Shotgun Players 2027 Season: our 35th anniversary

Shotgun Players 35th Season: Let's Go! A rocket marked Live Theater 2027 blasts off trailing bands of green, purple, orange and blue

Shotgun Players

proudly announcing our

Our 35th Anniversary Season, 2027

Little Theater. Big Plays.

The 2027 Season

Here we are, kicking off our 35th anniversary season, and it still feels like we’re just getting STARTED!

What we’re working with: An insatiable hunger to tackle something new; that curious, learner’s mindset; that relentless desire to foster deeper connections with our artists and audience. These principles are central to our ethos. They are foundational to the art we make and how we make it.

We strive to be your one-stop shop for exhilarating theater that stimulates your heart, mind, and body. We welcome you to celebrate this 35th anniversary milestone with the promise that the best is yet to come. Let’s go!

Get on board before Dec 13 and get a FREE TICKET for a friend!(Not included with the Flex Pass)
A View from the Bridge show art

Mar 20 – Apr 18

A View from the Bridge

By Arthur Miller · Directed by Patrick Dooley

It’s 1957 in Brooklyn, and Eddie Carbone has it all. A secure job as a longshoreman, his loyal wife Bea, and doting niece Catherine, who is nearly finished with school. When Eddie welcomes Bea’s immigrant cousins into their home, the idyllic family structure fractures. Arthur Miller’s tragedy explores hidden desires, social unrest, and the cost of revealing the truth. Who gets to live the American Dream?

More about the show
Catch as Catch Can show art

May 22 – Jun 20

Catch as Catch Can

By Mia Chung · Directed by Susannah Martin

Generations collide in this mind-and-form-bending masterpiece where three actors take on six distinct roles, crossing and blurring the lines of age and gender. Set in a blue-collar Rhode Island neighborhood, playwright Mia Chung hits hilarious and heartbreaking hot-button issues in a story that explores family traditions, smoldering resentments, and how your life can change in an instant.

More about the show
The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington show art

Jul 24 – Aug 22Bay Area premiere

The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial ofMiz Martha Washington

By James Ijames · Directed by Aejay Antonis Marquis

The recently widowed “Mother of America” lies alone in her Mount Vernon bed, ravaged by illness and attended to by the enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies. This uproarious form-shifting fever dream takes us deep into the ramifications of one of America’s original sins. Dizzying and fantastical, this Bay Area premiere from Pulitzer winner James Ijames boldly remixes this country’s dark history with a delicate balance of truth and humor.

More about the show
Cold War Choir Practice show art

Sep 25 – Oct 24, 2027

Cold War Choir Practice

By Ro Reddick · Directed by Elizabeth Carter

Set in 1987, this madcap political thriller follows Meek, a 10-year-old girl who fills her days with skating, singing, and daydreaming about how she might save the world from nuclear armageddon. Tensions erupt at the family-owned rink when her conservative uncle brings home his mysteriously ill wife, and Meek is pulled into a bizarre maze of surreal espionage and capitalist cult dynamics. Can she and her Russian pen pals save the world from itself?

More about the show
American Psycho show art

Nov 27, 2027 – Jan 9, 2028

American Psycho

Music & Lyrics by Duncan Sheik · Book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa · Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis · Directed by Josh Marx · Music Direction by Daniel Alley · Choreography by Nicole Helfer

Patrick Bateman is young, handsome, and ridiculously successful. He’s got impeccable taste and unquenchable desires. Patrick and his elite Wall Street cadre spend their time getting into hip restaurants, exclusive clubs, and designer labels. But late at night, Patrick indulges in darker errands, and his mask of sanity is starting to slip. Sexy and psychopathic, American Psycho is a ruthless and daring skewering of American capitalism set in the epicenter of excess. And it’s a musical!

More about the show

The Champagne Staged Reading Series

A grab bag feast of plays from some of our most innovative, contemporary playwrights. Just enough staging and tech to get started, then adrenaline does the rest. A glass of bubbly and a reserved premium seat at every reading.

Apr 26, 27, & 28

Shhhh

Written by Clare BarronDirected by Lana Richards

Penny’s idea of a cool first date is a morbid anatomy museum. Kyle tells stories of dismemberment. Sally’s turn-on is tea and biscuits, and Shareen prepares a mysterious potion. A study in modern love, trauma, bliss, and revenge, Shhhh explores the vulnerability of women’s bodies, the role of kink in relationships, and the blurry line between pleasure and pain.

