Ensemble Theatre Company’s ‘The Piano and Me’ Plays at New Vic

Noozhawk
May 3, 2026
You know that feeling when a performer walks on stage and it’s like they’re inviting you into their living room? That’s the magic Hershey Felder brings, and according to Noozhawk, he’s bringing it to our very own New Vic next month. Ensemble Theatre Company is teaming up with HFP LIVE for the Southern California premiere of Felder’s latest, “The Piano & Me.” If you’ve ever caught one of his shows—like the unforgettable “George Gershwin Alone” that played here a few seasons back—you know he doesn’t just play the piano; he makes the keys tell stories.
What makes this especially sweet for Santa Barbara is how Felder blends history with pure, unpretentious heart. This isn’t a stuffy recital. It’s a one-man show that feels like a fireside chat with a brilliant friend who happens to be a virtuoso. For anyone who’s spent a lazy afternoon at the Arlington or grabbed a post-show drink on State Street, this is a chance to see world-class theater right in our backyard. Mark your calendars—our little cultural gem just got a little brighter.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Noozhawk.
City
Santa BarbaraSource
NoozhawkPublished
May 3, 2026
AI-curated summary from local news sources
Explore Santa BarbaraAll Santa Barbara NewsMore News from Santa Barbara
Santa BarbaraMorro Bay Offshore Wind Project Dead in Water After Company Ends Lease
You know that feeling when you’re watching a promising local project slowly fizzle out? That’s what happened this week with the Morro Bay offshore wind initiative. According to the *Santa Barbara Independent*, the company behind it, Ocean Winds, has pulled the plug on its lease—leaving the whole thing dead in the water. Our own Congressmember Salud Carbajal didn’t mince words, calling the Trump administration’s handling of the deal “backwards” and saying he’s “outraged.” For those of us up and down the Central Coast, this isn’t just about energy policy—it’s about missed opportunities for good jobs and a cleaner grid that could have helped power everything from Goleta to Guadalupe. It’s hard not to feel a little deflated. The Morro Bay project was supposed to be a flagship for California’s shift to renewable offshore wind, and Santa Barbara has long been a vocal supporter of that vision. When local leaders like Carbajal fight for something and still see it slip away, it raises real questions about how much say our community actually has in these big federal decisions. Let’s hope this isn’t the final chapter—because if there’s one thing we know around here, it’s that the ocean isn’t going anywhere, and neither are our hopes for a sustainable future.
Santa BarbaraSolar Microgrid Project in Isla Vista Gets $15 Million in Funding
You know how the lights flicker in Isla Vista during a big storm, or when the whole block goes dark and you’re suddenly scrambling for candles? Well, there’s some genuinely exciting news that could change that for good. According to the *Santa Barbara Independent*, a major solar microgrid project in Isla Vista just landed a whopping $15 million in funding. This isn’t just another green energy headline—it’s about keeping the power on for the places that matter most. The microgrid will support 170 residential and commercial customers, plus critical community services. Think about what that means for our little beachside neighborhood: the corner market stays open during an outage, the laundromat keeps spinning, and maybe even the community center can serve as a safe haven when the grid goes down. For a place like I.V., where students and long-time locals share tight streets and even tighter rental units, energy resilience isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. This is a big win for the 805’s push toward local, reliable energy. It’s one thing to talk about sustainability in theory; it’s another to actually build something that keeps the lights on when PG&E says “sorry.” So next time you’re grabbing a burrito on Pardall, take a second to appreciate that the sun over the ocean might soon be powering more than just your tan.
Santa BarbaraThe Great Hunger
It’s easy to assume that because we live in such a beautiful, generous place, everyone has enough to eat. But a recent piece in the *Santa Barbara Independent* called “The Great Hunger” got me thinking differently. The article points out something uncomfortable but important: while local food banks and pantries here in Santa Barbara do incredible work, much of the donated food is highly processed—think boxed mac and cheese and sugary snacks. It’s filling bellies, sure, but it’s not always nourishing the long-term health of our neighbors. This hits close to home when you consider our county’s fresh produce bounty. We’re surrounded by strawberry fields, avocado groves, and farmers’ markets, yet too many families in Goleta, Carpinteria, and downtown Santa Barbara rely on shelf-stable donations because fresh, healthy food is harder to source and store. The *Independent* asks a fair question: should we rethink the “charity food system” itself? Maybe it’s time to push for more partnerships with local farms or invest in community kitchens that can turn bulk donations into healthy meals. For those of us who donate cans at the grocery store drive, it’s a good reminder that not all food is created equal. The warmth of our community isn’t just about giving—it’s about giving well. Next time you’re shopping, consider grabbing a bag of beans, a jar of salsa, or a can of low-sodium veggies. It’s a small shift that could make a big difference in how we feed each other here on the Central Coast.