THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES to Play St. Luke's

THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES, a very dark Christmas comedy written by Jeff Goode and well suited for the "Me too" era, is slated for a limited engagement Off-Broadway run this holiday season, Wednesday, December 12th - Thursday, January 3rd at St. Luke's Theater. The production is directed by Andrew Benvenuti and being produced by Sara Laursen and The Drama Club NYC, a newly formed arts organization that comes right out the gate staging a piece that LA Weekly describes as a "hilarious and intelligent middle finger to all the candy-coated commercialism of the yuletide season."

Santa's coming... "You'd better watch out"! Scandal at the North Pole! accusations, rumors, and all-out attacks are (still) flying fast and furious around the toy shop. Santa himself has been accused of sexual misconduct, and those that know him best have been interviewed to give their account of events. Hear about what happened directly from the horse's - or rather, Reindeers mouth! To put it mildly, the production is a stark alternative to A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker. It offers up hilarious commentary on workplace harassment, gender politics, and the magic of Christmas.

WARNING!! This show contains alarming content (though we won't ruin any surprises by giving away the specifics). 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!

"This is a play for our current times. It's quite dark but side-splittingly funny, layered, and emotionally involving. It makes audiences laugh and then gives them pause. There will be plenty to talk about on your way home!" says director Andrew Benvenuti.

Performances of THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES are on Weds Dec 12th at 8pm; Thurs Dec. 13th at 7pm; Weds Dec. 19th at 8pm; Thurs Dec. 20th at 7pm; Weds Dec. 26th at 8pm; Thurs Dec. 27th at 7pm; Weds Jan 2nd at 8pm and Thurs Jan 3rd at 7pm.

THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES was developed at the Hidden Theatre and Dolphinback Theatre Company in Chicago, IL. The play received premiere productions on November 17, 1994, at Adobe Theatre Company in New York City; The Source Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.; Midwest Center for Developing Artists in Iowa City; Dolphinback Theatre Company in Chicago; Hudson Backstage in Hollywood; and Brave Hearts Theatre in Madison, WI. The directors were Jeremy Dobrish, Joe Banno, Todd Wm. Ristau, Patrick Siler, Allison Gendreau, and Cheryl Snodgrass, respectively.

Jeff Goode (Playwright) is a director, producer, and author of over 50 plays, musicals, and children's shows including Seven Santas, The Adventures of Dick Piston, Hotel Detective, Princess Gray and the Black & White Knights, Romeo & Julius [Caesar], Savin' Up for Saturday Night, and Your Swash is Unbuckled(Volumen 1 & 2). He is the creator of the Disney animated series American Dragon: Jake Long. He is the winner of both the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Writing and the Backstage Garland Award for Excellence in Playwriting, and his work is published by Samuel French.

Andrew Benvenuti (Director) is the co-founder and current artistic director of The Drama Club NYC. He has previously directed The Little Dog Laughed, Columbinus, and The Crucible, for TDCNYC. Regionally he has directed The Sound of Music, Zanna, Don't!, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and The Little Dog Laughed. As an actor, Andrew has been seen on the New York Stage in 100 Aker Wood, An Avalanche of Tenors, The Laramie Project, and it's sequel The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.

The cast of THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES features Cameron A. Tubbs as Dasher, Jason Michael Dick as Cupid, Jason Garton as Hollywood (Prancer), Molly Megan Maynard as Blitzen, Josh Bowen as Comet, Sara Laursen as Dancer, Rasik Ohal as Donner, and Sarah Spring as Vixen.

Set, Lighting, and Costume Design by: The Drama Club NYC & Sara Laursen.
Makeup Design is by Sara Laursen. The Production Stage Manager is Ginaury Vasquez.

Tickets are $39.50 - 89.50 (for premium seating) and are available at https://www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/The-Eight-Reindeer-Monologues/Overview.

Part of The Drama Club NYC's mission is to keep theater accessible and affordable. As per that mission the company will have a small group of tickets available for same day lottery rush absolutely free of charge. Names for the lottery will be taken beginning 90 minutes before each performance. Names will be drawn one hour before each performance. Tickets will be distributed beginning 30 minutes prior to Showtime. Limit two tickets per name drawn. Tickets will only be distributed to the lottery winner on their way into the theater.

Photo: Josh Bowen, Sarah Spring, Jason Garton, Sara Laursen, Cameron A. Tubbs, Rasik Ohal, Jason Michael Dick, Molly Megan Maynard - Photo Courtesy: Dan Demello Public Relations

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