'The Santaland Diaries - Snowed In With The Mind Of David Sedaris' At Florida Rep

Snowed In with the Mind of David Sedaris, THE SANTALAND DIARIES is Back Onstage at Florida Rep

David Sedaris' snarky holiday comedy, The Santaland Diaries, is back onstage at Florida Rep for a special engagement, playing Dec. 9-23 in the New Studio Theatre.

Starring Florida Rep regular, Jason Parrish, The Santaland Diaries follows the outrageous  exploits of an unemployed writer who desperately takes a job as a Macy's Elf, and exposes the underside of the Christmas season.

"We're very pleased to bring this very edgy, very adult, and very funny play back for another season," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "it was a huge hit for us last year, with a nearly sold out run, and we hope that it becomes a holiday tradition for Southwest Florida audiences. If you missed it last season, now is your chance to get tickets. If you saw it and loved it last year, I encourage you to come back - it's a whole new production this time around."

The Naples Daily news raved, calling Santaland "A good romp in the snow...a sleighload of snark and a sackful of laughs," and Florida Weekly called the production "Delightfully subversive...a welcome alternative to much of the mushy sap we're so often force fed at Christmastime," and the News-Press told readers to "Line up to see Santaland at Florida Rep!"

Written by bestselling humorist and NPR and New Yorker contributor, David Sedaris, The Santaland Diaries is a funny and bitingly honest portrait of the Christmas season that Sedaris spent working as an Elf. Adapted for the stage by Tony winning actor and director, Joe Mantello, the play takes audiences on an Elfin journey from the interview process to the last crazed shopping days before Christmas.

Florida Rep Associate Director, Jason Parrish, stars in the production again as Crumpet the Elf. Seen most recently in Florida Rep's season opener, Noises Off, Parrish is a familiar face in Southwest Florida, and was the recipient of the 2010 Angel of the Arts Award for Performance Artist of the Year.

Chris Clavelli, Florida Rep's Associate Artistic Director, is another familiar Florida Rep ensemble member whose work as both an actor and director with the Rep goes back to 2002. Seen most recently onstage in Relatively Speaking, Opus and the nationally acclaimed productions of Dancing at Lughnasa and You Can't Take It with You, Clavelli works extensively with the Rep, but also in theatres across the country. His directing work includes last season's Trying, as well as recent productions of Alone Together and The Glass Menagerie.

Clavelli and Parrish are joined by an expert team of designers who will bring, not only Macy's Santaland, but also David's grungy New York apartment to life in the new Florida Rep Studio Theatre. Florida Rep's Technical Director, Chris Simpson (How I Became a Pirate), will design the set, resident costumer, Roberta Malcolm (Noises Off), is on board again to design the costumes, resident sound designer, Kate Smith (The Big Bang) will again design the sound and lights, and company member, Adam Jones (You Can't Take It With You) will stage manage.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris & Joe Mantello plays in Florida Rep's NEW Studio Theatre December 9 through 23, and general admission is $25, and Florida Rep is pleased to be offering a Special $12 student price for FGCU, Edison and other area colleges and universities. Tickets are available online and through the Florida Rep box office at 239-332-4488.

Seating in the Studio Theatre is limited, and tickets are going fast, so call or click today. The Santaland Diaries contains adult language and content, and is not appropriate for children.

The Santaland Diaries is sponsored by Cheryl and David Copham.

Performances thru Dec. 19 are Tues. - Sat. at 8:30pm. Wed., Sun. & select Saturdays at 2:30pm. Performances after Dec. 20 begin at 8pm. The run features a special 7:30pm Twilight Performance on Sun, Dec. 12.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre on Bay Street between Jackson & Hendry with convenient free parking in the Fort Myers River District, and the The Florida Rep Studio Theatre is just down the hall. Visit the Rep online at www.floridarep.org and on facebook at www.facebook.com/FloridaRep.

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