The East Bay Municipal Utility District on Dec. 1 signed a 15-year lease agreement with the nonprofit group Siesta Valley Foundation (SVF). The lease covers the 9-acre amphitheater property located at 100 Gateway Boulevard and authorizes SVF to restore and operate the venue, formerly home to Cal Shakes, as Siesta Valley Bowl. 
 
    Lafayette resident Campbell Foster, chairman and co-founder of SVF, expanded upon the group’s vision, stating that currently they are putting together a 2026 season, which they would like to open in April. Foster, who has 25 years of experience in entertainment marketing, revealed that the first production will be something from Shakespeare produced by a local professional theater group.  

    Michael Karp, owner of The Fourth Bore Tap Room and Grill in Orinda, is the co-founder of SVF. Karp previously worked for Live Nation Entertainment, the world's largest live entertainment company, and AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) a massive global sports and live entertainment company. SVF is currently seeking additional board members.  Local attorney Joe Meccas is serving as the group’s pro bono attorney.

    Foster says that the group’s goal for next year is to have 20 live music events from April to the end of October. If the season is 214 days, the concert schedule will leave 194 days for other things. SVF would like to see community performances, including school orchestras and theater productions. They hope to have music for about 10% of available time.  

    He added that “Anybody can rent [the venue] out at cost, but we don’t know what cost is yet.” The group wants to continue having camps and educational programs, but not theatre camps, as Cal Shakes had offered.  When asked what an afterschool program could look like, Foster confirmed that education will continue to be a big part of life at the Siesta Valley Bowl. He has already been speaking with Tana Barnett, the music director of Campolindo High School, about the school’s use of the Siesta Valley Bowl for some performances.

    Foster suggested that there will be resources for birders, hikers and conservationists. EBMUD has said that 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. SVF has had preliminary talks with the Friends of the Orinda Nature Area about what programs might be possible at the venue.

    “Siesta Valley Bowl is being revitalized for all East Bay communities,” according to 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.”

    Foster concluded that former Cal Shakes donors have been very curious and interested in the success of the new venture.  He added that SVF would like to be more involved with the Lamorinda community, while at the same time serving as an asset for the whole East Bay.  He criticized Cal Shakes for never, for example, performing at local schools, which he now sees as a possibility, as well as having local schools performing at Siesta Valley Bowl.
    For more information, visit: https://siestavalley.org/