ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY
Presents the Fifth and Final Show of Its 40th Anniversary Season!
DANCING LESSONS
Written by Mark St. Germain
Directed by Saundra McClain
The Lessons Begin Thursday, June 13
at The New Vic in Santa Barbara!
“Reaches straight into the heart!” – The New York Times
ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY (ETC) presents the fifth and final show of its 40th Anniversary Season, the heartwarming play DANCING LESSONS, written by Mark St. Germain 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.
A socially awkward young man asks his neighbor, a Broadway dancer whose career has been sidelined by an injury, to teach him enough dance moves so he can survive an appearance at an awards dinner. What follows is a bumpy road of self-discovery in this sweetly witty and touching romantic comedy!
“We close our historic 40th anniversary season with a wonderfully charming play about two isolated souls who find a connection through dance,” said Jonathan Fox, ETC’s Artistic Director. “We are delighted to have Saundra McClain back to ETC to direct the show. We’re also pleased that two extraordinary talents, Trevor Peterson and Leilani Smith, will return to our stage. Our audiences will fall in love with this moving, tender and lovely play.”
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST
MARK ST. GERMAIN (Playwright) his play Freud’s Last Session ran for two years Off-Broadway, closing July 24th, 2012. His play Becoming Dr. Ruth premiered in July 2012 at the Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires, played at Hartford TheaterWorks, and was brought to NYC to the Westside Theatre. Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah co-premiered in the summer of 2013 at the Contemporary American Theater Festival and Barrington Stage Company. His play The Best of Enemies, first produced by the Barrington Stage Company, has been produced throughout the country.
SAUNDRA McCLAIN (Director) has over 40 years of experience in all aspects of the theater disciplines. As a director, Ms. McClain directed ETC’s 2015 production of Intimate Apparel (also starring Leilani Smith), as well as ETC’s productions of In The Continuum, The Fantasticks, and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Other credits include: Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Bee-luther-hatchee, The Colored Museum, Oh Freedom, Breath and Imagination (numerous Ovation and NAACP Theatre nominations and awards), Prayerville, and Ain’t Misbehavin’.
The cast of DANCING LESSONS features TREVOR PETERSON as Ever Montgomery who returns to ETC after playing Biff in Death of a Salesman earlier this year. Theater credits in Los Angeles include Dead End (Ahmanson Theater), Pocatello and A Bright New Boise (Rogue Machine Theater), and The Interlopers and Wildboy ‘74 (Bootleg Theater). Other credits include TV: “The Vampire Diaries,” and “CSI: Miami.” Trevor is joined by LEILANI SMITH who plays Senga Quinn. Leilani won the 2016 NAACP Theatre Award for “Best Ensemble” in Flyin’ West (also directed by Saundra McClain) and was nominated once again for “Home” this year.
Scenic design is by François-Pierre Couture. Lighting design is by Jared A. Sayeg. Sound
design is by Dave Mickey. Costume design is by Dianne K. Graebner. Properties design is by Ilana Molina. Casting by Amy Lieberman. The Production Stage Manager is Emily Lehrer.
DANCING LESSONS is made possible through the generosity of the 2018-19 Season Sponsor Leatrice Luria. This production is sponsored by John C. Mithun and Mercedes Millington. Additional sponsorship provided by Montecito Bank & Trust and Ruth and Alan Heeger.
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING
DANCING LESSONS begins previews on Thursday, June 13, opens on Saturday, June 15, and runs through Sunday, June 30, 2019 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, with an added Tuesday 7:00pm show on June 18 and a Saturday 4:00pm matinee performance on June 22, 2019.
All preview tickets are $40. Regular adult ticket prices range from ¬¬$60 to $75 with discounts available for seniors. Student tickets are available for only $25 each, and tickets for patrons age 29-and-under are always just $40. Single tickets are available through the ETC box office at (805) 965-5400, or online at etcsb.org. For group sales information, please call (805) 965-5400. Prices subject to change.
Founded in 1979, Ensemble Theatre Company is Santa Barbara’s leading professional, resident theater company. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Fox and Managing Director Jill Seltzer, ETC has attracted accomplished performing artists from around the country. ETC’s 2018-19 Season has been generously sponsored by Leatrice Luria.
Subscriptions are now on sale for ETC’s 2019-20 Season which includes Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, a radio play version of the beloved holiday story It’s a Wonderful Life, a musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, the West Coast premiere of the Broadway play American Son by Christopher Demos-Brown, and an inspirational pop and jazz musical, Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, about the legendary Rosemary Clooney.
Calendar Listing:
DANCING LESSONS
Written by Mark St. Germain
Directed by Saundra McClain
Low Cost Previews: Thursday, June 13 &
Friday, June 14 at 8:00pm
Opens: Saturday, June 15 at 8:00pm
Runs: Thursday, June 13 – Sunday, June 30, 2019
Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm,
Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, with an added Tuesday 7:00pm show on June 18 and a Saturday 4:00pm matinee performance on June 22, 2019.
ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY at THE NEW VIC
33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara
Regular Tickets: $60 – $75
For tickets – visit www.etcsb.org or call (805) 965-5400