Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage to Present THE SANTALAND DIARIES, 12/11-20

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, continues its 2015/2016 season with David Sedaris' "The Santaland Diaries." Performances are December 11-20, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, at Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Avenue (behind Nine West) in Norwalk, CT. Tickets range from $35-$55 and are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com

Leave the kids at home for this hilariously irreverent holiday show. It's David Sedaris' side-splitting send-up of Christmas and his brief, misguided career as a Macy's elf. "The Santaland Diaries" skewers everything we love (and secretly loathe) about the holidays. Based on the true chronicles of writer and commentator David Sedaris' experience working as a Christmas elf in a Macy's department store in New York City, The "Santaland Diaries" riffs on a few of Sedaris' truly odd encounters with his fellow man during the height of the holiday crunch. The tales helped launch the career of Sedaris, when he performed excerpts from his essay, "Santaland Diaries," for National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" a few days before Christmas in 1992. The essay was later adapted into a one-man show by Joe Mantello and premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company in 1996. Since then, "The Santaland Diaries" has become a popular holiday favorite. It remains one of the most-produced holiday shows on American stages each season.

"The Santaland Diaries" stars Matt Densky, a native of Monroe, CT, who is making his MTC debut. Densky has appeared as Young Max in both the Madison Square Garden and National Touring productions of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and appears on the show's cast recording. Regional credits include Flotsam/Scuttle in the US Regional Premiere of "The Little Mermaid," Doody in "Grease," Mark in "Altar Boyz," Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Woof in "Hair," Emcee in "Cabaret" and Mozart in "Amadeus." He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and currently resides in New York City.

"The Santaland Diaries" is directed by MTC co-founder and Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors. The design team includes set design by Carl Tallent, lighting by Joshua Scherr and costumes by Diane Vanderkroef. The production is stage managed by Jim Schilling. As a work of satire, "The Santland Diaries" contains material that might be objectionable to some audiences and is recommended for ages 16 and up.

MTC MainStage's production of "The Santaland Diaries" is generously sponsored by WSHU Public Radio, the principal source of NPR programming and classical music for southwestern Connecticut. MTC is generously supported in part by The State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. "The Santaland Diaries" is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. MTC MainStage's restaurant partner, Rizzuto's Restaurant and Bar, invites MTC patrons to enjoy 20% off their entire check on the day of their performance, see ticket for details.