{"id":8967,"date":"2018-04-12T18:42:40","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T01:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8967"},"modified":"2018-04-12T14:46:26","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T21:46:26","slug":"the-invisible-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8967","title":{"rendered":"The Invisible Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ensemble

Ensemble Theatre’s production of The Invisible Hand, April 12-29. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC)<\/a> (in a co-production with the English Theatre Frankfurt<\/a>) presents a witty and provocative new thriller, The Invisible Hand<\/em><\/a>, written by Ayad Akhtar<\/a> (Disgraced<\/em>) and directed by Jonathan Fox<\/a>. The Invisible Hand<\/em> begins previews on Thursday, April 12, opens on Saturday, April 14, and runs through Sunday, April 29 at The New Vic<\/a>, 33 W. Victoria St. in Santa Barbara. The production will then transfer to the English Theatre Frankfurt on May 9.<\/p>\n

Set in Pakistan, American investment banker Nick Bright is kidnapped by an extremist organization and held for a $10 million ransom. When his company refuses to meet the terrorists\u2019 demands, Bright convinces his captors that he can manipulate the stock market to meet his own ransom. Capitalism intersects with Islamic fanaticism in a race against time in this heart-pounding thriller by the Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Akhtar.<\/p>\n

\"John

John Tufts and Mujahid Abdul-Rashid in ETC’s production of “The Invisible Hand,” photo by David Bazemore.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar is one of the most compelling writers working today and we are so fortunate to be presenting this high-voltage thriller,\u201d says Ensemble Theatre Company Artistic Director Jonathan Fox. \u201cOur subscribers and audiences are in for quite the ride as money and religious devotion collide with devastating consequences.\u00a0 We\u2019re delighted that it brings a great cast to Santa Barbara, and to once again partner with the English Theatre of Frankfurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Tufts<\/a>, who wowed area audiences in ETC\u2019s 2016 production of I Am My Own Wife<\/em><\/a> (a production that transferred to Laguna Playhouse), returns to Santa Barbara to play the role of Nick Bright. He recently played multiple roles in an acclaimed New York production of Pride and Prejudice. Jameal Ali<\/a>, who plays the volatile Pakistani kidnapper Bashir, starred in the original New York production.\u00a0 Rounding out the cast are Mujahid Abdul-Rashid<\/a> and Sarang Sharma<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are several special events and promotions associated with the production:<\/p>\n