ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY presents West Coast premiere of the hit Broadway play THE SHARK IS BROKEN

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY Presents theWest Coast Premiere of the HitBroadway Play THE SHARK IS BROKEN

Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon

Directed by Pesha Rudnick

The Malfunctioning begins Wednesday, February 4 at The New Vic Theatre in Santa Barbara!

“Definitely a wild ride worth taking.” – Entertainment Weekly

January 6, 2026...Santa Barbara, California... Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC), Santa Barbara's only professional theatre company and a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), continuesits 47th season "Truth and Illusion" with the West Coast premiere of the hit Broadway play, based on the making of the movie Jaws, THE SHARK IS BROKEN, written by Ian Shaw (Robert Shaw’s son) and directed by Pesha Rudncik.

It’s 1974. The set of Jaws. The mechanical shark is malfunctioning, the schedule is in shambles, and three actors-Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider-are stuck on a boat, battling egos, alcohol, and artistic frustration. A razor-sharp, behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of the greatest films of all time.

"'The Shark is Broken' is a love letter to both movie and theatre fans. Our audiences will get an electrifying behind-the-scenes look at the making ofJaws-one of the most iconic films of all time -as we celebrate its 50th anniversary,” comments Scott Devine, ETC’s executiveartistic director. “This brilliantly witty play captures the reality of three legendary actors being trapped on the ‘Orca,’egos clashing, waiting for a mechanical shark that refuses to work to attack. It's Hollywood chaos at its finest. The show fits perfectly into our season exploring 'truth and illusion' because it reveals the messy, hilarious reality behind movie magic -Robert Shaw’s journals captured their day-to-day reality and while those days did not make it to the screen it embodied a story that was just as compelling as the film itself.Fair warning: based on the buzz we're hearing, we're gonna need a bigger theater!”

ETC is committed to ensuring that transformative theatrical experiences remain accessible to all Santa Barbara community members through its “Community Pay What You Can Program.”The Pay What You Can performance for THE SHARK IS BROKENwill be Wednesday,February 4. This initiative continues throughout ETC's season, with Community Pay What You Can performances on Wednesday, April 1st for A Night With Janis Joplin; and Wednesday, June 3rd for Every Brilliant Thing.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

IAN SHAW (Playwright) trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, having obtained a B.A. in American Studies at Sussex University. Theatre includes War Horseand Common(National Theatre); Widowers’ Houses, The Importance of Being Earnest, Nude with Violin, The Philadelphia Story, and The Brothers Karamazov(Manchester Royal Exchange); Three Sisters(Nuffield and Theatre Royal Bath); Private Livesand Closer(Birmingham Rep); The Rivals(Derby Playhouse and Philadelphia Walnut St); The Tempest (SRT) and Much Ado AboutNothingin London’s West End. Television includes “Sharpe,” “Soldier, Soldier,” “Medics,” “Wuthering Heights,” “The Queen,” “Ghost Hour,” “Silent Witness,” “Cambridge Spies” and the Emmy award-winning “Hiroshima.” Film includes “Century,” “Moondance,” “The Boys and Girl from County Clare,” “The Contract” and “Johnny English Reborn.”

JOSEPH NIXON (Co-Writer) is the author (with Brian Mitchell) of the plays Those Magnificent Men(New Perspectives, 2010); Big Daddy vs. Giant Haystacks(The Foundry Group, 2011); Seven Studies in Salesmanship(The Foundry Group, 2013); and the musical The Opinion Makers(Mercury Theatre/Derby Theatre 2013.) He has written material for Joanna Neary, Jo Caulfield, JerrySadowitz, and Basil Brush.

PESHA RUDNICK (Director) is the founding artistic director of Local Theater Company dedicated to the development of new American plays. Pesha produced, developed and directed over forty new works and received 53 Colorado Theatre Guild nominations and awards.

Nationally, Pesha’sdirected new plays at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Florida Stage, Curious Theater Company and others. In 2021, Pesha relocated to Santa Barbara and joined the UC Santa Barbara Department of Theatre and Dance faculty. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from New York University. Pesha is passionate about arts education and advocates for accessible high-quality arts education for all.She serves as a board member at Second Stage Theatre in New York City (Chair; HR committee),LightsUp! Theatre Company in Santa Barbara and Local Theater Company in Colorado.Pesha is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)For more on Pesha,www.pesharudnick.comor watch her TEDx talk on"The Danger of Live Theater.”

THE SHARK IS BROKEN features threeexceptional actors: Will Blockas “Richard Dreyfuss,”returningonce againto ETC and the New Vic stage after his stunning performances as “Hamlet”in Hamlet, The Thanksgiving Play and The Wickhams; Gildart Jacksonas “Robert Shaw,” whoportrayed “Gideon” on the cult TV series “Charmed” and who made his ETC debut in last season’s Parents In Chains; and Adam Pooleas “Roy Scheider,” who is making hisETC debutafter performing in The Shark is Broken for the NC Stage Companyand locally in Million Dollar Quartet at 5-Star Theatricals.

An accomplished design team brings the world of the Orca to life: Fred Kinney (Scenic Design); Michael Klaers(Lighting Design); Adriana Lámbarri (Costume Design); Elijah Frankle(Projection Design); Jazer Sibley-Schwartz (Sound Design); Alex Johnston (Properties Design); Sean O’Shea(Fight Coordinator); Casting by Michael Donovan Casting, Michael Donovan, CSA & Richie Ferris, CSA; Dramaturgy by Ward LeHardy. The Production Stage Manager is Kristal Georgopoulos.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE THE SHARK IS BROKEN previews on Wednesday, February 4(Community Pay-What-You-Can Night), Thursday,February 5at 7:30pmandFriday, February 6at 8:00pm; opens on Saturday, February 7at 8:00pm (press opening) and runs through Sunday, February 22, 2026at 2:00pm at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm; with added performances on Tuesday, February 10at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 14at 3pm, Wednesday, February 18at 2pmand Saturday, February 21at3:00pmat The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

Ticket prices range from $40 -$104. All Patrons 35 and under are always $35. Student tickets are $25. Single tickets are available through the ETC ticket office at (805) 965-5400, or online at etcsb.org. Prices subject to change.

To schedule press interviews, photos or press comps, please contact David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818-508-1754 or by e-mail at davidelzer@me.com.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY, a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), is Santa Barbara's sole professional Equity theater company. ETC is committed to producing the highest professional quality theater in Santa Barbara, employing accomplished professional actors and stage managers.

ETC has been home to several world, American and West Coast premieres and has received recognition and accolades throughout its enduring history, including being recognized as an Equity theater company by the Actors' Equity Association, the labor union forAmerican actors and stage managers. As the sole professional Equity theatre company in Santa Barbara, ETC brings a wide range of accomplished theatrical professionals to the region. For more information, visit our website at etcsb.org.