Shotgun Players

Shocked to see there aren't more recent reviews of this place. I know this is a late review, but I watched Hedwig and the Angry Inch in their final days of performances, and omg I loved it! I never seen the play before and only read a quick synopsis of it online before going in. The soundtrack for this play was awesome, the band was amazing and vocals were beautiful. Pangaea and Elizabeth are so talented. Again I've never seen this show and didn't know what to expect, but I have to say that Elizabeth's voice was so surprisingly angelic and pure. If I'm correct, I think I read that it was her first time performing at Shotgun? I hope everyone who performed sees this and knows they killed it! Shotgun as a venue provided such an intimate setting, and I loved being so up close to the action (and emotion!). I don't think there is a single bad seat in this theater. As a petite girlie I am so thankful that the seats are staggered upwards toward the back. My favorite type of seating. At bigger venues, where ticket prices are much higher, I need a booster seat (no joke) and sometimes think to myself if you're so far away that you might as well wait to watch it at home...But not here, you experience what makes live theater great! I also greatly appreciate that they had their own concession menu that isn't overpriced, along with a fun cocktail menu tailored to the show! Every time they show a new play they paint over the front of the building to display the play currently taking place, which I thought was cool. If you're passing by this area it's always nice to see what sort of new art pops up for the next play. I can't think of a single bad thing to say. Bravo to this local live theater!

We saw "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" one night here and it absolutely blew me away. Amazing acting and singing inside an intimidate (but not stuffy) theater. You really become engrossed in the entertainment and I was delighted to find such a nice hidden gem in Berkeley. Would definitely come back again.One small remark is that it was slightly drafty, so bring some layers in case in you get cold easy!

Had one of the most horrible theater experiences ever and I'm not sure if anyone else share this same experience with this company:I've been going to plays for a few years now just to get a taste of the live theater experience. I saw an ad online for a play I believe it was Passing Strange and wanted to give it a shot. I order my tix online paid $40 for it and even selected my seat. I get there and apparently there was an issue. When I tried to get my tix to enter the person at the front told me my seat was taken which made no fuckin sense cause I selected my seat and paid for it. They forced me to get another seat and I was fuckin furious cause if I paid for something I should be able to get it right? Nah hell no. I go to the movies very often and buy my tixs online and select my seat. When u purchase a tix it has YOUR seat number NOBODY ELSES. The fuvkin company wouldn't even refund me my money like how? Where the fuck they do dat at? I can't my money back nor the fuckin seat I paid for and they looked at me like I was fuckin crazy. Boy I tell u that was my last fuvkin time with this company. It's beyond greed like if u really wanted the money that's all yal had to say. If you wanted bodies in the seat then that's all you had to say but forcing me using me taking from me nah bruh I don't rock like that. And to make matters worse they didn't even apologize for the shit. Dam this shit only happens cause I'm black cause there is NO other explanation. I can't make this shit up

What a treat for my first foray back into live theater in 2021! As you approach the Ashby Stage, the striking artwork for their current production, The Claim has been painted onto the face of the building - a rather iconic depiction of a man in silhouette trying to navigate a labyrinth. Definitely an eye-catching touch and I'm kicking myself in retrospect for failing to snap a picture. (I'll also admit curiosity about the design. Especially in retrospect, it does an excellent job of communicating the character of the show with one image.)We were greeted on the steps by a staff member who diligently checked both our vaccination cards and ID's before we stepped inside and were pointed to a QR code to access the program online. (My second regret of the evening that I didn't snag one of the paper programs from the stack. I've since taken the time to read through the virtual version, but it's admittedly not the same and I'm enough of a collector that I wish this program could sit beside the others in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet.)The raked seating offers everyone a fairly good view of the stage and the pew seats were comfortable. Most in attendance seemed conscientious about keeping their masks on.But, enough overture... how was the production itself? Sharp, intelligent, pointed. The timing felt flawless and natural with lines of dialogue spilling over others in a way that is rarely executed so well on stage and which emphasizes the communication challenges the play seeks (and succeeds) in highlighting.It's a rare work which aims to educate us and make a political point, but which manages both without feeling preachy. At no point does the script accomplish its aims by taking down to the audience or oversimplifying the characters. To the contrary, it brings a lens to idioms and behaviors so familiar that I'm surely not alone in having lost track of their confusing implications. It layers these confusions on top of the human tendency toward assumption and preoccupation.Altogether, worthy of all the praise seen in the reviews. Bravo to the cast and crew. So glad to see the run has been extended.