Jun 14, 15, & 16

The Prince

By Abigail ThornDirected by Ezra T. Howlett

All the world’s a stage for Jen and Sam, two regular people who find themselves trapped inside the Shakespearean canon. The Prince is a queer story of self-discovery that has everything: sword fights, transgender allegory, Hamlet, and disappointed parents.

Aug 16, 17, & 18

Mr. Burnsa post-electric play

By Anne WashburnDirected by Sinjin JonesScore by Michael Friedman

After the grid fails and modern society crumbles, what stories will we remember? What songs will we sing? A paean to live theater and the resilience of Bart Simpson, Washburn’s dark comedy is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another.

Behind the scenes

Miriam’s Place

Our seminars and spotlights explore the creative process behind our plays, with behind-the-curtain insights from industry professionals.

A seminar series

The World of a Play

Get an insider’s perspective on what goes into creating a play, from the first read of a script to full production. Artistic Director Patrick Dooley and collaborating artists lead the way through his own experience directing Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge.

Feb 2 – Mar 22, 20279 sessionsLimit 20

First Fridays

Shotgun Spotlight

Join us for coffee and cookies as we meet some of the most influential theater makers in the Bay Area. Each session begins with an interview about their history and artistic endeavors, followed by questions and a group discussion.

First Friday of every month10:30 AM – 12 PM

See upcoming guests

Why subscribe?

The stronger we are, the better our theater.

Better theater makes a better world.

Lead the Charge

Your subscription provides the support that’s needed to cover all the upfront costs that go along with producing high-quality theater in your community.

Save Money

Up to 20% savings compared to buying single tickets. Subscribe by December 13, 2026 and get an extra ticket for a friend!

Premium Seating

We set aside the best seats for you and your guests. Log in to your account as a subscriber, and see premium seating options that are unavailable to the masses.

Ultimate Flexibility

Life is full of surprises, right? With 24 hours notice, Shotgun subscribers can change their reservations without any annoying fees. One of those last-minute types? Move to the top of the wait list as a subscriber.

Holiday Party

An exclusive invitation to our infamous party at Shotgun Studios.

Join us for our 35th!

Pick your package

Subscribe by December 13and get a complimentary ticket for any non-extension performance (Not included with the Flex Pass).
Our most popular

See it all!

The Superstar

Tickets to all five mainstage productions on any night, plus our Champagne Staged Reading Series. A cool glass of bubbly and a $5 concessions voucher at every mainstage show, and our exclusive First Taste events: an early rehearsal of each production, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Includes the Champagne Staged Readings

5 mainstage shows$300Buy
What’s included
  • Tickets to all 5 mainstage productions and all 3 Champagne Staged Readings.
  • Invitations to five First Taste events, with curated drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
  • A $5 concessions voucher for each performance.
  • First access to Opening Night reservations.
  • First access to the best seats, before single tickets go on sale.
  • Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance.
  • An invitation to our annual holiday party.
Best seller

Select your dates

The Select

One ticket to each show in the season, with early access to the best seats in the house. Select your preferred night and the best seats.

5 shows$175Buy
What’s included
  • Come any night of the run and pick your seats.
  • First access to the best seats, before single tickets go on sale.
  • Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance.
  • An invitation to our annual holiday party.

Cheers!

The Flex Pass

Our most flexible package. A pack of tickets to use any time, for any mainstage show, with a drink with every ticket. Use them all at once for a watch party, or any combination you like!

4PLAY4 tickets + drinks$200Buy
6PACK6 tickets + drinks$270Buy
What’s included
  • A free drink with every ticket.
  • Use your tickets for select shows, or book them all at once.
  • First access to the best seats, before single tickets go on sale.
  • Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance.
  • An invitation to our annual holiday party.
  • Not eligible for the December 13 complimentary ticket.

Wednesdays & previews

The W.O.W.

Join us for any Wednesday or preview performance and enjoy first-pick seating and good vibes at an unbeatable price.

