Archived entries for David Sedaris

NEWS RELEASE — THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS “THE BOOK OF LIZ” BENEFIT STAGED READING ON MONDAY 7/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
ANNOUNCES A ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT EVENT

A STAGED READING OF
THE BOOK OF LIZ
BY DAVID SEDARIS AND AMY SEDARIS
DIRECTED BY DARIN ANTHONY

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE BLANK’S ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

ONE NIGHT ONLY
MONDAY, JULY 20 AT 8PM
AT THE LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER’S
RENBERG THEATRE

The Book of Liz -  ReunionHollywood’s Blank Theatre has announced a one night only staged reading of The Book of Liz by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris, directed by Darin Anthony. The benefit event, which will raise funds for The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival (currently completing its 23rd year) is set for Monday, July 20 at 8pm at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre.

This staged reading of The Book of Liz will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Blank’s long-running hit and will be performed by members of the original Blank cast (in alphabetical order): Tisha Terrasini Banker (Chastity Bites), Brian Carpenter (Superhero Movie), Matt Crabtree (Failing Upwards), Warren Davis (Yesterday Was A Lie), Bonita Friedericy (Chuck), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Johanna McKay (Yesterday Was A Lie), David St. James (iCarly), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), Deborah Van Valkenburgh (Too Close for Comfort), Jeff Witzke (Vampires Suck), Sam Zeller (Kinky Boots National Tour), and Tamara Zook (Sons of the Prophet).

In 2005, The Blank Theatre’s production of The Book of Liz, originally slated for a six-week engagement, became a year-long runaway hit. At the conclusion of its run, 22 different actors had played 15 different characters over the course of 192 performances. This benefit reading is produced for The Blank Theatre by Sarah Allyn Bauer, Stacy Reed Payton, and Jeff Witzke.

The Book of Liz follows the hilarious, sweaty journey of Sister Elizabeth Donderstock and her amazing cheese balls. She feels under-appreciated among her traditional Squeamish brethren and decides to leave the quaint community of Custerhaven to try her luck in the outside world. Along the way she meets a cast of crazy characters, including the Cockney-speaking Ukrainian immigrants who take her in and the wait staff of a pilgrim themed restaurant called Plymouth Crock. Is all of this any better than her old life? Can the Squeamish survive without her? Will the cheese balls ever taste good again? The answers to these and so many other questions are found in this quirky comedy by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris.

Ticket prices for the 10th Anniversary staged reading of The Book of Liz on July 20 at 8pm range from $50—$125 and are on sale now. To purchase online go to www.TheBlank.com or call (323) 661-9827. The LALGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre is located at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood. Free onsite parking is available.

# # #

06-24-15

Announcing: All New Production of “The Santaland Diaries” Starring Matt Crabtree Starts December 5

Photographs buttonspacerProgram button


“THE SANTALAND DIARIES”
RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES
ALL NEW PRODUCTION STARRING MATT CRABTREE DIRECTED BY DEIDRA EDWARDS
OPENING SET FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 AT 8PM


Aggranomic Productions, D&ME Productions LLC and Brenda Davidson have announced and all new production of The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris. Starring Matt Crabtree and directed by Deidra Edwards. Santaland begins performances on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Friday, December 5 at 8pm at the Working Stage Theater in Los Angeles.

The Santaland Diaries” is an outrageously funny solo play by NPR’s well-loved humorist David Sedaris about his experiences as a 33-year-old unemployed writer who takes a job as a Christmas elf at Macy’s in New York City. The show recounts all of his exploits with hysterical tales of being in the Customer Service industry during one of the most anticipated and emotionally charged holidays of the year. For those who like a lile spice with their Christmas sugar, this tale of mass marketing, stressed out sales clerks, drunk Santas, screaming kids and the general insanity of the holidays is hilarious, sardonic and unpredictable, mercilessly cuing through the Christmas spirit to point out the crazy things human beings do during the holidays. Cycling through 50 characters in 65 minutes, The Santaland Diaries is a wild ride of sarcasm and wit that is at times funny and at times touching and will leave the hearts of audience members filled with joy.

Matt Crabtree started his career on the first National Tour of She Loves Me. Los Angeles theatre credits include Doctor Anonymous, The Homosexuals, Epic Proportions, Mommie Queerest, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage, and 175 performances of The Book of Liz by Amy and David Sedaris. On TV: Modern Family, Masters of Sex, Bones, NCIS, Monday Mornings, Grey’s Anatomy, and Will & Grace, among others. Films include Jamesy Boy, Fast and the Furious: Supercharged, The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall, and Felt Superbad About It. Crabtree created the web series Failing Upwards and he is a TOSCAR Golden Fist winner for his portrayal of Joaquin Phoenix as Ted in the Best TOSCAR parody Terminate Her.

