Event

The Santaland Diaries

"The Santaland Diaries" is about the time that David Sedaris, in his 30s and out of work, had to suffer the indignities of taking a job as an elf at the Macy's Santaland in New York City. The tale was first performed as a monologue by Sedaris on National Public Radio in 1992.

When a down-on-his luck wannabe actor arrives in New York City at the end of the year, the only employment he can find is at Macys department store -- working in Santaland for the holiday season, as a reluctant, but relentlessly cheerful, elf. Newly christened Crumpet, our clever anti-hero shares his observations of the mayhem in front of and behind the scenes during one chaotic December, from aggressive parents and drunken Santas, to flirtatious actors, poor hygiene, and the racially charged hazards of being a Pointer Elf. Will Crumpet find a moment of pure Christmas spirit? Will he end up in Santas cottage with Snowball the elf? Will he escape with his life on Christmas Eve before being torn apart by enraged customers? Based on his beloved humorous and autobiographical essays, David Sedaris The Santaland Diaries, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, is a wry and witty look at the combination of retail hell and theatrical spectacle that is the holiday season, a sharp, narrowly observed dark comedy. The perfect Christmas treat for grownups, this one-man show has been an annual tradition at theaters across the United States for the past twenty years.