Holiday standard matched with regional premiere
New Edgecliff Theatre has once again re-invented its annual antidote to the holidays, this year pairing David Sedaris’ one-man one-act, “The Santaland Diaries” with the regional premiere of Ginna Hoben’s one-woman one-act, “The 12 Dates of Christmas”.
This year’s remount of “The Santaland Diaries” will feature Brian Griffin, who’s been seen at NET previously as Cyrano in “Cyrano: Rehearsed”. Other recent Cincinnati acting roles include Ted in “Collapse” at Know Theatre, Felix Ungar in “The Odd Couple” at the Carnegie Performance Center, and Gooper in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Covedale.
As most know by now, “The Santaland Diaries” chronicles the real-life observations of renowned NPR commentator and memoirist Sedaris as he encounters crazed Santas, obnoxious parents and queasy children, while working his first New York job – as one of Santa’s Elves – in the very nexus of commercial Christmas and Holiday Cheer, Macy’s Santaland.
After intermission, Ginna Hoben’s “The 12 Dates of Christmas” traces the dating travails of Mary. After she sees her fiancé making out with his co-worker on national TV at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, she dumps him and then spends the next year being set up, hooked up, strung up, and fed up as she navigates her life alone as a New York actor in her thirties. Eric Minton of Shakespeareances.com has written, “Hoben has created a woman’s show to join the annual, male-dominated Christmas lineup, but like The Santaland Diaries, it is a tale of real life and holiday hope touching us all.” Featuring Annie Kalahurka, whose local credits include “The Odd Couple” at The Carnegie, as well as “The Dragon”, “Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party”, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” with Know Theatre.
Directing both pieces will be Lewis Magruder, founder and producing artistic director for Broad Horizons Theatre Company, which develops and promotes new works in New York City. For Broad Horizons, Lewis has directed the critically acclaimed “Evensong”, an award-winning revival of “Cloud 9” (with Ty Burrell), numerous readings and workshops of new works, and more. Other favorite directing credits include Asolo Theatre, in Sarasota; English-American Theatre in Düsseldorf, Germany; Pennsylvania Center Stage in State College, Pennsylvania; Metropolitan Opera summer opera program for young singers in Tel Aviv; and Rutgers University. In addition, until recently, he was associate artistic director of Tony Honoree The Acting Company in New York City. He currently is an assistant professor of theatre at Miami University.
New Edgecliff Artistic Director Jim Stump says, “When I read Ginna’s script, it seemed as though it was written to be paired with “Santaland”. Featuring two solid actors and Lewis Magruder’s direction, this should prove to be a Christmas match made in heaven!”
NET Executive Director and founder Michael Shooner adds, “We’re very much looking forward to our return, in our 15th season, to the Fifth Third Bank Theater at the Aronoff – where our wildly successful first production of “The Santaland Diaries” was mounted in 2001. With Brian as our sixth Crumpet the Elf and adding Annie in “The 12 Dates”, this promises to be our best Christmas ever.”
Intended for mature audiences only.
The Santaland Diaries and The 12 Dates of Christmas
November 29 – December 8, Wed-Sat, 7:30pm. With Saturday matinees, 2:00pm
Pay-What-You-Can Preview, Wed. Nov 28, 7:30pm
Fifth Third Bank Theater at The Aronoff Center for the Arts (entrance on Main Street at the corner of Seventh Street)
Tickets: $25.25 adults, $20.25 seniors, and $18.25 students.
For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit CincinnatiArts.org or call (513) 621-ARTS (2787)
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