Shotgun Players
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"Up" is the number of experts who agree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in the
field. "Down" is the number of experts who disagree that the nonprofit has had the most impact in field.
Headquarters Location: Berkeley, CA
Founded: 1992
Mission: Shotgun Players exists to create fearless, provocative, relevant theatre.
Summary
Stories
Expert Reviews
Leadership
From the Nonprofit
Leadership
Patrick Dooley.
Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of the Shotgun Players. He launched the Shotgun Players with a production of David Mamet's play Edmond in July of 1992. Patrick received a BA in English from James Madison University of Virginia and studied in the Atlantic Theatre Company's Practical Aesthetics Workshop. He was a founding member of the international touring company,…
See full bio.
Financial Data
Overhead Ratio:
n/a
Total Revenue:
$842,029
From the Nonprofit
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Contact Info
Website:
E-Mail:
liz AT shotgunplayers.org
Phone:
510-841-6500
Facebook:
Address:
1901 Ashby Ave
Berkeley, CA 94703, USA
Twitter:
Story:
Read about the interesting story of how the Shotgun Players, a critically acclaimed California East Bay regional theater group form:
The Shotgun Players was formed in a pizza parlor in Berkeley, California in 1992 by artistic director Patrick Dooley. The group specializes in unfamiliar productions by modern playwrights, Greek plays, and Shakespeare. In December 2007 the theater acting troupe became one of the first regional theaters in the nation to convert to solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of their Ashby Stage performance space in Berkeley's Lorin District.
(Learn more about their mission and history at: http://www.shotgunplayers.org/missionhistory.htm)
Expert Reviews of Shotgun Players
Evidence of Impact Summary:
Though approaching their 20th anniversary, they continue to present a youthful, energetic, fresh season of theatre--with new plays in every season, dynamic re-interpretations of classics, and quality use of multi-media technology, and the arts. Many productions use live musicians, original music, and avant garde theatre techniques. They produce consistent, imaginative, and new theater works at affordable prices, in a central location. They are also a completely solar powered theater.See expert comments.
Organization Strengths Summary:
Experts praise Shotgun Players for their outstanding artistic director who is able to connect with a diverse audience and is always pushing for new opportunities. Some experts like that Shotgun Players' core members drive the whole artistic process in a collaborative way. Their space is an asset, allowing them to develop relationships in the community, and be a national leader by becoming the first solar powered theater company in the US.See expert comments.
Areas for Improvement Summary:
Some experts think Shotgun Players should try to become more financially secure (for the future) while finding a way to compensate current staff and artists better. Shotgun could also develop a younger audience, perform in a larger venue, and build leadership for the future of the organization.See expert comments.
Expert Comments: Evidence of Impact
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Impact |
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The creative work the company does is invariably fresh, surprising and fun. The leadership is dynamic, creative and indefatigable. The commitment to south Berkeley is sincere and reciprocated by locals engaging in programs on and off-site. I see that talented playwrights and performers want to work there! | ||
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Shotgun has consistently created a large range of work of all types, that is priced very accessibly, and designed to reach a very broad audience. I appreciate their willingness to have some work be extraordinary and some less so in their continual effort to try new things. | ||
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They produce consistent, imaginative, and new theater works at affordable prices, in a central location. They are also a completely solar powered theater. They produce an interesting blend of classics and world premieres. | ||
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Though approaching their 20th anniversary, they continue to present a youthful, energetic, fresh season of theatre--with new plays in every season, dynamic re-interpretations of classics, and quality use of multi-media technology, and the arts. Many productions use live musicians, original music, and avant garde theatre techniques. | ||
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Their impact can be seen based on the fact that the organization reaches a lot of different communities with its work especially in Berkeley. People also travel frequently from San Francisco and elsewhere to see the company's work. The community-oriented productions, e.g. Love is a Dreamhouse in Lorin, are particularly powerful. | ||
Expert Comments: Organization Strengths
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Great Performances and Great Reviews |
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They consistently provide unique and fresh performances on a modest scale in a small remodeled church in south Berkeley. They get good to great reviews from the SF Chronicle for their fresh new plays. | ||
Great Leader and Ensemble Approach |
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The work they do is high quality and they take full advantage of their physical space at the Ashby Stage. Patrick Dooley, Liz Lisle, and Joanie McBrien are terrific artists and organizational leaders. | ||
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Patrick Dooley, as artistic director, has developed his off-beat vision with an entrepreneurial eye for opportunity and audience. He connects with a diverse audience and seems to know nearly everyone who walks through the door. His marketing is just a step or two off the beaten path--he has a nice intuition about what perks will appeal to his audience. Shotgun's ensemble approach is another strength. The core members drive the artistic mission, and everyone contributes in both their own expertise (acting, playwrighting, administration) and in group endeavors (opening nights, fundraisers, mission development, and strategic planning). Between Patrick's leadership and the ensemble's strength, the company has an additional power: their professional attitude toward and treatment of theatre artists, which remains flexible and highly innovative. Innovations include installing solar panels to become the nation's first solar powered theatre. | ||
Constantly Striving To Improve |
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Shotgun's acquisition of a permanent home helped them to "grow up" as an organization and to invest deeply in their community. Their staff, including their founder who still serves as Artistic Director, are constantly striving to improve their skills. They have a passion for engagement with broader issues, including becoming the first solar-powered theater in America. | ||
Great Marketing and Connection with Community |
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They are exceptional marketers, and they have grown a large loyal audience by offering free plays in the park every summer and by working to connect to their community. | ||
First Solar Powered Theater in America |
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Patrick Dooley is a formidable leader, the space is lovely to visit, and the organization keeps striving for new and exciting things and never sits back on its laurels. The fact that they were the first solar powered theatre in the US is also a feather in Shotgun's cap. Finally, the organization gathers incredible artists around it, e.g. Beth Wilmurt, Mark Jackson, and the Banana Bag and Bodice collective. | ||
Expert Comments: Areas for Improvement
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Work on Audience Development |
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They could run successful productions at larger houses (100 seats is too small to accommodate audiences and make enough money). They could develop and support a 'second generation' of administrative/artistic leadership as the current crew has all been there for 10+ years. They should try to consistently attract audiences that may be uniquely interested in the subject matter/aesthetic approach of their work. For example: when doing a show about Richmond, CA , get more people from Richmond to the show. When doing a hip hop version of Animal Farm, get more teens/college kids to see the production, etc. | ||
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They should find ways to attract younger audiences - the core audience seems quite old. | ||
Better Pay for Staff and Artists |
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They could invest more in compensation for staff and artists. | ||
Work More Carefully with Playwrights |
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They can work with playwrights more empathetically. They should develop an equity contract to improve the acting quality. | ||
Fundraise More |
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Working toward greater fiscal strength will be key to their future success. Their board is loyal and hardworking, but it is not a powerful fundraising board yet. | ||
Leadership
Patrick Dooley
Artistic Director
Artistic Director
From the Nonprofit
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