Deidra Edwards just returned from the Guthrie Theater where she assistant directed A Steady Rain for Steppenwolf Theatre Company co-founder Jeff Perry. The Santaland Diaries marks her Los Angeles theatre directing debut. As an actress, she starred in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles revival of Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig. Starring in the award-winning indie feature Disfigured she received an award specifically created for her performance by the Women Film Critics Circle “to recognize Deidra Edwards for redefining conventional standards of female physical beauty and pride on screen, and promoting positive images of big bodied women.”

The scenic design for The Santaland Diaries is by David Mauer, lighting design is by Amanda Mauer, and the stage manager is Daniel Coronel.

Performances begin on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Friday, December 5 at 8pm. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm through December 21 only. All tickets are $25 ($20 with unwrapped toy donation for “Spark of Love” Toy Drive) and may be purchased online at www.santaland2014.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. The Working Stage Theater is located at 1516 N. Gardner Street in Los Angeles, 90046.

# # #

11-12-14

PRESS RELEASE — ALL NEW PRODUCTION OF “THE SANTALAND DIARIES” AT WORKING STAGE THEATER — 12 PERFS ONLY

THE SANTALAND DIARIES
RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES

ALL NEW PRODUCTION STARRING MATT CRABTREE

DIRECTED BY DEIDRA EDWARDS

OPENING SET FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 AT 8PM

Santaland Diaries 2014Aggramomic Productions, D&ME Productions LLC and Brenda Davidson have announced and all new production of The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris. Starring Matt Crabtree and directed by Deidra Edwards. Santaland begins performances on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Friday, December 5 at 8pm at the Working Stage Theater in Los Angeles.

The Santaland Diaries is an outrageously funny solo play by NPR’s well-loved humorist David Sedaris about his experiences as a 33-year-old unemployed writer who takes a job as a Christmas elf at Macy’s in New York City. The show recounts all of his exploits with hysterical tales of being in the Customer Service industry during one of the most anticipated and emotionally charged holidays of the year. For those who like a little spice with their Christmas sugar, this tale of mass marketing, stressed out sales clerks, drunk Santas, screaming kids and the general insanity of the holidays is hilarious, sardonic and unpredictable, mercilessly cutting through the Christmas spirit to point out the crazy things human beings do during the holidays. Cycling through 50 characters in 65 minutes, The Santaland Diaries is a wild ride of sarcasm and wit that is at times funny and at times touching and will leave the hearts of audience members filled with joy.

Matt Crabtree started his career on the first National Tour of She Loves Me. Los Angeles theatre credits include Doctor Anonymous, The Homosexuals, Epic Proportions, Mommie Queerest, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage, and 175 performances of The Book of Liz by Amy and David Sedaris. On TV: Modern Family, Masters of Sex, Bones, NCIS, Monday Mornings, Grey’s Anatomy, and Will & Grace, among others. Films include Jamesy Boy, Fast and the Furious: Supercharged, The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall, and Felt Superbad About It. Crabtree created the web series Failing Upwards and he is a TOSCAR Golden Fist winner for his portrayal of Joaquin Phoenix as Ted in the Best TOSCAR parody Terminate Her.

Deidra Edwards just returned from the Guthrie Theater where she assistant directed A Steady Rain for Steppenwolf Theatre Company co-founder Jeff Perry. The Santaland Diaries marks her Los Angeles theatre directing debut. As an actress, she starred in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles revival of Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig. Starring in the award-winning indie feature Disfigured she received an award specifically created for her performance by the Women Film Critics Circle “to recognize Deidra Edwards for redefining conventional standards of female physical beauty and pride on screen, and promoting positive images of big bodied women.”

The scenic design for The Santaland Diaries is by David Mauer, lighting design is by Amanda Mauer, and the stage manager is Daniel Coronel.

Performances begin on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm and opening is set for Friday, December 5 at 8pm. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm through December 21 only. All tickets are $25 ($20 with unwrapped toy donation for “Spark of Love” Toy Drive) and may be purchased online at www.santaland2014.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. The Working Stage Theater is located at 1516 N. Gardner Street in Los Angeles, 90046.

# # #

11-12-14