The Santaland Diaries, a one-act play written by author, comedian and humorist David Sedaris will be performed at the Rio Grande Theatre by cast members from the Fusion Theatre Company on Saturday, December 20th at 7:30 p.m.
Originally an essay, this one-man comedy skit is based on Sedaris’s misadventures working as Crumpet the Elf at Macy’s Santaland in New York City. It highlights the holiday spirit of shoppers and exposes the best and worst of humanity in a humorous and peculiar manner.
Sedaris became well-known when he broadcasted his Santaland Diaries essay on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition two days before Christmas in 1992, soon thereafter he rose to stardom becoming one of America’s most outstanding humor writers. His Santaland Diaries was adapted for stage in 1996 by Joe Mantello, an American actor and director best known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked Take Me Out and Assassins. The show debuted at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York with Timothy Olyphant playing the role of the elf in the show’s premier that December.
Sedaris followed his Santaland Diaries success with Barrel Fever, a collection of essays and short stories in 1994. His next five essay collections (published from 1997-2009), Naked, Holiday’s on Ice, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and When You Are Engulfed In Flames became New York Times Best Sellers. In 2010, he released Squirrel Seeks and Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. His most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls became an immediate bestseller and the audio version was nominated for Best Spoken Word Album in the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
His writings are based on his family life in his middle-class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. He makes reference to his Greek heritage, jobs, education, drug use and obsessive behaviors, and his life in France, London and the English South Downs.
The Fusion Theatre Company which is the only professional theatre company in the state of New Mexico was named "One of the 10 Most Promising Emerging Theatre Companies in the United States" by the American Theatre Wing. Since its launch in 2001 it has produced and premiered several major productions. Last year, theatre patrons enjoyed Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike by Christopher Durang, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, The Other Place by Sharr White, Tribes by Nina Raine and The Seven: New Works Festival: "Worlds Collide."
Tickets for Santaland Diaries are $15 for balcony seats and $20 for seating in the main floor. They may be purchased at the Rio Grande Theater located at 211 N. Main in downtown Las Cruces or online at https://holdmyticket.com/checkout/event/180949. Theatre doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show and children in attendance must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 21.
For more information contact the theatre at (575) 523-6403 or email them at infodacc@daarts.org.