For Immediate Release	Press Info.: James Breen (805) 965-5400 x103 jbreen@ensembletheatre.com www.ensembletheatre.com Box Office (805) 965-5400 Sept, 3 2008

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Humor and Pathos in America’s Pastime
Ensemble Theatre Company Opens with Broadway Hit
Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg

(Santa Barbara, CA) Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara opens the 2008-09 Season with the Tony award-winning dramatic comedy Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg. Set against the backdrop of baseball, this 2003 Broadway sensation examines with wit and eloquence a world of prejudice in professional sports. Performances run from September 25 through October 19, 2008. Opening night is Saturday, September 27 at 8:00 PM.

Darren Lemming is a major league superstar: a handsome, young, heavy-hitting center fielder for the New York Empires, an ideal athlete on a championship World Series team, beloved by all and on top of the world. Until, that is, his public announcement that he is gay. Suddenly, the locker room is wrought with tension as his teammates are thrown into turmoil and confusion. Playwright Richard Greenberg examines – with his usual intellectual prowess and verbal wit – the dynamics of homophobia, isolation, racial tension, and the cult of celebrity. Take Me Out is a funny, shocking, twisted love letter to that classic American sport: baseball.

One of the play’s salient moments is a scene taking place in the shower room, complete with full nudity. “The play’s nudity is integral to the play’s atmosphere and plot,” said Take Me Out director and ETC’s Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox. “The play is exciting and daring, and I suspect it will shake things up a bit. In my opinion, it is Greenberg’s best play, lyrical in its examination of American culture and metaphor.” The New York Times said the play’s writing exhibits “a sensibility that is so smart, raw and sincere all at once that you may find tears in you eyes.”

A prolific playwright with an undeniable flair for dramatic situations and literary language, Greenberg has been constant presence on Broadway since the 80’s. He has won or been nominated for most major playwriting awards including the Pulitzer Prize, Drama Desk and the Opperheimer Award. Take Me Out received three Tony Awards in 2003, including Best Play.

Take Me Out features a culturally diverse cast, with actors from Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and New York. A resident of New York, Jacques Cowart II will play the role of Darren Lemming, the gay superstar. This production marks his third at-bat with the play, having performed the role at Capital Rep Theatre in Albany, NY, and the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. Some of his film credits include Law and Order, the Showtime film Shook, All My Children, and numerous commercials. Darren’s friend on the team and the play’s narrator, Kippy, is played by Michael Polak who was last seen on the Ensemble stage in The Real Inspector Hound (1996). He has appeared at numerous regional theatres including A.C.T., Chicago Shakespeare, Hartford Stage, San Jose Stage and PCPA Theaterfest. A key figure in the story involves Darren’s nerdy gay business manager, Mason Marzac. Playing the part is James Stellos, who has performed in theatres in New York, Los Angeles and across the United States, including Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Mountain Playhouse. His television appearances include Desperate Housewives, Journeyman, ER and Judging Amy.

The Empires team is a hilarious and motley assortment. Playing the racist and homophobic pitcher Shane Mungitt is Travis Johns, who has performed at the Geffen Playhouse, Santa Monica Playhouse and Playhouse West. The hot-headed Toddy Koovitz will be played by Johnny Kostrey, the dim-witted Jason Chenier will be played by Trey McCurley, with Dennis Takeda as Kawabata, a Japanese baseball star who speaks no English. Rounding out the cast are Jarrod Crawford and Santa Barbara actors Wilson Smith as Skipper, Benny B. Roa as Rodriguez and George Jimenez as Martinez.

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, ETC is Santa Barbara's longest running, most award-winning professional resident theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, the 2008-09 season continues with Striking 12 by Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda (12/04/08 - 12/28/08), Buried Child by Sam Shepard (1/29/09 - 2/22/09), In the Continuum by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter (3/26/09 - 4/19/09) and The Scene by Theresa Rebeck (5/28/09 - 6/21/09).

Performances run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. Subscriptions are now available for the 2008-09 Season and range from $106 to $190. Single tickets for Take Me Out range from $29.00 to $42.00. Discounts available for seniors and students. Low cost previews are Thursday and Friday, September 25 and 26, 2008. Subscriptions, single tickets and group tickets are available through the Ensemble Theatre Box Office at (805) 965-5400 or online at www.ensembletheatre.com.