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Ensemble Theatre Company Presents The Scene (Santa Barbara, CA) Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara presents the final show of its 2008-09 Season with the hip, sexy, off-Broadway hit comedy, The Scene, by Theresa Rebeck, one of America's hottest contemporary playwrights. Los Angeles based award-winning guest artist Art Manke will direct this sharp-witted bright comedy about self-obsessed New Yorkers. The Scene begins performances on May 28 and runs through June 21, 2009. Opening night is Saturday, May 30. Clea is a gorgeous knockout fresh off the bus from Ohio and ready to bite into the Big Apple. Her climb up Manhattan's social ladder wreaks emotional havoc on the lives of three friends hitting middle age: Charlie, an out-of-work actor; his wife Stella, a television producer; and Lewis, Charlie's best friend. This sexy, intelligent comedy of ill manners is filled with Rebeck's caustic wit, surprising plot twists, and keen social satire. The New York Times called the play "hilarious." "The humor in The Scene is biting, acerbic and very ironic," states director Art Manke. "As with all great comedies, we are sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, and often doing both simultaneously." A co-founder of L.A.'s acclaimed classical theatre company A Noise Within, Mr. Manke has directed at South Coast Repertory Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Old Globe Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. "I'm delighted to welcome such a stellar group of professional theatre artists to work on The Scene," said Jonathan Fox, Ensemble Theatre Executive Artistic Director. The excellent cast features David Nevell as Charlie, an out-of-work actor facing a mid-life crisis. Mr. Nevell might be familiar to central coast audiences, having spent three years as an actor in resident at PCPA/Theatrefest where he appeared in many productions, including Light Up the Sky, Arcadia, The Winter's Tale, Amadeus, MacBeth, Anything Goes and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In addition he has worked at San Jose Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare Festival in Los Angeles. Colette Kilroy returns to Ensemble as Charlie's wife Stella, an uptight television producer. Ms. Kilroy appeared as Lane in Ensemble's hit production of The Clean House. She recently appeared in Nighthawks at The Kirk Douglas Theatre and has appeared at such prestigious venues as The Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse and South Coast Repertory. Playing the part of the social climbing femme fatale, Clea, is Annie Abrams. Since graduating with honors from Stanford University in Drama, she has worked steadily in television and theater at such acclaimed theatres as Stanford Summer Theater, Odyssey Theater, The Theatre @ Boston Court and The Laguna Playhouse. TV credits include roles on Veronica Mars, Joan of Arcadia, The King of Queens, Cold Case, How I Met Your Mother, and most recently a guest starring role on Without a Trace. Rounding out the cast is Daniel Blinkoff as Lewis, Charlie's best friend. Mr. Blinkoff's work has been seen South Coast Repertory, the Kirk Douglas Theater, The Cleveland Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. His film and television credits include Rockabye, With Honors, Crossing the Bridge, Snook's Girl, Close to Home, Charmed, NYPD Blue, Law and Order, and Missing Persons. Theresa Rebeck's work is widely produced throughout the United States and abroad. Her play Mauritius just recently completed a successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse. Other plays include The Water's Edge, Our House, and The Understudy. She co-wrote the off-Broadway hit, Omnium Gatherum, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her television writing and producing credits include NYPD Blue, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law and Law & Order. The Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara was founded in 1979 and is housed at the intimate Alhecama Theatre located in the historic Presidio District in downtown Santa Barbara at 914 Santa Barbara Street. Now in its 29th season, under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, ETC is Santa Barbara's longest running, award-winning professional resident theatre company. Performances run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. Single tickets for The Scene range from $29.00 to $42.00. Discounts available for seniors and students. Low cost previews are Thursday and Friday, May 28 and 29, 2009. Subscriptions, single tickets and group tickets are available through the Ensemble Theatre Box Office at (805) 965-5400 or online at www.ensembletheatre.com. ### Calendar Listing — STAGEProduction: Dates: Schedule: Producer: Where: Admission: Tickets: Description: Description (shorter): ### |