Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara

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Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara

Join us for our 48th season at Santa Barbara’s Professional Theatre Company, the only LORT venue on California's Central Coast! 🎭

Founded in 1979, Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) is Santa Barbara’s leading professional resident theatre company, housed at the New Vic Theatre located in the historic theatre district in downtown Santa Barbara at 33 West Victoria Street. Now celebrating its 36th Season (2015-16), Ensemble Theatre is Santa Barbara’s longest running, most award-winning professional theatre. Under the stewardship of

Jonathan Fox, Artistic Director, ETC presents some of the most talented actors, directors and designers from around the United States.

08/27/2026

ETC is excited to announce the return of our special pre- and post-show events, where audience members can make new friends, learn more about the production they are attending, and enjoy bites and beverages.

Below is our schedule for BUYER & CELLAR. If you haven't yet snagged tickets to our season-opening show, consider securing seats to one of the performances that pairs with a special event for a full community-based experience at The New Vic!

⏰ Running October 7-25, 2026
🎟️ etcsb.org/production/buyer-and-cellar
☎️ Box Office: 805-965-5400

🌟 Opening Night, Saturday, October 10
Immediately following the performance, opening night attendees are treated to a festive post-show wine and hors d’oeuvre reception with the artists.

💬 Pre-Show Talk, Wednesday, October 14 & Wednesday, October 21
Join Dramaturg Ward LeHardy for a free, lively, and informative half-hour talk in The New Vic courtyard, held 45 minutes before the evening performance.

🍹 Cocktail Night, Friday, October 16
Mingle with friends and enjoy a complimentary show-themed cocktail with your ticket purchase. Held in The New Vic courtyard 45 minutes prior to curtain.

☕ Tea Talk, Wednesday, October 21
Join us for a delicious conversation over tea with a special guest speaker who shares insights on topics related to the production. Held 45 minutes prior to matinee curtain.

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Night, Thursday, October 22
Mingle with friends and enjoy a complimentary show-themed cocktail with your ticket purchase. Held in The New Vic courtyard 45 minutes prior to curtain.

💬 Thursday Talkback, Thursday, October 22
Immediately following the performance, patrons are invited to join the cast and participate in an informal 20-30 minute Q&A about the show.

08/26/2026

This Sunday! See Emmy Award-winner Joe Spano (Hill Street Blues, NCIS) in KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER, a benefit reading of John Romano's new play.

Set against the world of a New Jersey country club in the 1960s, KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER is a funny, suspenseful, and deeply moving meditation on family, faith, organized crime, and the moral choices that shape a life.

Through the memories of a young man coming of age, Romano interweaves two stories: a gifted golfer whose desperation leads him across an unspoken line, and a Catholic school student whose faith is transformed by an encounter with authority. As their stories converge, the play becomes a haunting reflection on power, conscience, and the hidden structures that hold a world together.

Following the performance, guests are welcome to stay for a Q&A with Joe and John, offering audiences a chance to hear more about the play, its development, and the stories behind the work.

⏰ Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 2 PM
🎟️ VIP seats: $100 (includes a VIP reception after the performance) • General Seating: $50
🔗 etcsb.org/production/king-of-the-wild-frontier/
☎️ Box Office: 805-965-5400

08/24/2026

What a night! PLAY IT FORWARD: BACKWARDS BROADWAY was an incredible celebration of theatre, community, and the joy of coming together. ✨🎶

A huge thank you to our phenomenal headliners David Burnham, Beverly Ward, and Kirby Ward, our talented ETC students, and all of the artists who made this unforgettable evening possible. Most of all, thank you to everyone who joined us and helped support ETC’s Education and Outreach programs.

Your generosity helps us continue sharing the arts with students, families, and community members throughout Santa Barbara.

Missed the concert, or didn’t get a chance to make a contribution? There’s still time to Play It Forward! Support ETC and help us bring more theatre, education, and creative opportunities to our community.

🎭 Support ETCSB at https://store.ensembletheatre.com/donate/contribute1

📸 Lore Photography

08/19/2026

One. Night. Only. 🎤

Come see ELIJAH ROCK: MEMORIES UNLEASHED this Saturday, August 22 at 8pm, a uniquely personal evening of music, memories, jazz, blues, and the Great American Songbook.

As Elijah’s performance date approaches, now is the time to reserve your seats for this one-of-a-kind concert experience! Get your tickets today – will we see you at The New Vic this weekend?

🎟️ etcsb.org/production/elijah_rock
☎️ 805-965-5400

08/14/2026

🎉 You’re invited to our Season Preview Party!

Please join us for an evening celebrating ETC’s upcoming 48th Season, titled California: Here and Now, and be among the first to experience a preview of what's to come. Our season lineup of shows celebrates the dreams, contradictions, humor, and heart of the Golden State.

