Arizona Theatre Company to Present THE SANTALAND DIARIES & A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Two of the Valley's favorite and most-celebrated actors will bring their special gifts to the holiday season in limited engagement one-person performances of Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, and David Sedaris' hilarious anti-holiday tale, The Santaland Diaries. Produced by Arizona Theatre Company in association with the Herberger Theatre Center, both shows will play in an intimate custom-built 250-seat stage-within-a-stage located in the grandly theatrical setting of Center Stage in downtown Phoenix.

Katie McFadzen will use Dickens' own immortal words to turn the family-friendly A Christmas Carol into a one-woman tour-de-force as she performs all 27 characters from Scrooge to Tiny Tim. The edgy, irreverent May will fit right into Sedaris' cult classic, The Santaland Diaries, the wickedly true, outrageously funny tale of best-selling humorist Sedaris' tenure as an unemployed writer taking a job as Crumpet the Elf in Macy's Santaland display.

Both shows will be performed on an alternating schedule from Thursday, Dec. 10 through Saturday, Dec. 26. Ticket prices for both shows range from $23-$51.

A Christmas Carol will be adapted and directed by Matthew Wiener, who put his own unique touch on the popular Dickens tale for more than 19 years while with Actors Theatre of Phoenix. The Santaland Diaries, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, will be directed by ATC Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein.

"These terrifically entertaining plays during the holidays will provide theatergoers with really creative options to celebrate during that time of year," Wiener said. "Seeing A Christmas Carol back on stage at the Herberger Theater and working with Katie make the experience very special to me."

"Cheer and churlishness go hand-in-hand during the holidays with these two delightful plays," said Goldstein. "Katie and Ron are certainly two treasures of our community, and the holidays are the best time for sharing treasures. Whether you have been appallingly naughty, or angelically nice, Ron and Kate have a show for you."

The full schedule can be found at www.arizonatheatre.org. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ATC website or through the Herberger Theater Center Box Office.

The Santaland Diaries and A Christmas Carol are being produced in association with the Herberger Theater Center.

For more information call (602) 256-6995 or visit www.arizonatheatre.org.

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