Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC) will stage William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck, as the third production of its 2024-25 season.
Performances will be Thursday, Feb. 6 through Sunday, Feb. 23 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St.
To ensure accessibility for all, ETC has added a Community Pay-What-You-Can preview performance of “Hamlet,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5.
“Our Community Pay-What-You-Can Night ensures that cost isn’t a barrier, because theater truly is for everyone,” said Scott DeVine, ETC’s executive artistic director.
“Whether you’re a lifelong Shakespeare fan or seeing Hamlet for the first time, we want you in the audience, sharing in the magic with us,” he said.
The modern, 21st century reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy catapults the audience into a high-stakes world where anxiety and ambition collide.
When Hamlet, the reluctant heir, returns home from college, he’s greeted by the news that his father is dead, his mother has married his uncle, and the power structure he thought he knew is unraveling around him.
As if that wasn’t enough, his father’s ghost shows up with a not-so-casual request: avenge me.
What follows is a twisted ride of secrets, manipulation, and shattered trust that will test Hamlet’s loyalty, identity, and grip on reality.
“Darkly funny, emotionally raw, and deliciously self-aware, this ‘Hamlet’ reinvents the classic for a new generation, pulling you into a world where the personal is political, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” according to ETC.
“Exploring the depths of human ambition, betrayal, and resilience, Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ stands the test of time and is as relevant today as when it was penned,” said Scott DeVine, ETC’s executive artistic director.
“Led by an amazing director and cast steeped in Shakesperean theater, this production is approachable, bold, and ambitious as we take an intimate journey into the heart of one of the greatest stories ever told,” he said.
“Set in the 21st century, this never-before-seen rendition remains true to the original masterpiece and will be a visual spectacle that shouldn’t be missed,” DeVine said.
Shigeko Starbuck (adaptation/director) is a theater director and arts administrator based in Los Angeles. This past fall, she directed “Henry IV Parts I and II” for The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company.
Other directing credits include: Leah Nanako Winkler’s “Kentucky” for Pomona College’s Theatre Department; the world premiere of Rosie Narasaki’s “Unrivaled” for Boston Court Pasadena and Playwrights’ Arena; Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” and “Richard II.”
Shigeko Starbuck received her B.A. in Theatre from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. She served as Boston Court Pasadena’s associate artistic director from 2020-24 and will be the 2025 Phil Killian Directing Fellow at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. For more, visit www.margaretstarbuck.com.
ETC’s Shakesperean actors for “Hamlet” are Will Block as Hamlet (“The Thanksgiving Play” and “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” at ETC)
Jono Eiland, as Horatio (“As You Like It” at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, “The Inheritance” at the Geffen Playhouse); Matt Foyer as Polonius/Captain/Gravedigger (“The Comedy of Errors” at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, “Once” at Rubicon Theatre); Rafael Goldstein as Laertes/First Player/Barnardo (“Julius Caesar,” “Henry V” and resident artist at A Noise Within).
Also, Sammy Linkowski as Marcellus/Orsic/Guildenstern/Priest, (“Ring of Fire” at ETC, “The Secret Garden” at The Ahmanson); Corey Jones as Claudius/Ghost (“The Book of Mormon” on Broadway, “A Few Good Men” at La Mirada Theatre); Paige Lindsey White as Gertrude (“Fallen Angels,” “Christmas at Pemberley” at ETC); and Ana Nicolle Chavez as Ophelia/Francisco (“Sanctuary City” at Pasadena Playhouse,” “Under a Baseball Sky” at The Old Globe).
The production’s design team includes scenic design by Yuki Izumihara, lighting design by Michael Rathbun, sound design by John Zalewski, costume design by Denitsa Bliznakova, properties design by Jenna Scordino, and dramaturgy by Ward LeHardy. Production stage manager is Kristal Georgopoulos.
Producers for “Hamlet” are Frederic and Nancy Golden; associate producers are Scott and Edie DeVine; supporting producers are Simon and Euzetta Williams and Joan Rutowski. Dana White is ETC’s visionary producer for the season.
Ticket prices range from $25-$94. All patrons 35 and under are $35. Student tickets are $25. Single tickets are available through the ETC ticket office, 805-965-5400, or online at etcsb.org. Prices subject to change.