FARMINGTON, WILTON, RUMFORD – As the holiday season arrives, Sandy River Players believes everyone should take a moment to thank the little people who help spread cheer – the department store elves. Yes, those men and women who wear tights and smocks and endure screaming children and frustrated parents. So, the theater group will present David Sedaris’ contemporary classic monologue “The Santaland Diaries” Dec. 7 through Dec. 16.

A staple of National Public Radio’s winter programming, “The Santaland Diaries,” adapted for stage by Joe Mantello, conveys the experiences of a male 30-something, forced to find work as an elf at Macy’s. He discovers a world where colleagues prance, bosses cheer and visitors toss dirty diapers into the Candy Cane Forest. And despite the cynical commentaries on overzealous Santas and unenlightened parents, he reveals some of the most essential truths about the holiday spirit.

“The Santaland Diaries” will be performed by Dan Ryder with Andy Buckland as accompanist. Buckland opens the evening with an eclectic, sometimes irreverent, array of seasonal tunes. The action then segues to Ryder’s delivery of the nearly hourlong monologue, with Buckland’s musical interludes.

“Santaland Diaries” performances will be Friday, Dec. 7, at the Homestead Bakery in Farmington and Saturday, Dec. 8, at The Boiler Room in Rumford. Both dinner theater events will begin at 7 p.m. The show will also be staged at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at The Boiler Room in Wilton; and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec.16, in Alumni Theater at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Tickets for dinner theater performances are $10 and will be available at the individual restaurants. Tickets do not include food and drink. Please contact each restaurant for specific seating times and tickets. Seats are limited.

Tickets for Alumni Theater performances will be available at Howard’s Rexall in Farmington and at the door.

Please note, this show contains adult language and themes and may not be suitable for all audiences. For more information, e-mail Sandy River Players at [email protected], or call 578-0357.