Single$24 a ticket$120Buy
Dual2 tickets to each show$220Buy
What’s included
  • Any Wednesday or preview performance.
  • One ticket (Single) or two tickets (Dual) to each of the 5 mainstage productions.
  • First access to the best seats, before single tickets go on sale.
  • Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance.
  • An invitation to our annual holiday party.

A killer deal

The M.A.D.

If you’re 25 or younger, this subscription is for you. Join us any night and get access to the best seats in the house for super cheap.

Single$13 a show$65Buy
Dual2 tickets to each show$120Buy
What’s included
  • One ticket (Single) or two tickets (Dual) to each of the 5 mainstage productions.
  • Come any night of the run and pick your seats.
  • First access to the best seats, before single tickets go on sale.
  • Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance.
  • An invitation to our annual holiday party.
  • MAD Night on the first Thursday after Opening: free pizza and a drink.

Champagne Staged Readings

The CSRS

A glass of bubbly, a premium seat, plus the satisfaction of helping us discover incredible new plays.

Included in the Superstar package

3 readings$70Buy
What’s included
  • One ticket to each of our 3 Champagne Staged Readings.
  • A glass of bubbly at every reading.
  • Included in the Superstar subscription.
Bring a friend

Save some dollars with a Dual Subscription. Theater is better together, so lock in tickets for you and a companion for the entire season. Unlike your streaming account, share your additional ticket with whoever you like. Good luck deciding who gets to come along!

W.O.W. DualWednesdays & previews$220Buy
M.A.D. Dual25 & under$120Buy

LET’S GO!

Subscribers are the lifeblood of this organization.
Subscribe to the 2027 Season

Compare subscription benefits

BenefitSuperstarFlex PassSelectM.A.D.W.O.W.
Complimentary ticket for subscribing before December 13✓Not included✓✓✓
One ticket per mainstage show✓Not included✓✓✓
First access to the best seats before they go on sale for single ticket buyers✓✓✓✓✓
Free ticket exchanges up to 24 hours in advance✓✓✓✓✓
An invitation to our annual holiday party where we’ll be performing a number from our coming season and serving tasty holiday treats✓✓✓✓✓
Support a theater company that makes exciting art, only hires local artists, and is affordable to your friends and neighbors✓✓✓✓✓
Come any night of the run & pick your seats✓✓✓✓Not included
Join us for any Wednesday or preview performance✓✓✓✓✓
The flexibility to use your tickets in any combination you like, 1 for each show, or use all of them on the same night✓✓Not includedNot includedNot included
One ticket per Champagne Staged Reading✓Not includedNot includedNot includedNot included
Exclusive invitation to First Taste events: an early reading of each production, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres to whet your appetite✓Not includedNot includedNot includedNot included
Tickets to all 3 Champagne Staged Readings✓Not includedNot includedNot includedNot included
A $5 concessions voucher to make each performance a party✓Not includedNot includedNot includedNot included
First access to Opening Night reservations✓Not includedNot includedNot includedNot included
A free drink voucher with every show, to make it a celebrationNot included✓Not includedNot includedNot included
Patrick Dooley, smiling, holding a microphone
Patrick Dooley, Artistic Director

The World of a Play

Calendar of Events

  1. Tue, Feb 2

    6:30 – 9 PM

    Session 1 First taste and reading of the play

    Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue

  2. Mon, Feb 8

    10:30 AM – 12 PM

    Session 2 Dramaturg Philippa Kelly

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

  3. Mon, Feb 15

    10:30 AM – 12 PM

    Session 3 Fight director and actor Dave Maier

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

  4. Thu, Feb 25

    6:45 – 8:30 PM

    Session 4 Designer run

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

  5. Mon, Mar 1

    10:30 AM – 12 PM

    Session 5 Discussion with director Patrick Dooley

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

  6. Sat, Mar 13

    12 – 1 PM

    Session 6 Technical rehearsal

    Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue

  7. Mon, Mar 15

    10:30 AM – 12 PM

    Session 7 Meet scenic designer Irena Hadzi

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

  8. Sat, Mar 20 or Sun, Mar 21

    8 PM or 5 PM

    Session 8 Attend one of the first two previews

    Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue

  9. Mon, Mar 22

    10:30 AM – 12 PM

    Session 9 Final discussion

    Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue

Sign Up

Limit 20 participants per seminar.

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