Yankee Tavern

May 13 through 21, 2016

The Producing Unit presents

Yankee Tavern

Directed by Peter Frisch

The Producing Unit, Santa Barbara’s award-winning theater company, announces its next play, Yankee Tavern, by one of the most produced playwrights in America, Steven Dietz.

The play takes place in a crumbling, dusty and somewhat eerie New York City bar, the Yankee Tavern, where an engaged young couple have inherited the premises due to the untimely and somewhat suspicious death of the boy’s father. 

Ray, a cantankerous, colorful character provides additional layers of mystery with his many theories regarding a variety of subjects: the moon walk, the JFK assassination, 9/11 and the truth about Kleenex’s plot to increase seasonal allergies.

The mystery is enhanced when a baseball cap–wearing stranger with little to say enters and orders a beer for himself and his invisible friend. Suddenly an edge-of-your-seat thriller becomes reality and characters hurtle towards the powerful conclusion.

Yankee Tavern features four of Santa Barbara’s finest actors, including Golden Globe award-winner Joseph Bottoms (Ray), New York City actor Charlie Rohlfs (Adam), local Santa Barbara favorite Bill Egan (Palmer) and LA actress and Santa Barbara newcomer Hayley O’Connor (Janet).

Steven Dietz is an American playwright whose 30+ plays have been widely produced in the U.S. and internationally. In 2010, Dietz was once again named one of the Most Produced Playwrights in America, placing eighth on the list, tied with Tennessee Williams and Edward Albe.! Dietz was awarded the 2011–2012 Ingram New Works Fellowship (joins David Auburn and John Patrick Shanley). 

“Yankee Tavern is a cousin to John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: The play isn’t really about what did or didn’t happen; it’s about the agony of uncertainty.” —Miami Herald.

“Yankee Taver is a very sly play from a highly accomplished craftsman of the theater.” —Chicago Tribune

“One helluva show…slyly fashioned as an edge-of-your-seat thriller.” —Daily News

TIMES: Friday, May 13, at 8:00 P.M.

TIMES: Saturday, May 14, at 8:00 P.M.

TIMES: Sunday, May 15, at 2:00 P.M.

TIMES: Thursday, May 19, at 8:00 P.M.

TIMES: Friday, May 20, at 8:00 P.M.

TIMES: Saturday, May 21, at 2:00 P.M.

TIMES: Saturday, May 21, at 8:00 P.M.

TICKETS: $29 general, $25 seniors, $18 students w/ID, $11.50 student rush (available 30 minutes before curtain)

All seating is general admission. All ticket sales are final at the time of purchase. There are no refunds or exchanges. For all performances late seating is on a limited basis, or is not allowed at all once the performance begins. Please plan your arrival time accordingly.

BOX OFFICE (805) 963-0408 (V/TDD)