Live Theater for Live People
Shotgun Players exists to light up the Bay Area with exhilarating, come-as-you-are live theater. The eye-opening experiences we share push through the static in a way that’s both provocative and disarming, because when there’s no screen between you and the power of the stage, we’re connected and invigorated.
the magnolia ballet
video on demand – Now through September 6
Did you miss the run of The Magnolia Ballet at the Ashby Stage? Well, you can still catch the video-on-demand!
The Magnolia Ballet is a tale of four men: a son, a lover, an ancestor, and a father. They dance in the sticky heat of a rural, Southern Gothic landscape fraught with secrets and possibilities. With expansive poetry and whispered prose, this piece births resilience underneath the bloom of fresh magnolias.
shotgun spotlight
Join us for coffee and cookies on the first Friday of every month from 10:30 AM to 12 PM at the Shotgun Studios (1201 University Ave.) as we meet some of the most influential theater makers in the Bay Area. Each session will begin with an interview about their history and artistic endeavors, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and a group discussion.
Tickets are pay-what-you-can.
JONATHAN SPECTOR
SEPTEMBER 5
ELIZABETH CARTER
OCTOBER 3
SUSANNAH MARTIN
NOVEMBER 7
shotgun players 2026
PROUDLY ANNOUNCING OUR 34th SEASON
SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE OCTOBER 6
Support our work
Shotgun Players Needs You!
Thank you for being part of our community! We have an ambitious season ahead with 150 local artists who are eager to create theater that will inspire us all. But we can’t do it without you! Every single donation makes it all possible.
Checks can be made payable to Shotgun Players at:
Shotgun Players
1901 Ashby Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
To donate over the phone, call Joanie McBrien, Director of Development at 510.841.6500 ext. 301
Donations to Shotgun Players are fully tax deductible. Our nonprofit tax ID number is 94-3265879
Everyone is Welcome Here
bold, relevant, affordable theatre
Accessibility
Shotgun Players is committed to creating a theatre experience that embraces audiences and artists of all abilities. We are always looking for new ways to make our events inclusive and accessible.
Mad Tickets
We make a lot of theatre with and for young folks, so if you’re 25 or under, you can get in for $12! Also, keep an eye out for MAD NIGHTS where we offer FREE pizza and drinks, including beer for those 21 and older. Spread the word!
Diversity
Our commitment to an inclusive community takes center stage. Explore how we champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and strive to make our spaces affordable, accessible, and free of bias and injustice.