Press Release "Black Santa" - Southeastern Premiere! New comedy explores the collision of race and the beloved holiday figure - December 5-22

BLACK SANTA
By Aaron Mays
Directed by Margaret M. Ledford

 Southeastern U.S. Premiere!

A teacher finds herself in the middle of mayhem when her student claims that Santa is a Black man in this thought-provoking comedy

 “One of the best theater shows to see this fall” - Time Out Miami

 December 4, 2024 – Preview
December 5, 2024 – Opening Night
Through December 22, 2024
Tickets: $56, $61*
Carnival Studio Theater

Miami, FL – November 7, 2024 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) and City Theatre (@citytheatremia) are proud to announce the Southeastern U.S. premiere of Black Santa, an absurdist comedy that examines how race and racial bias can have a foothold on one of the most benign figures — Santa Claus. Playing in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater from December 5-22, the play continues the Arsht’s Theater Up Close series.

Click here for photos.

Tickets to Black Santa are $56 and $61* and may be purchased now at arshtcenter.org, or at the Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722. VIP upgrades are available for $30 and include premium up-front seating, a complimentary beverage and a festive gift bag. A portion of VIP ticket sales help support City Theatre’s arts education initiatives.

“I am thrilled to bring the southeastern premiere of Black Santa, a hilarious comedy, to Miami this holiday season,” said Margaret M. Ledford, City Theatre’s artistic director and director of Black Santa. “This play feels especially timely, as it explores the diverse perspectives that enrich our shared human experiences. It's a story that will make you laugh and want to talk about it with your family, friends, and folks in your community.”

Shortly before Christmas break, a third grader named Sharifa proudly declares to her class that Santa Claus is Black, sending the school into an uproar. To quell the storm, Patrice Patterson, the school’s only Black teacher, is asked to create an ad campaign within the school to make Santa white again. As events unfold, Sharifa’s enrollment is placed in jeopardy, and Patrice must decide how to protect Sharifa and ultimately herself.

Black Santa features an all-local cast led by Carbonell and Silver Palm Award-winner Rita Cole, and features Niki Fridh, Jeff Burleson, Robert L. Strain, Kimmie Harvey and Phillip Andrew Santiago. Click here for complete cast bios.

An opening weekend holiday-themed celebration will take place on Saturday, December 7 from 4pm-7pm. Details will be announced soon.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Aaron Mays is an award-winning theatre artist based in Chicago, working as a stage director and playwright. His latest play Black Santa was one of four finalists to receive its world premiere at the 2024 Obsidian Theatre Festival. His other plays include Hush Hush, Pass Me Over, Stick and Stones and an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which was commissioned by South Bend Civic Theatre. Most recently, Aaron adapted The Legend of Sleepy Hollow into a radio play, which aired on Buffalo’s NPR station in conjunction with the University at Buffalo’s Department of Theatre and Dance.  Click here for full bio.

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations. 

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About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
The Arsht proudly serves as the cultural pulse of Miami – the heart of magical live arts experiences that spark the imagination and connect people to one another. Whether on our stages or in your neighborhood, the Arsht is alive year-round with international artists, innovative programming from resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and more than 100 culturally diverse and impactful learning experiences for 80,000 children every year.

Since opening in 2006 in the heart of downtown, the Arsht, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been recognized as a leader in the city’s cultural transformation, a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development and a host venue for historic events. The 300+ annual Arsht events include a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, star-studded jazz and classical music concerts curated for South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, Family Fest, Gospel Fest Miami, Art + Mind Day, Heritage Fest and our LGBTQ+ Pride celebration are among dozens of free events that bring people from all corners of our community together. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.

About City Theatre
Now in its 29th season, City Theatre is an award-winning professional theater company founded in Miami with support from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. Best known for its short play festival Summer Shorts, the company produced hundreds of short plays by established and emerging writers through its Susan J. Westfall National Short Playwriting Contest. Its mainstage is at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts’ Carnival Studio Theatre. City Theatre was honored by the Carbonell Committee with the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award, which recognizes contributions to South Florida theater for its dedication to the short form play format and fostering new play development. The company was also recognized by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava, who honored it by declaring “City Theatre 25th Anniversary Day” on June 9, 2021. For more information, visit www.citytheatre.com.