As David Mamet continues to celebrate his life in the theatre with a new play on Broadway (The Old Neighborhood), Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara brings Mamet's Life In The Theatre to California audiences. ETC artistic director Roert Grande-Weiss stages the comedy drama, which opens Dec. 5 and runs to Jan. 4, 1998. A relatively early work for Mamet (1978 -- post-American Buffalo but pre-Glengarry Glen Ross and Oleanna), A Life In The Theatre looks at a famous but fading actor and his influence on an up and-coming co-star. We also see the pair work together on a variety of plays and play styles, such as Chekhovian drama and war epic.

Rudolph Wilrich and Jason Asprey star, respectively, as the seasoned and green thespians, with Andrew DeVore playing the silent Stage Manager character. Designing the show at ETC are Barbara Lackner (costumes) and Peter Gottlieb (lighting).

For tickets ($20-$25) and information on A Life In The Theatre, at the Ensemble Theatre Company's home at the Alhecama Theatre on Santa Barbara St., call (805) 962-8606.

-- By David Lefkowitz