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Guide to the Ensemble Theatre Archives, 1979-2002.
PA Mss 47
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Table of contents
Title: Ensemble Theatre Archives,
Date (inclusive): 1979-2002.
Collection number: PA Mss 47
Creator:
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara.
Extent:
5 linear ft
(10 boxes)
Repository:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Library.
Dept. of Special Collections
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Abstract: Organizational records of Santa Barbara area theater company.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials,
please consult the library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
None.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Ensemble Theatre Archives, PA Mss 47, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Donated October 2002 by Ensemble Theatre.
In 1979, a group of local actors and designers teamed up to present a production of George Bernard Shaw's classic comedy,
Candida, at the assembly hall at Trinity Episcopal Church located at Micheltorena and State Streets. The response they received
from the audience over two weekends of performances inspired the troupe to produce two more shows that year, Stoppard's The
Real Inspector Hound and Shaw's A Pound On Demand, and thus, the Ensemble Theatre was created.
It wasn't until 1981 that the company moved to its current location at 914 Santa Barbara Street. The site, the Alhecama Theatre,
is part of the Presidio State Park, which is run by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. The theatre, which
is over 80 years old, was named after the four daughters of Alice and Max Schott, who donated the land and the surrounding
buildings for community use. The first two letters of each daughter's first name was used to create the theatre name (AL-HE-CA
MA. - Alice, Helen, Catherine & Mary).
During the 1985-86 season, Robert Grande-Weiss, took over the helm of Artistic Director, and has subsequently led the company
to its current success. Mr. Grande-Weiss is responsible for selecting plays and the overall artistic philosophy of the company.
Under his leadership, and that of Managing Director, Patricia Baldwin, Ensemble Theatre Company has experienced tremendous
growth, and is proving to be an invaluable cultural resource to the community.
--Ensemble Theatre Web Site (http://www.ensembletheatre.com/history.html)
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The collection consists of the following series: Series I, Production Files; Series II, Administrative files; Series III,
Videotapes.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Theaters--California--Santa Barbara.
Community theater--California--Santa Barbara.
Playbills.
Photographs.
Videotapes.
Clippings.