David Sedaris on Letterman

David Sedaris reads an essay on the Letterman Show. Not Santaland related, but you get a sense of his humor.

David Sedaris

David Sedaris, author of one of MET's holiday shows - The Santaland Diaries, is a busy man:

For a brief bio, go here or here.

For a 2004 interview with Mr. Sedaris, go here. I think the highlight is at the end when he talks about finally getting a computer: "When I was working on a typewriter and I whited out a line, often I would choose a word to go in the space just because it fit. Now I don't have to do that."

For an interview about his 2001 book, Me Talk Pretty One Day, go here.

For a review of his latest book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, go here. You can also listen to Mr. Sedaris read from the book.

Other books by Daivd Sedaris:
Naked
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Barrel Fever
He has also co-written several plays with his sister, Amy Sedaris.

David Sedaris will be at the Weinberg Center in April, 2009.

Playwright Julie Heifetz

From "A Sparrow's Song" playwright, Julie Heifetz:

As a passionate theater-goer, playwright and actor, you can imagine my joy in discovering that my new home of Frederick, Md. had its own professional theater. That said, I am enough of a theater snob that I was a bit wary of the quality of the productions I might find at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. I should not have wasted one creative moment worrying.

Over the year and a half I've lived in Frederick, I have attended almost every production and have been thrilled to discover that the choices of scripts, the talent of company members was enough to make me very, very happy. My partner Jack and I have become volunteers, and in addition, have brought many of our weekend visitors from Philadelphia, our previous home, to see the show that has been playing. A journalist who covers theater in Philly, and a writer for opera news, and other sophisticated culture buffs, have been amazed, as I was, that our relatively small town has such a cultural opportunity as we find with the MET.

Because of the quality of this company, I am excited to have "A Sparrow's Song," a play that I have written, about to be produced by the MET. It's such fun being surrounded by professionals who want to reach for new and different experiences, and in doing so, provide much that is new to the community.

A thanks to everyone involved in the performance.
- Julie Heifetz, author of A Sparrow's Song

A Sparrow's Song

On Wedesday, April 3oth, the day before Yom Hashoah (the Holocaust Day of Remembrance), MET will present a staged reading of "A Sparrow's Song," by local playwright Julie Heifetz.

"A Sparrow's Song" is based on the true story of Janusz Korczak, a Jewish writer, physician, educator and director of a Jewish children’s orphanage in Warsaw, Poland before and during the Second World War. Dr. Korczak was beloved by the Polish people, Christians and Jews. When the Nazis came to deport the 200 Jewish children in the orphanage the soldiers recognized Dr. Korczak and offered the opportunity to have his life spared, but Korczak elected to go with his children and was murdered at Treblinka along with them.

Check out the Frederick News Post story for more details about the show and Ms. Heifetz.

The show begins at 7pm and will be followed by a panel discussion. Click here to purchase tickets

Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh, playwright of MET's next mainstage production The Cripple of Inishmaan, has written some of the most unique and thought-provoking plays in recent theatre history. In addition to writing award-winning plays, McDonagh also writes and directs films.
Check out his bio and see the Trailer for his latest film, In Bruges.