November 13, 2006

(Columbia, MD) - Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), Artistic Director Michael Stebbins, presents David Sedaris' one-man satire, "The Santaland Diaries," December 20, 2006 through January 7, 2007 in the new Black Box Theatre of the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center on the HCC campus located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. (no January 3 performance), Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday performances (only on January 7) at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets by calling the Box Office at 410-772-4900 or online at www.repstage.org. Prices are Wednesdays and Thursdays $16, Fridays $22, Saturday matinees $16, Saturday evenings $24, Sunday matinee $20 and Sunday evening $18. Student tickets are $12 any performance; special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. This show contains adult material. A free post-show reception follows the Friday, December 22 performance, and a post-show discussion follows the Friday, December 29 performance. Press Opening is 2:30 p.m., Saturday, December 23.

Humorist and author David Sedaris made his comic debut performing "The Santaland Diaries" on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Based on his own personal experiences, this subversive holiday riff follows the tribulations of “Crumpet,” a slacker employed as Santa’s helper at a Macy’s Department Store, as he bears the indignities of Elf School, the crunch of pushy parents and the cacophony of whiny children with all the patience of a sugar-plum curmudgeon in jingle bell Hell. 

Sedaris is also the author of the best-selling books "Barrel Fever," "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim," "Holidays on Ice," "Naked" and "Me Talk Pretty One Day."  Plays written by Sedaris in collaboration with his sister, Amy, include "Stump the Host," "Stitches," "The Book of Liz," and "One Woman Shoe" which received an Obie Award. In 2001, he was awarded both the Thurber Prize for American Humor and Time Magazine’s “Humorist of the Year” commendation.

Starring in this satirical one-man show will be Bruce Nelson, who recently appeared in Rep Stage’s September production of "Stones in His Pockets." Nelson is a recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for his roles in Rep Stage’s "The Dazzle" and "The Violet Hour," as well as Helen Hayes nominations for his roles in the company’s productions of "The Mystery of Irma Vep" and "Faith Healer. " Nelson has also performed at Everyman Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, Folger Theatre and the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.

This production will be directed by Joe Brady, a director, actor, writer and comedian based in New York City. He holds an MFA in directing from CUNY and is a graduate of Second City, Chicago, as well as having served as artistic director of Mother Lode Productions in Baltimore where he staged award-winning productions of "Waiting for Lefty," "The Mysteries and What’s So Funny?" and "Kafka Dances." Brady is currently an artistic associate with the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.

The creative team for this production includes Robert Marietta - set design; Judith Daitsman - lighting design, whose credits include The Martha Graham Dance Company and The National Theatre of Greece; Ann Warren - sound design; Jennifer Rade - costume design, whose individual and commercial clients include Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Manson, Pink, Apple IPod (2004 Costume Designer's Guild Award for Best Commercial Design); Dre Moore - props design; Joe Brady - stage management, and Lisa A. Wilde -  dramaturgy. 

Now in its 14th season, Rep Stage is member of League of Washington Theatres and Baltimore Theatre Alliance. Performances are made possible by Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Government, Columbia Foundation, Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the state of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts, and through generous individual contributions. Comcast is a media sponsor for the 2006-07 season. The Washington Blade is a media sponsor for "The Santaland Diaries."