Monday, August 17th at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street
⏰ 6 PM - SOLD OUT!
⏰ 8 PM - Limited seating still available, RSVP for FREE

We hope you can join us for a season that will redefine what theatre can be.

🎟️ RSVP today: https://store.ensembletheatre.com/22798/22808

08/12/2026

Swinging standards and soulful blues — don’t miss Elijah Rock 🎤🎶

One night only on Saturday, August 22 at 8pm… Experience the incomparable Elijah Rock live in MEMORIES UNLEASHED, a deeply personal concert celebrating the power of music and memory.

Best known for his lauded portrayal of Porgy in ETC’s PORGY AND BESS, Elijah blends rich baritone, heartfelt storytelling, and masterful interpretations of the Great American Songbook, jazz, and blues.

He is joined by a trio of gifted musicians that include: Todd Hunter on piano, Rayford Griffin on drums, and Edwin Livingston on bass.

Don’t miss an unforgettable evening of music, nostalgia, and inspiration. Reserve your seats now!

🎟️ etcsb.org/production/elijah_rock
☎️ Box Office: 805-965-5400

08/11/2026

“McDonald is so good, he doesn’t even need a theater to do this show; he could do it on a street corner and get the same wild, enthusiastic response that he got from the audience. Buyer and Cellar is a tour de force for McDonald, who is MAGNETIC, CHARISMATIC, and UPROARIOUSLY FUNNY” – BroadwayWorld

Brian McDonald reprises his award-winning performance as Alex, an out-of-work actor who lands the strangest gig of his life: working in the private shopping mall that Barbra Streisand built in the basement of her Malibu estate. As he tends to the antique doll shop, gift wrapping station, and frozen yogurt counter in the deserted mall, his only customer is Barbra herself. What begins as a surreal job becomes an unexpected friendship as Alex navigates the absurd reality of playing shopkeeper to one of the world’s biggest stars.

Tickets are currently available to Jonathan Tolins' solo comedy, a Drama Desk winner for Best Play.

We hope you’ll join us for a witty, warm, and wonderfully theatrical meditation on celebrity, consumerism, and the price of living in someone else’s fantasy.

⏰ Running October 7-25, 2026 at The New Vic
🎟️ etcsb.org/production/buyer-and-cellar
☎️ Box Office: 805-965-5400

08/10/2026

You’re invited to our annual Season Preview Party! 🎉

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara's spectacular 48th Season, California: Here and Now. Be among the first to experience a preview of what's to come – a lineup of compelling stories that celebrate the dreams, contradictions, humor, and heart of the Golden State.

WHEN: Monday, August 17th at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM – offering two separate presentations, due to popular demand!
WHERE: The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street

Our Executive Artistic Director, Scott DeVine, has curated a season that celebrates the many faces of the Golden State. California: Here and Now brings together five unforgettable productions that explore ambition, identity, reinvention, and resilience—stories that are funny, moving, thrilling, and unmistakably American.

However, what makes this evening truly special is that we have confirmed special surprise guests who will join us for this exclusive preview. We can't reveal who they are yet, but we promise they will add an extra layer of magic to an already extraordinary evening.

Secure your FREE tickets now! General admission seating. Spots are limited; RSVP is required.

We hope you can join us for a season that will redefine what theatre can be.

See you at the theatre!

🎟️ RSVP today: https://store.ensembletheatre.com/22798

08/05/2026

LAST CHANCE to get your tickets to Play it Forward this Saturday, August 8!

We invite you to join us for this one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway performers including David Burnham, ETC students, and local community artists in an unforgettable evening celebrating the power of the performing arts. This year's Backward Broadway theme puts a fresh, unexpected spin on beloved musical theatre favorites, all while supporting our education and outreach programs.

Reserve your seats today for this thrilling event, and help make theatre education and creative opportunities accessible to more students and community members.

🎟️ Tickets: etcsb.org/production/play-it-forward-2/

08/03/2026

Missed the news this weekend? We've got you covered as single tickets for our 2026/27 season are officially on sale!

🪎 BUYER & CELLAR: October 7 - 25, 2026
🎶 RENT: December 2 - 20, 2026
🚗 THE LAST USED CAR LOT IN AMERICA – A World Premiere Musical: February 3 - 21, 2027
⛪️ DOUBT: April 7 - 25, 2027
🌅 TRUE WEST: June 6 - 20, 2027

Don't wait to grab the best available seats!

Which production is at the top of your list?

🎟️ etcsb.org/whats-on/season-2026-2027
☎️ 805-965-5400

Address

33 W Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA
93101

Website

http://www.etcsb.org/

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