On Our Stages

Photo by Kirk R. Tuck
Art by Rona Ebert

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Book by David Sedaris
Adapted for the Stage by Joe Mantello
Directed by Dave Steakley

November 28, 2008 - January 10, 2009
Whisenhunt Stage
Wednesday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2:30pm

Introducing a new elf as well as new songs and stories including the new Christmas classic, "Six to Eight Black Men"!

Our little Macy’s elf knows a thing or two about faking the Yuletide spirit. But you won’t be faking a good time when your sides split during David Sedaris’ wickedly funny The Santaland Diaries. Sedaris’ comedy tells the real-life story of Sedaris’ tour of duty as the elf Crumpet, and what it takes to juggle tots and tottering Santas during a painfully festive time of the year. A laugh ‘til you cry evening of merrily subversive entertainment to delight adult audiences.

Many theatres have an annual production of A Christmas Carol, but at ZACH we do The Santaland Diaries because David Sedaris' writing is uniquely tied to the Austin sensibility. Each year we change parts of the show to keep it fresh for the audience and for us. But one thing remains constant, you never know what our little elf is going to do with a live audience!
Dave Steakely, ZACH's Artistic Director, on The Santaland Diaries

About the Playwright
David Sedaris, who was named,“humorist of the year,” by Time Magazine, got his first big break when radio deejay Ira Glass happened upon him reading his diary aloud in a Chicago club. From there, Sedaris gained notoriety from the broadcast of his essay,“Santaland Diaries,”on NPR, which lead to the publication of his first collection of essays, Barrel Fever. Each of his subsequent essay collections has been a New York Times Best Seller.