{image1}If you're feeling a few sugarplums short of holiday spirit, "The Santaland Diaries" is a must see. The play, written by best-selling satirist David Sedaris, stars Milwaukee favorite John McGivern as an unemployed actor who becomes a Macy's elf during the Christmas crunch.
"(In real life) I have never worked as an elf but have certainly done some of the worst theater ever," says McGivern, who once played a wife-abusing mechanic in a musical called "It Ain't Country" and a union-organizing plumber in "Made In America."
"The Santaland Diaries" runs from Nov. 30 to Jan. 2 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, and is aimed at adults who scorn the over-saturated holiday season.
In addition to "The Santaland Diaries," patrons will see an original piece written by director Edward Morgan, co-author of Milwaukee Rep's "A Christmas Carol," and director of the recent hits, "Fully Committed" and "The Odd Couple."
Funnyman McGivern, who routinely brought audiences to their feet with his hilarious performance in "Shear Madness" a few years back, says he is nothing like the character he plays in "Santaland."
"I have warm and sappy feelings around the holidays. I am excited to share the season with my family and ready to get the tree and decorate. It's different than the character who is jaded and a little bitter to all things 'holiday.'"
For the past few winters, McGivern has worked in Florida, but he is psyched to stay in Milwaukee this year. Aside from "Santaland," he will teach two classes at UWM and appear on local television and radio shows.
"It's all good," he says.
"The Santaland Diaries" Web site is www.marcuscenter.org
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
