Fantastic Mr. Fox 

Jonathan Fox, who retired as artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre Company in June after 17 years at the helm when it moved from the rustic Alhecama Theater to the New Vic, was lauded for his work at a 76-guest dinner thrown by Santa Barbara’s Jewish Foundation at the historic Santa Barbara Club.

Cyndi Silverman, board and event chair, presented Jonathan with a crystal engraved trophy, a very timely accolade as he is directing local playwright Barbara Gural’s two hour-long play Shpilkes, a Yiddish phrase akin to “ants in your pants” about two sisters who reconnect in New York.

Just 24 hours later the dinner guests gathered at the Music Academy’s Hahn Hall for a reading of the work.

Later this year Jonathan is directing the Neil Simon play Lost in Yonkers at City College’s Garvin Theatre, which won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Among the supporters turning out were Robert Lurie, Alicia Sedwick, Michael Bello, Michael Holland, Jenny Sullivan, Greg Roper, and Brian Steinwurtzel.