Frank Theatre will present THE SANTALAND DIARIES, 11/27-12/30

Frank Theatre will present THE SANTALAND DIARIES, the stage adaptation of David Sedaris' hilarious account of his stint as a Christmas elf in Macy's "SantaLand" Nov. 27-Dec. 30 at the Assembly of the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, located on Loring Park at 410 Oak Grove Street, Mpls, MN 55403. The production features Twin Cities actor Joe Leary as "Crumpet the Elf," with scenery by Steve Rohde, costumes by Kathy Kohl, lighting by Mike Wangen and sound by Sarah Pickett with assistance from Katharine Horowitz. Frank Theater Artistic Director Wendy Knox directs the production. Tickets are on sale now; to purchase, or for more information, visit www.franktheatre.org or call (612) 724-3760

SANTALAND DIARIES is a delightfully absurd look at the commercial underbelly of the holiday season. Sedaris' sharp observations about his encounters as an Elf during the season of forced joy have become a delightful cult classic for those looking for a comic antidote to Christmas treacle. David Sedaris is the New York Times best-selling author and National Public Radio humorist known for his essays Me Talk Pretty One Day, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Sedaris first read The Santaland Diaries, with its delightfully sardonic and merrily subversive perspective on the holiday season, on NPR's Morning Edition program in 1992. It was, as the Washington Post later described it, "...unforgettable, an autobiographical confession of a penniless, gay, would-be soap opera writer named Crumpet working as an elf at Macy's mega-department store on Herald Square in New York." The piece was so well received that it gave Sedaris one of his first major breaks and it remains an annual NPR staple. He later published the essay in Barrel Fever (1994) and Holidays on Ice (1997). In 1996, it was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, of "Love! Valour! Compassion!" fame.

Frank Theatre's production features Joe Leary as "Crumpet." Leary was featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary "Peace Crimes" and appeared in Vera Farmiga's recent film "Higher Ground." He is familiar to local audiences through his work with History Theatre, Mary Worth Theatre and with Theatre Latté Da/Interact Theatre's "King of Hearts". His Off-Broadway credits include "Talk Radio," "Dead Bird" and "All Men Are Whores." Frank Theatre Artistic Director Wendy Knox, who has directed acclaimed productions of The Santaland Diaries at Syracuse Stage (NY) and Portland Center Stage, directs The Santaland Diaries.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for MPR members and $15 for students/seniors (62+). Groups of 10 or more should call (612) 724-3760 for information and reservations. Tickets may be purchased online at www.franktheatre.orgor by calling (612) 724-3760. Run time is 70 minutes. Performance dates and times are listed below. More info at http://www.franktheatre.org/crrentproduction/

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