Press release from Asheville Community Theatre:
Local performer Tom Chalmers returns once again to star as Crumpet in The Santaland Diaries, Asheville’s celebrated non-traditional holiday tradition! Written by modern-day Mark Twain, humorist David Sedaris, and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, The Santaland Diaries is now performed in many theaters across the country but nowhere quite the way that comedy maestro Chalmers has captured it. He performed the show to sold-out crowds on the ACT Mainstage for seven years from 2005-2011 and returned to the role last year. Wanting a full approach to his favorite part, Chalmers dons the red & white striped tights one more time for what will surely be a wild sleigh ride. The Santaland Diaries will open at 35below, on Wednesday, December 12 and run through Sunday, December 16, 2018 with performances Wednesday-Saturday nights at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm and additional late night performances Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30 pm. Tickets are limited, and are available online at www.ashevilletheatre.org, over the phone at 828-254-1320, or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office. All tickets are $18.00.
The Santaland Diaries is a dark comedy that follows an out-of-work slacker who takes a job as an elf in Macy’s Santaland. His observations of the shoppers and employees are much more naughty than nice. Publishers Weekly describes the piece as “a caustic mix of J.D. Salinger and John Waters.” Over the last 17 years at Asheville Community Theatre, this play has transformed from a holiday hidden gem to a Christmas-season must see.
“The Santaland Diaries is a show that any comedic actor would want a crack at.” says Chalmers. “Sharp writing, colorful characters, and a situation that so many of us can relate to – trying to maintain a sense of humor while doing what you have to do to make money and make it through the holiday madness. Doing the show these days is a challenge as it was originally produced as an NPR piece in 1992 and some of the references don’t read the same in 2018. But the story of a snarky cynic who surprisingly finds a spark of holiday spirit is as relevant now as ever.”
Tom Chalmers is a veteran of Asheville stages. He has been involved in numerous popular productions and performances since coming to town in 2005, after years in New York and LA as a commercial and film actor. He was voted one of the Best Local Comedians in the Mtn. Xpress Readers Poll for the years that category was offered. He is no stranger to the 35below space, hosting a monthly storytelling series there called Listen to This: Stories and More on Stage for years.
The Santaland Diaries is directed by Josh Batenhorst, who directed Chalmers in the show from 2006-2011, as well as last year. Batenhorst and Chalmers have continued to collaborate over the years, most notably as fellow performers with local improv troupe Reasonably Priced Babies.
For more information about The Santaland Diaries or about Asheville Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.
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