, enchanting her anxious daughter with whimsical stories of a six-foot frog’s fight to save Tokyo. The New York Times calls quake “an elegant, economic, gently hypnotic piece of theatre,” and the Los Angeles Times asserts “the emotional aftershocks it carries are profound and lingering.”

In honor of its birthday, Berkeley Rep has introduced new prices that invite everyone to celebrate. Tickets start as low as $33 — with discounts available for students, seniors, and anyone under 30 years of age. Seats for both shows are even more affordable as part of a multi-play subscription package.

Berkeley Rep’s box office is located at 2025 Addison St. For tickets or information, call (510)647.2949 or 888.4.BRT.Tix (toll-free). Even better, buy tickets without waiting on hold by clicking berkeleyrep.org.