ARCADE COMEDY THEATER PRESENTS
By Anthony Neilson
Show Added!
Sunday, December 22 at 6PM!Due to popular demand, we’ve found one more gift under the tree. It’s a special 6PM Sunday performance!
December 6 – 21
Fridays & Saturdays at 10PM
The Pittsburgh premiere of a dark comedy by one of the UK’s naughtiest playwrights.
What if that “Christmas Feeling” came in powdered form? It’s Christmas Eve, 1995, and Gary and Simon have a few things left on their holiday to-do list. They need to figure out if the “elf” they captured is really one of Santa’s little helpers or just a burglar. They need to get their hands on some of that “Christmas Feeling” the elf seems to be addicted to. And they need to do this all before the cops arrive.
Anthony Neilson’s one-act comedy is the perfect alternative to the family-friendly offerings this season. “An un-merry extravaganza jam-packed with drugs, debauchery and dirty jokes, all rolled in glitter” (Broadway World). “Unsentimental, remarkably authentic” (LA Times).
The Night Before Christmas features an all-star cast of Arcade favorites! Starring stand-up comedian Vanessa St Clair, one of 2019’s “Best Local Comedians” (Pittsburgh City Paper Readers’ Poll), improv comedian John Feightner (Knights of the Arcade, SEX aka Weiners and Boobs), sketch comedian Justin Vetter (The Justin and Jerome Experience) and featuring Emily Welsh, fresh from the cast of Arcade’s smash-hit Bubble Boy: The Musical.
“hilarious and razor-edged comedy” — Broadway World
PGH IN THE ROUND:
“a rowdy comedy for those who consider themselves permanent members of the Naughty List”
Read More
BURGH VIVANT:
“Quirky, unexpected, different take on Christmas.”
Video Review
BROADWAY WORLD:
“this show is filthy, cynical, obscene, explicit and absolutely hilarious”
Read the review
Featuring
John Feightner as Gary
Vanessa St. Clair as Elf
Justin Vetter as Simon
Emily Welsh as Cherry
Directed by Jethro Nolen
Produced by Connor McCanlus and Arcade Comedy Theater
Technical direction, light and sound design by Aaron Tarnow
Set and properties design by Sarah Wojdylak
Costume design by Anna C. Reilly
Graphic design by Mike Rubino
Booth technician Anna Failla
Consulting by Emma Hartman
The Night Before Christmas is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, New York, NY
Special Thanks to our Sponsors:
Parking
The Cultural District is a bustling, exciting place to be — whether it’s a street festival, Pirates game, or Hollywood film shoot, there’s always something cool happening. So give yourself a little extra time to park and get to the theater. There are is a parking garage within a block of the theater, which is only $6 for the night: Smithfield & Liberty Garage.
There are also a number of bus stops near us, as well as the Wood Street T-Station, if you’re taking public transit. Drop-off and pick-up areas are available right in front of our building.
Production Policies & Info
- These performances are BYOB: for a corkage fee, patrons are allowed to bring in 1 bottle of wine or a 6-pack of beer or malt beverages. No liquor. Please drink responsibly, and any visibly intoxicated patrons will be asked to leave. Here’s our full BYOB policy.
- All seating is general admission, with doors opening approximately 15 minutes before curtain. Guests arriving once the show has started will be asked to wait for a break in the action before being seated, and we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to sit together. Also, this play will make very little sense if you miss the beginning, so please arrive on time.