Presented with a rotating cast that includes:

John Ross Bowie, Jorja Fox, Pete Gardner, Melora Hardin, Rob Huebel, Gildart Jackson, Sharon Lawrence, Loni Love, Jane Lynch, Josh Malina, Thomas Sadoski, Gina Torres, James Urbaniak, Matt Walsh

March 12 - 30, 2025

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara
33 West Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

In PARENTS IN CHAINS, six L.A. parents exchange texts as their 18-year-old daughters drive home from a weekend in San Francisco during the approach of a hurricane. The trip and the inclement weather bring out both the best and the worst in the parents as they confront, as a group, as couples, and as individuals, what it means to let go of their kids. By turns viciously comic and poignant, PARENTS IN CHAINS is a valentine to the most difficult, most failure-prone job in the world.

  • “MAGIC HAPPENS! (AN) OUTSTANDING SCRIPT! Director Andy Fickman utilizes the extraordinary skills of his actors to deliver the chaos and comedy. Fickman’s successful formula for this production is pretty simple. Put a group of great actors on stage with a remarkable script and they’ll work their magic to make it A VIVID AND EXCITING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE; it’s a rare opportunity to see all of these amazing thespians together on stage!”

    Joe Mousceda, GLAMGICAL.COM

  • “CLEVER! SMART, ACCESIBLE AND FUNNY! A SMOOTH COMIC PLEASURE! It’s an exciting drop-in to the Ensemble season, and a satisfying story of people fumbling, struggling, and finally making connections.”

    Maggie Yates, SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

  • "A Rare and Unique Play… Non-Stop Laughs… and Comically Ruthless"

    Imaan Jalali, of LAEXCITES.COM