The Flea Presents LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS

Thirteen WNET will air The Flea Theater's acclaimed 2010 production of LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS by Steven Banks (head writer of SpongeBob SquarePants) beginning December 21. Filmed live at The Flea last year, this romantic comedy set in front of New York's famed holiday window displays is directed by Jim Simpson and features The Bats, The Flea's resident company of actors. Broadcasts on Thirteen WNET are slated for Dec. 21 at 10pm; Dec. 23rd at 3am, and Dec. 25 at 11pm. Check your local listing for airdates in other markets.

LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS is set on Christmas Eve in New York City. An unemployed writer and a struggling actress meet while looking at the famous holiday windows along Fifth Avenue. What they don't realize is that the windows are looking back - from Tiny Tim toting a ray gun to an amorous elf with an eye for Mrs. Claus. LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS is a sweet, smart, slightly twisted romantic comedy.

"This is a spectacular achievement for The Flea," exclaims Carol Ostrow, Producing Director of The Flea. "Our theater seats 74 and this broadcast will enable us to reach an audience hitherto unimaginable. We are hoping that the vibe of this Off-off-Broadway experience may whet the appetites of the adventurous theatergoers out there. We will never Look At Christmas in the same way again!"

The production stars Brett Aresco, Crystal Arnette, Allison Buck, Holly Chou, Jack Corcoran, Christian Adam Jacobs, Raúl Sigmund Julia, Betsy Lippitt, Turna Mete, Michael Micalizzi, Briana Pozner, and John Russo. The design team includes Kate Sinclair Foster (set), Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew (lighting), Gabriel Berry (costumes), and Jill BC DuBoff (sound).

Steven Banks is the Emmy Award-nominated head writer of SpongeBob SquarePants. He recently co-created a full evening piece, Shadowland, for the renowned dance company Pilobolus. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed one-person play Home Entertainment Center on Showtime and performed it in Los Angeles and San Francisco, winning LA Weekly, Dramalouge and Bay Area Critic's Circle Awards. Steven also wrote and starred in the national PBS series The Steven Banks Show and released a CD, Songs from The Steven Banks Show. His first novel, King of the Creeps, was published by Random House/Knopf. His play, Love Tapes, co-written with Penn Jillette, was nominated for three LA Weekly Theater Awards, winning Best Direction of a Comedy. He wrote the book and additional lyrics for the musical The Sponge Who Could Fly, currently touring internationally Steven is a drop out of Los Angeles City College and a graduate of the Ringling Brother's & Barnum and Bailey's Clown College.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie and Otto awards, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's THE GUYS; six plays by A.R. Gurney (POST MORTEN, O JERUSALEM, SCREENPLAY, MRS. FARNSWORTH, A LIGHT LUNCH and OFFICE HOURS); and plays by Mac Wellman, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, Karen Finley, Adam Rapp, Will Eno, Thomas Bradshaw, Jonathan Reynolds, Bathsheba Doran, Steven Banks, Trista Baldwin, Laurel Haines, Sheila Callaghan and too many more to mention. Currently running is Qui Nguyen's SHE KILLS MONSTERS; Sean Graney's 5-hour epic THESE SEVEN SICKNESSES begins January 19, 2012.

http://www.theflea.org/

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