LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS Comes To The Flea Theater, 12/1

The Flea Theater will present the World Premiere of LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS by Steven Banks, head writer of SpongeBob SquarePants. This romantic comedy set in front of New York's famed holiday window displays is directed by Jim Simpson and features The Bats, The Flea's resident company of actors. Previews begin November 20 with opening night slated for Wednesday, December 1. Please note: this offbeat holiday comedy is recommended for audiences ages 15 and over.

LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS is set on Christmas Eve in New York City. An unemployed writer and a struggling actress meet while looking at the famous holiday windows along Fifth Avenue. What they don't realize is that the windows are looking back - from Tiny Tim toting a ray gun to an amorous elf with an eye for Mrs. Claus. LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS is a sweet, smart, slightly twisted romantic comedy.

"At The Flea, we are always looking for something different -- and the holidays are no exception," notes Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson. "Having the head writer from Sponge Bob Square Pants take on Christmas, New York, and holiday windows fits the bill."

The production stars Brett Aresco, Crystal Arnette, Allison Buck, Holly Chou, Jack Corcoran, Christian Adam Jacobs, Raúl Sigmund Julia, Betsy Lippitt, Turna Mete, Michael Micalizzi, Briana Pozner, and John Russo. The design team includes Kate Sinclair Foster (set), Jeanette
Oi-Suk Yew (lighting), Gabriel Berry (costumes), and Jill BC DuBoff (sound).

Steven Banks is the Emmy Award-nominated head writer of SpongeBob SquarePants. He recently co-created a full evening piece, Shadowland, for the renowned dance company Pilobolus. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed one-person play Home Entertainment Center on Showtime and performed it in Los Angeles and San Francisco, winning LA Weekly, Dramalouge and Bay Area Critic's Circle Awards. Steven also wrote and starred in the national PBS series The Steven Banks Show and released a CD, Songs from The Steven Banks Show. His first novel, King of the Creeps, was published by Random House/Knopf. His play, Love Tapes, co-written with Penn Jillette, was nominated for three LA Weekly Theater Awards, winning Best Direction of a Comedy. He wrote
the book and additional lyrics for the musical The Sponge Who Could Fly, currently touring internationally Steven is a drop out of Los Angeles City College and a graduate of the Ringling Brother's & Barnum and Bailey's Clown College.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's The Guys; six plays by A.R. Gurney (Office
Hours, Post Mortem, O Jerusalem, Screenplay, Mrs. Farnsworth and A Light Lunch); Mac Wellman's Cellophane and Two September; Roger Rosenblatt's Ashley Montana Goes Ashore... and The Oldsmobiles; Elizabeth Swados' JABU and Kaspar Hauser; Adam Rapp's Bingo with the Indians; Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations; Dawn by Thomas Bradshaw; The Great Recession; Jonathan Reynolds' Girls in Trouble and Bathsheba Doran's Parents' Evening.

LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS runs November 20 - December 30, Tuesday - Sunday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm and Friday at 10pm with added shows Mondays Nov. 22 & Dec 27 at 7pm. (Note: no performances Nov. 24 - 26 or Dec. 23 - 26.) The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org. Please also note: all Tuesday performances are Pay-What-You-Can, subject to availability at the door, only 1 ticket per person.

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