David Bazemore News

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the fifth and final show of its 40th Anniversary Season, the heartwarming play DANCING LESSONS, written by Mark St. Germainm, choreography by Jean Michelle Sayeg.

Ensemble Theatre Company is going into their summer break on a lighter note with Mark St. Germain's 'Dancing Lessons,' a story of self-discovery through new motion, directed by Saundra McClain.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY presents the fifth and final show of its 40th Anniversary Season, the heartwarming play DANCING LESSONS, written by Mark St. Germainm, choreography by Jean Michelle Sayeg and directed by Saundra McClain. DANCING LESSONS begins previews on Thursday, June 13, opens on Saturday, June 15 at 8:00pm, and runs through Sunday, June 30, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

An upbeat piece, 'Into the Beautiful North' brushes against self-awareness without being preachy by providing likable characters in stylized peril and a timely expression of another side of the "border crisis." The cast hits the comedic notes while sustains the eagerness that fuels the journey.

Ensemble's production features many of the interesting aspects of this search for identity: a grumpy grandpa with a dark secret; an old Ukrainian woman who's mind has been warped by trauma and isolation; an underdog translator with a tenuous mastery of English; and an emotionally clumsy college kid who mistakes the trauma of his family for personal depth. But the adaptation from novel to stage is clunky, clouding an otherwise dramatic origin story.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the fourth show of its 40th Anniversary Season, the Southern California premiere of the stunning and wildly popular novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, adapted by Simon Block and directed by Jonathan Fox. EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED begins previews on Thursday, April 11, opens on Saturday, April 13 at 8:00pm, and runs through Sunday, April 28, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Everything is Illuminated, a play based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, goes onstage at the New Vic in a production by Ensemble Theatre Company beginning April 10th. The story takes the audience on a journey with Jonathan (Jeremy Kahn), an American searching the Ukraine for the woman who may have saved his Jewish grandfather's life during the Holocaust.

Out of the Box's FUN HOME is more than a story of one woman leaning into her queer identity while her father crumbles under the weight of hiding his-it's about familial legacy and the unsettling loss of innocence that occurs when you realize your parents are only human.

An affecting and thoughtful portrayal of a watershed event

Ensemble's production of Death of a Salesman is intimate and Willy's final sacrifice is tragic and inevitable. The production offers high-caliber performances and a unique visual narrative, and it engages the audience with timely questions about inter-generational disconnect, the definition of success, and our relationship to the expectations and entitlements ascribed by our culture.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the third show of its 40th Anniversary Season, one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, written by Arthur Miller and directed by ETC founding artistic director Joseph Hanreddy. DEATH OF A SALESMAN begins previews on Thursday, February 7, opens on Saturday, February 9, and runs through Sunday, February 24, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller's American tragedy, equates the worth of a man's life with his earning potential and forces characters and audiences alike to examine their expectations around the idea of 'success.'

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the third show of its 40th Anniversary Season, one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, written by Arthur Miller and directed by ETC founding artistic director Joseph Hanreddy. DEATH OF A SALESMAN begins previews on Thursday, February 7, opens on Saturday, February 9, and runs through Sunday, February 24, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Out of the Box Theatre Company presents Amelie now playing at Center Stage, a musical based on the French film of the same name. The musical follows effervescent spirit and plot of the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 film.

Based on William Makepeace Thackery's mid-19th century novel, Vanity Fair follows the adventures in adulthood of two young women from different backgrounds. Whereas Amelia comes from a wealthy family, her friend Becky has learned to depend on charm and wiles to secure a comfortable future. Becky tries to snag a rich husband before a less-than-glamorous destiny as a governess comes to fruition.

Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark is murdered by his brother, Claudius (Jarred Web), who then marries Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude (Olivia Rose Nathan), and takes the throne. No one suspects foul play except Prince Hamlet (Tadja Enos), who senses something rotten in the state of Denmark. His fears are validated when his father's ghost spurs him to avenge his untimely death. Hamlet takes up the mantle of vengeance with single-minded focus, sacrificing relationships along the way.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY has announced the first show of its 40th Anniversary 2018-2019 Season, the deliciously hilarious THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, written by David Ives (the playwright of ETC's wildly popular 2013 production of The Liar) and directed by Jonathan Fox. THE SCHOOL FOR LIES begins previews on Thursday, October 4, opens on Saturday, October 6, and runs through Sunday, October 21, 2018 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Ensemble Theatre Company Celebrates a 40-year Milestone, Kicks off Season with David Ives' 'The School for Lies.'

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY is thrilled to announce the first show of its 40th Anniversary 2018-2019 Season, the deliciously hilarious THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, written by David Ives (the playwright of ETC's wildly popular 2013 production of The Liar) and directed by Jonathan Fox. THE SCHOOL FOR LIES begins previews on Thursday, October 4, opens on Saturday, October 6, and runs through Sunday, October 21, 2018 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

 Local theater company Theatre in the X presents a free outdoor production of The Wiz in Malcolm X Park on August 12, 19, and 26 at 5pm. Directed by Cheyenne Barboza, this production of The Wiz is an homage to Hip Hop and Black cinema of the late 80s/early 90s. Featuring original musical compositions, the iconic characters will journey through an Oz remixed with all the nuance and cultural swag of the Black experience in America. The performances will be held in the center of Malcolm X Park, 5100 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19143. The production is free and open to the public. In lieu of ticket purchases the company encourages audience members who are able, to donate at https://www.gofundme.com/theatre-in-the-x-presents-the-wiz. This event is Bring Your Own Chair (BYOC).