So much fun! Fabulous experience every time. Hits the right note being a very welcoming community theater but still putting on world class performances. We saw "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" recently and it was fantastic. We also saw a great show where they partnered with music group Kitka to create something unique and fabulous. So happy to have this theater nearby.

We see lots of live theatre (at least a dozen shows per year, usually twice that). The Bay Area is great, and by my standards as good as New York City because of the great range of offerings and lower price points.Shotgun is young, funky, and musical. We've seen probably 15 shows of theirs over a 10 year period. They take risks. They are best at musicals or pieces with accompaniment. We saw, for example, Wozzeck with a score by Tom Waits. The band has a loft like space above the stage. All of the stuff, however, is daring. Blasted, a controversial work, was provocative without being over-the-top. Everything has a sly sense of humor. They work with other companies too.The Ashby BART station is literally across the street. That is a superior means to travel to the venue. Parking is available on the street. It is usually possible to find a space within a 5 minute walk.The best seats are the leather bar stools at the back. They are comfortable and fun. The space is small enough that they do not feel too far away.They run a staged reading series which is better than you might guess. I saw the Watson Intelligence before the full production. It was excellent. You could suspend disbelief easily, and it was a fun night.The other thing is their poster art. They have a guy with a distinctive style. He's been written up. Sometimes they raffle off prints. My wife won once. It is worth framing. It's like the old Saul Bass movie posters, but fluid. That continuity is terrific.

I can't say enough good things about the Shotgun Players' latest production, Man of God. The acting is simply stupendous. The show is funny, insightful, challenging, and powerful. It's totally worth seeing.

Beardo! He's a hairy visionary.That's what's playing right now. That's what I did last night. I could not let 24 hours pass without sharing. It was that much fun.Shotgun Players perform in a small space, capacity maybe 150 ish. Small, cozy, intimate - all these apply. Not a bad sightline in the house and some of the best acoustics I've sampled in a theater space. The chorus last night was so robust it sent little shivers up my spine.Seating is on chairs or benches (ask for the pillow) or plush stools with backs in the back row (where I sat last night and where I'll always try to sit from here on out). A beautiful and charming wine/beer/cookies or pie attendant will take a modest sum then invite you to bring your libation to your seat for the sipping. Price of admission is insanely reasonable.City folk, the stage is right across the street from the Ashby Bart. The food choices in the neighborhood are a little limited, so mabes you'll want to dine in town before heading over.There ye be. Another fine night of thoughtful, mirthful entertainment, right here in our backyards. Stick with me, lovey, and you'll never be bored.

Saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch here! It was PHENOMENAL! Great cast, we talked to everyone after the show and they were extraordinary people. Will be coming back! Amazing positive energy. Xoxo

This is what live theatre should be! It is an interactive theatre and It was the most immersive experience I've seen to date -you just can't experience drama like this watching you tube or even attending an "ordinary" play. It's the best show in town.The theatre is small but the impact large. The cast was super in every way. The singing and movements were spectacular. I was not only impressed with the acting talent, but the imaginative choreography. The stage is unique, not very large, and has seating all the way around it. Thus the cast has to be mindful of this plus the piano pit right near the stage center. It was amazing and creative. The team is right next to the crowd and involves them in fun creative ways.The theatre has a warm feel, very cozy and friendly. Easy access to get refreshments. The director addressed the crowd and it often felt like everyone there were friends. I have never experienced such warmth and welcoming at a live event.But beyond all that I was further impressed with their efforts to keep prices low and offer opportunities for lower income people to enjoy theatre. They do ask for donations but I was more than happy to help support. I recently saw the play Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet and I will definitely be back. They do about 5 shows per year and I'm hoping to catch them all.