SANTA BARBARA, CA -- The 1999 Off-Broadway comedy hit As Bees in Honey Drown will be mounted by the Ensemble Theatre Co. on June 23 at the Alhecama Theatre for a one-month run through July 23. ETC's producing artistic director Robert Grande-Weiss directs.

Written by Douglas Carter Beane (The Country Club), Bees deals with Evan Wyler, a first-time novelist who is hired by an eccentric, rich woman named Alexa Vere de Vere to write a screenplay based on her life. Even though Wyler has known success, he is attracted by the glamour and trappings of Alexa's world, only to discover much to his rue that she is a con artist who has stuck him with all her bills.

Weiss' cast includes three ETC favorites, Dan Gunther, Daniel Allen Nelson and Danielle Aubuchon. New to the ETC stage are Michael Matthys and Jennifer Wydra. Barbara Lackner has designed the costumes, Peter Gottleib the lighting and Gary Wissman the set.

Alhecama Theatre is located at 914 Santa Barbara St. in the historic Presidio district. For tickets and information call (805) 962- 8606.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent