The Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara's longest-running professional resident theatre company, ends its run of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance Nov. 8.

The staging, directed by ETC artistic director Robert Grande-Weiss, began performances Oct. 8.

Balance was recently revived on Broadway to much acclaim (and a Best Revival Tony Award) in a mounting starring Elaine Stritch, Rosemary Harris, George Grizzard and Mary Beth Hurt. The drama concerns a wealthy but dysfunctional family dealing with their friendly neighbors -- who just won't leave.

Other Albee works include Tiny Alice, The Play About The Baby and The Death of Bessie Smith.

* The other shows on ETC's slate include: The Game of Love and Chance by Marivaux (translated by Stephen Wadsworth) Dec. 4-Jan. 3; The End of the Day by Jon Robin Baitz Feb. 5-March 7; Master Class by Terrence McNally April 2-May 2; and Private Lives by Noel Coward July 9-Aug. 8.

ETC welcomes two new directors to the company for the l998-99 season: Peter Lackner will direct the Marivaux play and Rae Allen will direct McNally's work.

ETC was founded in 1979 and is housed in the Alhecama Theatre, in downtown Santa Barbara's Presidio District at 914 Santa Barbara St. For information, call (805) 962- 8606.

-- By Kenneth Jones
and Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent