Jason Parrish In THE SANTALAND DIARIES Comes to Florida Rep's Studio Theatre

By: Beau Higgins Dec. 14, 2011

Santaland Diaries Proves that Naughty is More Fun at Florida Rep!

David Sedaris' snarky holiday comedy, The Santaland Diaries, is back for a third season of yuletide mischief, running Dec. 14 to 31 in Florida Rep's 90-seat Studio Theatre.

Starring Florida Rep regular, Jason Parrish, The Santaland Diaries follows the exploits of an unemployed writer who desperately takes a job as a Macy's Elf, and manages to expose the underside of Santa's workshop.

"We're very pleased to bring this very edgy, very adult, and very funny play back for a third season," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "it has been a huge hit for us two years running, with nearly sold out runs, and we hope that it becomes a holiday tradition for Southwest Florida audiences. If you missed it last season, now is your chance to get tickets. If you saw it and loved it last year, I encourage you to come back."

Being served up as an antidote to the saccharine sweetness of the holiday season, The Santaland Diaries was written by bestselling humorist and NPR and New Yorker contributor, David Sedaris, and is a hilariously funny and bitingly honest portrait of the Christmas season that Sedaris spent working as an Elf at Macy's in Herald Square. Adapted for the stage by Tony winning actor and director, Joe Mantello, the play takes audiences on an Elfin journey from the interview process to the last crazed shopping days before Christmas.

Last season the Naples Daily News raved that "Jason Parrish's Crumpet the Elf might edge aside Rudolph and Frosty as a holiday must-see, at least in Southwest Florida...[Santaland] comes across like a deliciously fun wine-sloshed holiday party...a stocking brimming with goodies, so race down the stairs to enjoy it!"

Florida Rep Associate Director, Jason Parrish, stars again as Crumpet the Elf, and was seen most recently in King o' the Moon and Noises Off. He is a familiar face in Southwest Florida as an actor and director, and was the recipient of the 2010 Angel of the Arts Award for Performance Artist of the Year. Company member, Parrish, will appear later this season in Bedroom Farce and will direct Tru in the Studio Series.

Chris Clavelli, Florida Rep's Associate Artistic Director, is another familiar Florida Rep ensemble member whose work as both an actor and director with the Rep goes back to 2002 when he directed Side Man. Seen most recently onstage in August: Osage County and all of Florida Rep's nationally acclaimed productions of Sylvia, You Can't Take it With You and Dancing at Lughnasa, Clavelli works extensively with the Rep, but also in theatres across the country as an actor, director and educator. His Florida Rep directing work includes last season's The Lady with All the Answers as well as recent productions of Trying, Alone Together, and The Glass Menagerie.

Clavelli and Parrish are joined by an expert creative team including set designer, Chris Simpson (the Lady with All the Answers), resident costume designer, Roberta Malcolm (Rumors), and lighting designer, Kate Smith (It's a Wonderful Life). Florida Rep favorite, Audrey M. Brown (Gaslight, The Big Bang), joins the creative team as the production stage manager.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris and Joe Mantello plays in Florida Rep's NEW Studio Theatre Dec.14 - 31. General admission is $25, and Florida Rep is pleased to be offering a Special $10 student price for FGCU, Edison and other area colleges and universities. Tickets are available online, www.floridarep.org, and through the Florida Rep box office at 239-332-4488. begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 239-332-4488 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 239-332-4488 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Seating in the Studio Theatre is limited, and tickets are going fast, so call or click today. The Santaland Diaries contains adult language and content, and is not appropriate for children.

The Santaland Diaries is sponsored by LCEC. Florida Rep's Studio Theatre Series is sponsored by the Southwest Florida Reading Festival.

Performances are Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00pm. Wednesdays, Sundays and select Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00pm. The run also features a special 7:00pm Twilight Performance on Sun, Dec. 18.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre on Bay Street between Jackson & Hendry with convenient free parking in the Fort Myers River District, and the The Florida Rep Studio is down the hall.

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