Photo Flash: THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES Returns For 14th Straight Year To Chance Theater

Chance Theater is set to present its 14th annual production of the irreverent, raunchy and pitch-black dark holiday satire... The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. Written by Jeff Goode, directed by Resident Artist James McHale. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues will perform December 8 through December 23 on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

WARNING!! NO, SERIOUSLY!

This shamelessly dark comedy contains a lot of bad language, inappropriate behavior, and adult themes. Definitely no kids or anyone who doesn't want to see the dark side of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and the North Pole!

We just couldn't shut them up.... so for the 14th straight year, accusations, rumors and all-out attacks are (still) flying fast and furious around the toy shop. Hear the truth straight from the reindeer who know Santa best. It's not all fun and (reindeer) games at the North Pole. When a doe says "No," she means "No."

When Chance Theater first presented Jeff Goode's naughty little comedy in 2004, the staff had no idea that this little show about Santa's reindeer would be such a hit with Orange County audiences. "It was seriously insane," says founding artist Casey Long. "We had people lined up outside our theater just hoping more seats would open up. And the audiences who did get in to see the show were really ready to have a great time! They would talk to the actors onstage, answering questions that were meant to be rhetorical, giving the reindeer fist bumps and booing and cheering whenever they felt like it. The atmosphere was much more like a party than a theatrical performance. Almost immediately we started getting asked the question, 'So this is coming back again next year, right?'"

With each successive year, the popularity and fandom for the decidedly un-holiday show continued to grow. Audience members regularly show up wearing antlers, or with small gifts for the cast (including a "Reindeer Games Played Here" sign that traveled with the Chance when it moved into its new theater space three years ago). The Chance even tried to call it quits once, but overwhelming demand brought it back.

"I think the reason why people keep coming back is that there aren't a lot of alternative holiday shows out there," Long continued. "People need a chance to cut loose and let a little (good-natured) nastiness in along with all the cheer and egg nog. I personally can't think of a better way to do that than spend an evening with Santa's foul-mouthed team."

Jeff Goode (Playwright) has written over forty theatrical plays throughout his career. In 2006, he was honored as the Broadway Play Publishing Inc.'s Playwright of the Year and in 2007, he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the Back Stage Garland Award for his play Love Loves a Pornographer. He is a founding member of the original No Shame Theatre and the founding artistic director of No Shame Los Angeles.

A ROTATING CAST OF REINDEER FOR EVERY PERFORMANCE

Starting with the second production of The Eight in 2005, reindeer were swapped out with different actors during the course of the run. Although many of the original cast has returned over the last 14 years (taking a year off now and then), it's the variety of characterizations that has also kept the production fresh for over a decade. Counting the original cast of eight, there have been over 75 actors who have appeared as reindeer at the Chance.

For our production of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, we'll feature Chance Theater Resident Artists James McHale (in a word), Karen O'Hanlon (Middletown), and Monika Peña (Claudio Quest), as well as returning deer Aaron McGee (The Little Prince), Ben Green (The Boy at the Edge of Everything), Miguel Cardenas (Claudio Quest), Lola Kelly (Middletown). Joining the team this year are returning Chance artists Piper Power (Tribes), Jonathan Fisher (Tribes), Bruce Goodrich (Tribes), Angela Griswold (Little Women), and Taylor Stephenson (She Loves Me), as well as Jack Aldridge, Gracie Lacey, Phil Nieto, and Hannah Schill who are making their Chance Theater debut.

ABOUT CHANCE THEATER

Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-driven theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER recently received a National Theatre Company grant from American Theatre Wing. The Chance has won six Ovation Awards, including two for Best Production of a Musical - Intimate Theater for its West Coast premiere of Triassic Parq - The Musical and Southern California premiere of Jerry Springer - The Opera, as well as four LADCC Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Outstanding Season. The Anaheim City Council named Chance Theater "the official resident theater company of Anaheim", and Arts Orange County has twice named the Chance as "Outstanding Arts Organization". Known for using bold and personal storytelling to promote dialogue and connection within the Southern California theatrical landscape, the Chance is committed to contributing to a more compassionate, connected and creative community. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Network of Ensemble Theaters, and the LA Stage Alliance, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.

For tickets and more information call (888) 455-4212 or visit www.ChanceTheater.com.

Photos courtesy of Chance Theater.

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