Theater Wit's Hit Holiday Shows!

Theater Wit’s Hit Holiday Shows at Theatre Building in 2008

               Tom Mula in Steve Scott-directed “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”         Mitchell Fain in David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries”

Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions - see “Next” below).  Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris’ surly holiday elf in “The Santaland Diaries,” and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula’s original adaptation of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season. 

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” is the award-winning real story behind Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” - the story of Marley’s heroic behind-the-scenes efforts to save old Scrooge’s soul returns starring its original creator, Tom Mula. This irreverent, funny, and deeply moving solo show retells the perennial holiday favorite with warmth and infection zest.  Published in 1995, Mula’s novel Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol was a Chicago Tribune bestseller. The audio version was broadcast on NPR nationwide for six seasons, and the play version received DePaul’s Cunningham Prize.  The production premiered in 1998 (remounted in 1999) at the Goodman Theatre (also directed by Scott), was nominated for four Jeff awards, and received an After Dark Award.  Since then, the piece has received hundreds of productions nationally and worldwide, including in South Africa and Australia.  The show runs about two hours with one intermission. 

Humorist David Sedaris’ sardonic tale “The Santaland Diaries” returns to Chicago for its sixth season.  Solo actor Mitchell Fain plays the struggling young writer who takes a job as a Christmas elf at Macy’s in New York, trying to enter into the holiday spirit as he is forced to deal with the humiliation of elf training, abusive customers, and badly cast Santas.  Fain returns for his second year as the beleaguered elf, a role he first played in 2007.  First heard on National Public Radio in 1992, this is Theater Wit’s fifth annual production of the second most performed holiday show in the country, and runs about 70 minutes with no intermission. 

                        At the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” -south space; “The Santaland Diaries”-west space

$8 valet parking; Belmont El stop (Red, Brown, Purple)

Handicapped accessible

                         Call 773-327-5252 and www.theatrebuildingchicago.org (group rates available, but no 2-show combo discount); www.ticketmaster.com; Hot Tix. “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” single tickets are $28; previews are $18.  “The Santaland Diaries” single tickets are $24 (no previews) Student and seniors receive $2 off either show with ID

NO shows on November 30 and December 7 at 7 p.m.; December 5 and 6 at 9:30 p.m.; and on Thursdays December 25 (Christmas), and January 1 (New Year).  NO previews    

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” opens Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 7 p.m. 

 Previews on November 21, 22, 28, 29 at 8 p.m.; November 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. Closes on January 3, 2009

 Runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2  p.m.

NO shows on Thursdays December 25 (Christmas), and January 1 (New Years)

STAFF:              “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” – Steve Scott (Director), Dan Cook (Scenic Design), and Jeremy Getz (Lighting Design). 

                          “The Santaland Diaries” – Theater Wit Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler (Director), with guest artists Joey Wade (Scenic Design), Mike Durst (Lighting Design), Mara Blumenfeld (Costume Design), and Kelly McDowell (Stage Manager). 

                          David Sedaris is a Grammy award nominated American humorist, who came to prominence in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay, “The Santaland Diaries.”  He published his first collections of essays and short stories Barrel Fever in 1994.  His subsequent books have become best sellers and have sold more than 2.5 million copies. 

Tom Mula’s plays “W!” (directed for Theatre Wit by Steve Scott), “The Golem,” and his work on “Sylvia's Real Good Advice” were all recognized by the Jeff Committee.  Mula's acting credits include “Hot Mikado” at Drury Lane (received After Dark and Jeff awards); Lawrence in “Emma's Child;” the Fool in “King Lear;” and seven seasons (over 400 performances) as Goodman Theatre's Scrooge. He has spent 14 summers at Peninsula Players in Door County, WI, and he teaches in the Theatre Department at Columbia College as an Artist-in-Residence.

In January 2009, Theater Wit will begin a ten-year lease in the former Bailiwick Arts Center 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.  The space is being completely renovated to include three 99-seat performance spaces, full bar, and office, and progress will be documented at www.theaterwit.org.  The new space will be a permanent home for Theater Wit, as well as for several off-loop companies (TBA).  The renovated facility is slated to open in October 2009 with the world premiere of Penny Penniston’s “Spin,” followed closely by Theater Wit’s annual holiday showsTheater Wit's Hit Holiday Shows at Theatre Building in 2008