Flashpoint Theatre Company to Present THE SANTALAND DIARIES, 12/10-21

Just in time for the holiday season, Flashpoint Theatre Company is presenting its 11th Anniversary performance of The Santaland Diaries, famed author David Sedaris' true story about his time spent as a Christmas elf in Macy's Santaland display. Set to run, December 10-21 (Opening night is Wednesday December 10, 8 p.m.), Barrymore Award nominee and Flashpoint regular Keith Conallen returns to this one-man show in the role of Crumpet, Sedaris' lovable, curmudgeonly elf, and brings another year of vicious laughter and heartwarming holiday spirit. The show will be performed at the Off Broad Street Theater, 1636 Sansom Street. Tickets are $15-$25 and are available online at www.flashpointtheatre.org.

Renowned as the piece that launched Sedaris' career, this irreverent look at the Christmas spirit and the absurdity of consumerism skewers the sentimentality of the season and brings out the bad Santa in all of us. Haas winner and Barrymore Award nominee Matt Pfeiffer is back for a third season as director. Flashpoint regular Conallen recently stared in the Wilma's Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq and Theatre Exile's Red Speedo.

"Does it seem like the holidays arrive sooner every year?" says Thom Weaver, artistic director. "Are you already tired of red coffee cups? Or snicker-doodle-pine-vomit-ginger-spiced-nutmeg-laced-holly-cookies? Does the thought of hearing Jingle Bells have you contemplating how to stab people without getting caught? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we have the show for you! The Santaland Diaries follows Crumpet at his new full-time job as a Macy's elf and serves up the antidote to your holiday bitterness. It might not be as good as declaring 'war on Christmas,' but it's damn close. And remember: Poinsettias are poison."

About FLASHPOINT THEATRE COMPANY:

Founded in 2004, Flashpoint is a not-for-profit Theatre Company focused on giving voice to a diverse group of new and emerging artists throughout the Philadelphia region. Now in its 11th season, Flashpoint produces socially provocative works of theater. Their recent world premiere of The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington was nominated for six Barrymore awards, and in 2013 they won the prestigious Brown Martin Award for Slip/Shot, a drama about race, fear, and the way that impressions alter our perception of truth. Flashpoint has produced thirteen Philadelphia premieres and five world premieres, including The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, Run Mourner Run, The Fat Cat Killers, and Slip/Shot, which also won the Barrymore Award for best new play. For more information, please visit Flashpoint's website at www.flashpointtheatre.org