toledoblade.com --

For its first locally produced show in its new Valentine Theatre home, Glacity Theatre Collective presents a wickedly funny story about a beloved Christmas tradition: a visit with Santa.

Based on an essay by David Sedaris, The Santaland Diaries is a comedy about Sedaris and his holiday job of playing Crumpet the elf in SantaLand at Macy's in New York. Not only does Sedaris have to go to "elf school," he encounters all sorts of strange behavior in the name of Christmas.

Dave DeChristopher, one of GTC's founding members, plays the acerbic Crumpet. The Toledoan, who worked for 24 years in New York as an actor, director, playwright, and teaching artist, said the play (based on a National Public Radio essay by Sedaris) is a Christmas classic in other cities - "Cleveland's public theater does a version every year" - and he's hoping it becomes a regular here.

"It's a real tonic to Christmas overload," he said.

He also wants to make clear that even though it's a one-man show, it's a full production, with professional lighting and sets.

DeChristopher plays Sedaris, who needs a paycheck in order to stay in New York. He takes a job at Macy's SantaLand, where he encounters everyone from demanding shoppers to other "elfs" who are ultra-passionate about the Christmas season.

Although the show sounds as if it has the same theme as the movie Bad Santa, DeChristopher says it's much gentler, despite the occasional profanity. (Leave young children at home, he advises.)

It's more like the Goth teen standing outside and marveling at the bizarre traditions of her family … traditions most people would consider to be ordinary, he explained.

The show is directed by Cornel Gabara, set and lighting is by James Hill, and costumes are by Holly Monsos.

"The Santaland Diaries" opens at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Studio A of the Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St. It continues at 8 pm. Saturday and Dec. 4, 5, 11, and 12 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 6 and 13. Tickets are $20 from the Valentine Theatre box office, 419-242-2787, or valentinetheatre.com. The Dec. 6 performance will be a "Pay What You Can" matinee, with tickets available at the door only. Information: glacity.org.

For its holiday production, the Croswell Opera House eschews the traditional and goes with the Peanuts gang.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown opens tomorrow in the Adrian theater, featuring the comic-strip characters going through an average day of childhood, including Charlie Brown trying to fly his kite, Snoopy pretending he's a World War I flying ace, and Lucy mooning over the piano-obsessed Schroeder.

Clark Gesner's musical comedy, using characters created by Charles Schulz, opened off-Broadway in 1967 and became a big hit. Revised in 1999 for a Broadway run, it was nominated for four Tony Awards, earning two of them.

The Croswell's production - it's using the 1999 version - is being directed by Kerry Graves, associate professor of theater and speech com-munication at Siena Heights University. The cast includes Joey Chase of Adrian as the title character, Nicholas Fuqua of Flushing, Mich., as Snoopy, Mackenzie Fader of Adrian as Sally Brown, Ali Seibold of Toledo and Steven Kiss of Lambertville as Lucy and Linus Van Pelt, and Matthew Bowland of Toledo as Schroeder.

"You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" is scheduled at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 6 in the Croswell Opera House, 129 East Maumee St., Adrian. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, and $10 for children 12 and younger. Those donating two nonperishable food items can buy one adult ticket and receive one child's ticket for free. Information: Croswell.org or 517-264-7469.

In Lima, the Amil Tellers of Dramatics celebrates the holidays with It's a Wonderful Life, an adaptation of the Frank Capra film starring Jimmy Stewart.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 6 in the Encore Theatre, 991 North Shore Drive, Lima. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $8 for youngsters. Information: 800-944-1441.

Contact Nanciann Cherry at: ncherry@theblade.com
or 419-724-6130.