Chance Theater Presents THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES

Chance Theater is pleased to present its 13th annual production of the irreverent, raunchy and pitch-black dark holiday satire... The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. Written by Jeff Goode, directed by Resident Artist Alex Bueno, and associate directed by Resident Artist James McHale. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues will perform December 8 through December 23 on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

WARNING!! This show contains FOUL-MOUTHED REINDEER and very inappropriate ADULT HUMOR! Definitely no kids or anyone who doesn't want to see the dark side of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the North Pole!

We just couldn't shut them up.... so for the 13th straight year, accusations, rumors and all-out attacks are (still) flying fast and furious around the toy shop. Hear the truth straight from the reindeer who know Santa best. It's not all fun and (reindeer) games at the North Pole. When a doe says "No" she means "No."

When Chance Theater first presented Jeff Goode's naughty little comedy in 2004, the staff had no idea that this little show about Santa's reindeer would be such a hit with Orange County audiences. "It was seriously insane," says director Alex Bueno, who played Blitzen in the first production, and has appeared many times since as various reindeer. "We had people lined up outside our theater just hoping more seats would open up. And the audiences who did get in to see the show were really ready to have a great time! They would talk to the actors onstage, answering questions that were meant to be rhetorical, giving the reindeer fist bumps and booing and cheering whenever they felt like it. The atmosphere was much more like a party than a theatrical performance. Almost immediately we started getting asked the question, 'So this is coming back again next year, right?'"

With each successive year, the popularity and fandom for the decidedly un-holiday show continued to grow. Audience members regularly show up wearing antlers, or with small gifts for the cast (including a "Reindeer Games Played Here" sign that traveled with the Chance when it moved into its new theater space). The Chance even tried to call it quits a few years ago, but incredible demand for the show brought it back.

"I think the reason why people keep coming back is that there aren't a lot of alternative holiday shows out there," Bueno continued. "People need a chance to cut loose and let a little (good-natured) nastiness in along with all the cheer and egg nog. I personally can't think of a better way to do that than spend an evening with Santa's foul-mouthed team."

Jeff Goode (Playwright) has written over forty theatrical plays throughout his career. In 2006, he was honored as the Broadway Play Publishing Inc.'s Playwright of the Year and in 2007, he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the Back Stage Garland Award for his play Love Loves a Pornographer. He is a founding member of the original No Shame Theatre and the founding artistic director of No Shame Los Angeles.

A ROTATING CAST OF REINDEER FOR EVERY PERFORMANCE

Starting with the second production of The Eight in 2005, some of the reindeer were swapped out with other talent. Although many of the original cast has returned over the last 12 years (taking a year off now and then), it's the variety of characterizations that has also kept the production fresh for over a decade. Counting the original cast of eight, there have been over 65 actors who have appeared as reindeer at the Chance.

This year's cast of reindeer includes Resident Artists Casey Long (Seminar), James McHale (Dogfight), Karen O'Hanlon (Passion Play) and Jeff Hellebrand (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues), as well as returning artists Ben Green (A Chorus Line), Aaron McGee (The Legends of Sleepy Hollow), Miguel Cardenas (The Secret Garden - The Musical), Andrew Puente (Dogfight), Kelly Ehlert (Stinky Cheese Man), Sarah Moreau (The Eight: Reindeer Monologues) and Camryn Zelinger (A Chorus Line). Adam LeBowitz-Lockard, Katie Canavan, Lola Kelly, and Ahmed Brooks make their Chance debut with this production.

The production team for The Eight: Reindeer Monologues includes director Alex Bueno, associate director James McHale, production designer Masako Tobaru, Sound Designer Casey Long, and stage manager Courtny Greenough.

ABOUT CHANCE THEATER

Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-driven theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER recently received a National Theatre Company grant from American Theatre Wing. The Chance has won six Ovation Awards, including two for Best Production of a Musical - Intimate Theater for its West Coast premiere of Triassic Parq - The Musical and Southern California premiere of Jerry Springer - The Opera, as well as four LADCC Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Outstanding Season. The Anaheim City Council named Chance Theater "the official resident theater company of Anaheim", and Arts Orange County has twice named the Chance as "Outstanding Arts Organization". Known for using bold and personal storytelling to promote dialogue and connection within the Southern California theatrical landscape, the Chance is committed to contributing to a more compassionate, connected and creative community. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Network of Ensemble Theaters, and the LA Stage Alliance, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.

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