The Santaland Diaries at Carpenter Square Theatre

Carpenter Square Heads to Santaland for the HolidaysCarpenter Square Theatre celebrates the holiday season with The Santaland Diaries November 29-December 21. David Sedaris hilarious comedy, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, is about an out-of-work slacker who takes a job as an elf at Macys department store during the holiday crunch. All performances are at the theater, located at 800 W. Main in downtown Oklahoma City. The holiday elf of Sedariss tale is a 33-year-old actor who arrived in New York City three weeks ago, is down to his last twenty dollars, and has no soap opera job waiting or any job for that matter. When he notices an ad placed by Macys Herald Square for out-going, fun-loving people of all shapes and sizes to be at the center of the excitement in Santaland, he goes for it. After submitting a ten-page application, taking a personality test and drug test, and undergoing two interviews, hes hired. He chooses the name Crumpet, but almost immediately he realizes he would rather be far from the excitement. Studying The Elfen Guide with 50 other elf wannabes, cheerleading for Santa, and trying to master the cash register are not the kind of excitement he wants out of The Big Apple. When Santaland opens, Crumpet tries to deal with other eccentric elves, even more eccentric Santas, and loud-mouthed parents and children. Luckily, just before his employment ends on Christmas Eve, a truly good-hearted Santa startles him into the spirit of goodwill that he has been missing. C. W. Bardsher stars as the hapless elf in Santaland. Linda McDonald guides the production as director, with assistance from stage manager Rosemary Katherine Waits. Rhonda Clark is the costume designer, Mark Fairchild is the sound designer, while Ben Hall is in charge of the set design and execution.

Authors

• David Sedaris
• Joe Mantello