Interview: Harold M. Leaver Returns for 17th Season As A Department Store Elf in Horizon Theatre's THE SANTALAND DIARIES

THE SANTALAND DIARIES started out as an essay written by David Sedaris, first read on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on December 23, 1992. It was then adapted for the stage by Joe Montello, and in 1999 the Horizon Theatre began what might go on to be the longest running tradition in Atlanta theater outside of A Christmas Carol. It stars the witty and down-to-earth Harold M. Leaver in his 17th year as Krumpet, a desperate middle-aged man who recounts his stint as a Macy's store elf. Krumpet introduces us to dozens of coworkers and children whom he interacted with during his time at the department store, played by Enoch King and Lala Cochran. I had the privilege of being part of the interactive audience of SANTALAND, after which I spoke with Krumpet himself. After 17 successful seasons of SANTALAND, this man is somewhat of an icon in the Atlanta theatre scene. But for the other 10 months out of the year, what does a holiday icon do with his time? Get to know Harold M. Leaver, Atlanta's beloved tax preparing elf.

BWW: I absolutely loved the show, especially how involved the audience was in the entire 90 minutes Do you guys do those bits involving individual viewers every show?

Harold: That's what brings people back every single year. The first year, we didn't have any audience interaction directed in. And coming up on the dress rehearsal, the costume that they gave me, I could not put it on by myself. I live 70 miles away and I was driving in for the dress rehearsal and I thought, 'I need to pull somebody on stage'. And it's just grown. And these people that come year after year are always expecting something new and different. It's one of the things that keeps it really fresh for the people who come year after year. It helps keep it fresh for me because 17 years is really a difficult length of time to be playing the same character.

How many shows is it per season?

I don't count. I think it's like 38 or 40. 6-8 shows a week. I'm the only one in the cast who really has the institutional memory. We've changed directors, we've changed sidekicks.

Have you taken a break?

No, no! 17 years. I am entirely in the theatre's hands. But they invested in this. It started out as a dark night show and then it just took off. A lot of it has to do with the show. But an awful lot of it has to do with Sedaris' popularity continuing to grow. When we first did it, only a few people really paid attention to who the writer was. They heard him read it on NPR, but that's just all kind of fed together to give us this tradition.

How long do you plan on doing it?

We started talking about saturation the 4th or 5th year, and we were only doing 17 or so performances. And we kept on saying, 'This can't go on. Everyone has to have seen it by now!' But it just keeps on being successful. And I hope I'm around for a while, but right now I can only swear to Decmeber 31st, 2015. Actors would kill for my gig. There are a lot of actors in town who would love an annual holiday gig that they can count on. Not a lot of folks get that.

It sounds like an incredible gig, but it must be exhausting to have such a long, consistent run.

I live so far away, I have an office job. I live in Watkinsville, GA. It's 70 miles every day. I love the country. It's a great commute- it's a great way to wind down. I might be exhausted but I'm still very adrenalized. The man I live with is my partner of 21 years, we got married this September in our home. The first two mustaches to get married in Oconee County.

That's amazing. Congratulations!

Thank you! Yeah, so it's his tradition too. We've been together 21 years. Sometimes that's something I have to consider. Do I still want our holidays to be built around Santaland? The support is there. We just have a great time. And it is part of his tradition too, so that's kind of sweet.

What are you doing when it's not Christmas season?

During the year I've got an office job, I work for the largest tax preparation company in the country. I do advisement for clients and I do training for them, so I've got a nice variety of jobs in my life. And it's pretty nice. If I did 50 weeks a year in an office, or even 50 weeks a year in theatre, I think I might get pretty bored. I'm just that type.

I'm like that too! I completely agree.

I'm fortunate to have this nice mix of jobs in my life. I think this might be keeping me young, too. I don't feel like I'm 53. I don't feel like I've been doing it for 17 years.

I didn't know you were 53!

The story was written when he was 33. And when I first started out Krumpet was 33 for about 5 years. But then when I hit 50 I said screw it, I'm going full on with my real age. Because that makes it just as interesting. A 50 year old fella' having to take a job as an elf, poor guy.

That's almost funnier than a 33-year-old.

Yeah, I mean necessary will force you into weird things. I never thought I would be working for a tax prep company, but necessity takes us to strange places and we have to make it work.

I feel like anybody in theatre would see this and relate to that. Having to take odd jobs.

I've done that. I've had years where it's theatre all year long, and I've done teaching at the university level. But this seems to be the best kind of balance for me. It's reliable and I can pay my bills!

And that's what it's all about, right? Well, I would definitely come see the show again. I feel like it's new every night.

As long as the other actors keep tickling me, it works. They keep it exciting. This is Enoch's tenth year, and this is Lala's fourth year. We've burned through a few sidekicks in 17 years (laughs). Some people move on. Some people don't want to spend their holidays like this. They do it for a year or two and they move on to other things. We lost one to the 2nd Hunger Games movie. She had to go to Hawaii for all of December, poor thing. We felt bad for her (laughs), but we found somebody to replace her. I'm really pleased for her.

That's how theatre is. Circumstances changes so fast.

Another early female sidekick, after she left Atlanta, she got married and she moved to Pennsylvania. And now she works for the company who handles the contracting for Santaland and Macy's NYC. Essentially she is now working for Santaland INC! It's very funny to me. But this is a dream gig for me. Lisa and Jeff Adler, the co-artistic Directors and Founders of Horizon, have invested so much time. We just didn't know how big it would be. It started being a regular show in the community, and a few years ago we started opening a week before thanksgiving. It's insane! Who goes to a Christmas play before Thanksgiving?

Hey, a lot of people play their Christmas music long before thanksgiving.

I guess a lot of people do, and those are the people who come to the early shows. The way we started actually was Lisa called me in 1998 because I'd done some stuff with (Horizon) in the early 90s. They were thinking about doing this play about a bitter elf, just a staged reading. I said 'Oh that sounds great. When are the auditions?' and she said 'Well actually we think you'd be perfect to play this bitter elf.' We did the staged reading and it went well, so I say it's really my 18th year.

I hope you get to continue to do it. It might be even funnier when Krumpet is 65 or 70.

I can remember on the 5th or 6th year, we were making jokes about doing Santaland 2020. And we said 'Oh that's never going to happen. Ha ha.' And look at us! This could happen! We'll just have to wait and see.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES runs through December 31st at the Horizon Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at http://tickets.horizontheatre.com/ . Can't escape your in-laws long enough to see this production? Don't fret, there's always next year! I don't foresee this seventeen-year-running tradition fizzing out anytime soon.