The last time the Berkeley Rep — one of the largest and most-renowned theaters on the West Coast — staged a live show in March 2020, the world was still getting used to the idea of outdoor masking. After a year of empty stages and worldwide racial reckoning, the Rep is ready to welcome back live crowds this October with shows that promise to “transport, inspire, challenge and thrill” returning audiences. What’s more, artistic director Johanna Pfaelzer has commissioned a handful of new works to premiere in the years to come.