Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC) will present a benefit performance of “Love Letters,” starring actors Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross, who played husband and wife in the hit TV sitcom, “Family Ties.”
The show is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The play will showcase poignant storytelling, as well as offer and opportunity to support local professional theater in Santa Barbara.
“Love Letters is a tribute not only to the lost art of pen, paper and letter-writing, but to a lifetime of friendship between two complex individuals, not to mention the four decades of friendship I have shared with Meredith — both on and off the stage,” said Gross.
Written by A.R. Gurney, “Love Letters” unfolds through a series of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences.
“Our first performance of ‘Love Letters’ was in the mid-1980s, and here we are in 2024. We have travelled half a lifetime all around the country, getting to share this beautiful story. What good fortune,” said Baxter.
As a benefit performance, the event will support ETC’s commitment to celebrating the human spirit with professional theatrical events that entertain, educate, provoke thought, ignite imagination, and encourage conversation.
“It is truly a special moment for ETC as we welcome Meredith Baxter, an amazing member of our Board of Directors, back to our stage along with Michael Gross for this special performance of ‘Love Letters’ to benefit our theater company,” said Scott DeVine, ETC’s executive director.
“Their chemistry on stage is undeniable as they bring A.R. Gurney’s words to life in this unforgettable one-time performance,” he said.
Regular tickets for the show are $40-$100. VIP tickets, at $400, include a post-show reception with Baxter and Gross, and the price includes a $250 contribution to support ETC’s mission.
Purchase tickets through ETC’s ticket office, 805-965-5400 or visit www.etcsb.org.
Ensemble Theatre Company is Santa Barbara’s sole professional Equity theater company. Producing five plays per season, it has been home to several World, American and West Coast premieres and has received recognition and accolades throughout its enduring history.
In its inception in 1978, ETC was the Ensemble Theatre Project and called Trinity Episcopal Church its home. As its popularity grew, ETC moved to the historic 140-seat Alhecama Theatre, a more traditional theatrical setting that hosted its productions for a quarter of a century and still provides rehearsal space today.
Set on becoming a cultural-programming cornerstone in Santa Barbara, ETC undertook the $12.6 million purchase and renovation of the Victoria Hall Theater, leading to the reimagined 300-seat New Vic Theatre that serves as its resident stage and hosts other artists representing dance, music, film and lectures.