November 12, 2025
EBMUD leases Siesta Valley amphitheater
Former Cal Shakes site near Orinda will host performing arts events, community gathering spaces and environmental education programming
OAKLAND - The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors today approved a 15-year lease of the 9-acre amphitheater property at 100 Gateway Boulevard near Orinda to the nonprofit Siesta Valley Foundation (SVF).
The agreement authorizes SVF to restore and operate the venue — formerly home to the California Shakespeare Company, or Cal Shakes — as Siesta Valley Bowl, an amphitheater and performing-arts campus set to reopen in April 2026. The plan advances EBMUD’s mission to manage public lands for cultural enrichment, community engagement and watershed education.
SVF will implement sustainable operations, conservation initiatives and educational programming while ensuring broad community access for the East Bay. The agreement also establishes an EBMUD native plant and bird garden and a Watershed Community Center to advance public understanding of the land’s ecological value and foster environmental awareness.
Highlights of the agreement include:
- 15-year lease (+ 10-year extension) to improve and operate the amphitheater as a financially sustainable, environmentally responsible destination
- 40-50 annual events across music, theater and community programming
- EBMUD native plant and bird garden and Watershed Community Center for public education and environmental literacy
- Opening April 2026 (amphitheater capacity of 540 seated / 750 standing)
- EBMUD will collect rent from the lease as well as partial ticket revenue to support programs such as its Customer Assistance Program, which helps qualified low-income residential customers and eligible homeless shelters with their water bills.
“EBMUD looks forward to seeing this agreement preserve the watershed, revive a regional arts landmark, and generate sustained community and financial value,” said Marguerite Young, EBMUD Board President. “This unique site will once again be a vibrant East Bay destination.”
The Siesta Valley Foundation will oversee conservation, education and nonprofit programming. Venue operations will be managed by Siesta Valley Bowl, Inc., a mission-aligned operator responsible for concerts, food and beverage, private events, and sponsorships. The Bowl will contribute $3 per ticket sold and 10 percent of profits annually to support the foundation’s mission to preserve, protect and enhance Siesta Valley.
“Siesta Valley Bowl is being revitalized for all East Bay communities,” said Tom Romary, founder and chairman of Siesta Valley Bowl Inc. “Our team’s experience in entertainment, hospitality and technology is focused on building a sustainable venue operation that serves local audiences and artists while contributing lasting cultural and economic value to the region.”
The California Shakespeare Theater organization, known as Cal Shakes, operated the Bruns Amphitheater site for many years but dissolved in 2024 citing financial difficulties. In seeking a new lessee for the site, EBMUD prioritized sustainable operations, robust community engagement and watershed protection.
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The East Bay Municipal Utility District has a proud history of providing high-quality drinking water for 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD’s wastewater system serves 740,000 customers and helps protect the ecosystem of San Francisco Bay. EBMUD is a not-for-profit public agency established in 1923.
The Siesta Valley Foundation (SVF) is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to community, conservation and culture in the Siesta Valley watershed. Through its operator, Siesta Valley Bowl, SVF promotes sustainable arts, education and community engagement. www.siestavalley.org