Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara has announced a partnership with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit that aims to plant trees in California.

Through the professional theater group’s One for One initiative, every ticket purchased to its play “The Children,” Ensemble Theatre Company will plant a tree.

“Our upcoming play ‘The Children’ explores the effects of climate change on our planet and what one generation owes to the next,” said Scott DeVine, Ensemble Theatre Company’s managing director.

“The mission of One Tree Planted complements the show’s storyline, and this partnership expands the way in which Ensemble Theatre Company influences and impacts the community we serve,” he said.

“We believe there is no better way to honor the sentiment of ‘The Children,’ while recognizing the ideal of Earth Month, than to help the environment by planting trees on behalf of our audience.”  
 
 The objectives of the new partnership include: 
• Supporting reforestation efforts in California.
• Empowering consumers with sustainable actions.
• Raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration.

Planting trees is identified as one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat for some 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.

Trees also provide lasting social impact by providing jobs to 1.6 billion people, empowering women in underdeveloped nations, and supporting communities that are devastated by environmental damage.

The partnership is designed to be a simple way for Ensemble Theatre Company’s audience to give back and get involved in reforestation in California, DeVine said.

For every ticket sold to “The Children,” Ensemble Theatre Company will partner with One Tree Planted to plant one tree. The trees are planted by One Tree Planted’s local partner organizations and community volunteers in areas where deforestation has occurred in California.

“The Children,” written by Lucy Kirkwood, stars Michael Butler, Linda Purl and Nancy Travis. The play runs April 8-23 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St.

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects, hich span the globe, are done in partnership with local communities.