Horizon Theatre Company to Present THE SANTALAND DIARIES

Returning for its 18th anniversary production, Atlanta's red-hot holiday sensation, The Santaland Diaries by award-winning satirist David Sedaris, will run November 18 -December 31 at Horizon Theatre Company. Wanderlust Atlanta says "your sides are going to hurt and your cheeks will be so sore after laughing and smiling for a solid 90 minutes!" This non-traditional, adult-only, Christmas comedy provides the perfect laughter-induced remedy to the holiday blues.

Sardonic, satirical and sarcastic, the merry misanthrope, played for the 18th year by Harold M. Leaver, depicts the tale of his stint as a Macy's Department Store elf named Crumpet. Adapted from David Sedaris' best-selling book Holidays on Ice, this festive story is a modern classic, made famous when it aired on National Public Radio.

The Santaland Diaries will run November 18 - December 31. Performances areTuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. There will be no performance Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or November 29. Tickets are $25-$40. Patrons can upgrade to the VIP experience for $15, which includes reserved seating and a complimentary holiday beverage. Tickets and information are available at horizontheatre.com or 404.584.7450.

STORY

Welcome to this wicked wonderland and exposé of all things elfin. Out of work and middle-aged, a writer in need of holiday cash decides to employ his gift for insightful observation in the trade of elfdom at Macy's Department Store. Besieged by bratty kids with overzealous parents and donning a humiliating costume, he finds that his cynical self and his elfin alter ego, "Crumpet," are not exactly compatible. His remedy for the saccharine overdose he endures in his never-endingly exuberant job is to tell all - giving us a backstage pass to the secret lives of Santas and elves. Though definitely not your traditional stocking stuffer, this caustic Christmas carol provides comic relief during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. The Santaland Diaries serves up holiday cheer and sneer - and a rebel without a Claus.

PLAYWRIGHT

David Sedaris may well be the closest thing the literary world has these days to a rock star. He made his comic debut recounting his strange-but-true experiences of his job as a Macy's elf clad in green tights, reading his The Santaland Diaries on NPR's Morning Edition. His sardonic wit and incisive social critique have since made him one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. Sedaris is the author of numerous best-selling collections of stories and personal essays, including Holidays on Ice (from which The Santaland Diaries play was adapted), Barrel Fever, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his most recent book, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. Sedaris' original radio pieces can often be heard on the public radio show,This American Life. He was previously named Time Magazine's "Humorist of the Year" and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His essays appear regularly in Esquire and The New Yorkerand have twice been included in "The Best American Essays." There are a total of ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages. David Sedaris' next book will be a collection of his diaries, entitled Theft By Finding (summer 2017).

"Playwright, author, radio star, and retired elf David Sedaris may be the most brilliantly witty New Yorker since Dorothy Parker." - New York Magazine

CAST

Crumpet: Harold M. Leaver

FEATURED PERFORMANCES

Holiday Helper: Enoch King*

Holiday Helper: LaLa Cochran

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Jeff Adler

Scenic Designers: Moriah and Isabel Curley-Clay

Lighting Designer: Mary Parker

Sound Designer: Thom Jenkins

Stage Manager: JuliAnna Lee

Costume Designer: Abby Parker

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances of The Santaland Diaries run November 18 - December 31. Show times are Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.

There are no performances on Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day),Tuesday, November 29, or Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day).

TICKETING INFORMATION

General admission tickets for The Santaland Diaries are $25-$40. Upgrade to the VIP experience for $15 which includes reserved seating and a complimentary holiday beverage. Platinum VIP tickets are available for $100 and include front-row cocktail table seating, complimentary holiday beverages and sumptuous treats. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 404.584.7450 or online at horizontheatre.com. Ticket prices are subject to change. Eight percent sales tax will be added to all ticket orders. Internet convenience fee added to all online orders. No refunds, exchanges, or late seating. Holiday gift certificates are also available.

GROUP RATES

The Santaland Diaries is the perfect way to spice up your holiday gathering. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Horizon has a lounge space available for rental for pre-show gatherings. Contact Group Sales at 404.523.1477 x111 for more information.

PARENTAL ADVISORY

The Santaland Diaries contains mature language and situations. It is not intended for children. Suggested rating is PG14, appropriate for older teens.

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