Not Half Bad Theatre debuts with 'The Story of War'

New local theatre company brings off-beat, half-improv comedy to Santa Barbara

Mar. 10, 2026 at 7:50pm

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Dillon Yuhasz's new theatre company, Not Half Bad Theatre, has debuted its first production, "The Story of War", a physical comedy wrapped around an absurdist take on the history of warfare. The show features Yuhasz playing an animatronic creator and programmer for Disney, as well as various animatronic soldiers throughout the centuries, in a performance that blends improv, crowd-work, and a thinly veiled audience murder plot.

Why it matters

The Story of War offers a unique and quirky theatrical experience that Santa Barbara doesn't feature often enough, showcasing the talents of a new local theatre company and providing an off-beat alternative to more traditional stage productions in the area.

The details

The Story of War is written and performed by Dillon Yuhasz, the founder of Not Half Bad Theatre. The production is billed as "a strange journey through time as both man and animatronic," paying homage to the legendary animatronic attractions at Disney theme parks. Yuhasz portrays Wathel Rogers, a true-to-history Disney animatronic creator and programmer, as well as various animatronic soldiers throughout history. The show also features a saboteur, a tootsie-roll-obsessed subplot, and plenty of iconic facial hair.

  • The Story of War is the debut production of Not Half Bad Theatre.
  • The show premiered in Santa Barbara in March 2026.

The players

Dillon Yuhasz

The founder and performer of Not Half Bad Theatre's debut production, "The Story of War".

Wathel Rogers

A true-to-history animatronic creator and programmer for the Disney company, as portrayed by Dillon Yuhasz in "The Story of War".

Not Half Bad Theatre

A new local theatre company in Santa Barbara that has debuted its first production, "The Story of War".

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What they’re saying

“The true magic of the production is Yuhasz's skill with improv and crowd-work. Including the unsuspecting audience is always a gamble of spontaneity, but Yuhasz nimbly walks the line of the fourth wall, simultaneously managing interactions with the skill of the actor and maintaining the tone and integrity of the story.”

— Maggie Yates, Reviewer

The takeaway

Not Half Bad Theatre's debut production, "The Story of War", showcases the company's unique and off-beat theatrical style, blending physical comedy, absurdist elements, and audience interaction to provide Santa Barbara with a refreshingly quirky alternative to traditional stage shows.