Plays by Michael Redgrave, Yasmina Reza, Henrik Ibsen, Donald Margulies and Conor McPherson have been scheduled by Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara for its 2000-2001 season. The company, which was founded in 1979 and works out of the Alhecama Theatre, will also mount two children's plays and a new-play reading series as part of its season.
The Aspern Papers, adapted by Redgrave from the story by Henry James, will run Oct. 6-Nov. 5. The rarely seen play is set in 1895 and deals with the life of a great American poet, Jeffrey Aspern, whose papers and letters are obsessively sought by a New York publisher who journeys to Venice in search of them. ETC's artistic director Robert Grande-Weiss will direct.
Reza's Art follows Dec. 1-31, with Grande-Weiss repeating as director. A Doll's House comes next (Feb. 9-March 11, 2001), adapted by Frank McGuiness and directed by Peter Lackner, Director of Theatre at University of California Santa Barbara.
Margulies' Collected Stories has been scheduled for April 20-May 20, with Eric C. Mills directing. McPherson's The Weir will occupy the June 29-July 29 slot, with Grande-Weiss once again handling the directorial chores.
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