:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5Y55K6WKREI6TODGIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Brian Shea stars in the American Stage production of “The Santaland Diaries.”")
The Grinches, the Scrooges and the Charlie Browns of the Christmas season can add one more cynic to the club — Crumpet. David Sedaris' sardonic wit is at its sharpest in American Stage's The Santaland Diaries, a one-man show based on his essay about the unemployed, chemically dependent writer who takes a job as a "helper elf" at Macy's Santaland in New York. Brian Shea returns as the acerbic misanthrope, who will endear himself to anyone who's considered stashing a flask to wait in line to see Santa. The show is at 8 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays until Dec. 29 at American Stage Theatre, 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 823-7529. americanstage.org.
Katie Manfred, Times staff writer
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/068511cb-90ee-446c-962b-cb030120a049.png "Times Staff Writer")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/nLPFUBfG1wKE17IjlPu1yz5O0dc=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/X2IQSSID2OXYRCG4YRTGWXQ73A.jpg "Israeli Cabinet OKs cease-fire with Hamas that includes release of some 50 hostages")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/TgQLdOIbIcdSW4EOWkN7CkIhed0=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GIWCNQLNRHUSFPBT73U2IPJA7Q.jpg "Why Jordan Travis’ injury didn’t affect FSU football in CFP rankings")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/oV0QLgtagOI1qC6f-G3jHsMZGXM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NL3QBBTSRQSX4OQGH2PSQUNIIY.jpg "Florida’s smart-aleck legislators will thwart the will of the voters | Letters")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/rjxbmqbUv-ayYUr68Sg7ohZkZdE=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZFHESO2FJZEHNGQA34BS5CGHXI.JPG "She wants to make Sulphur Springs better. But where to even start?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/08bNYoUP2BEi2ypFxHFc4u60Cog=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KLMADW4LAZFZVJUZCF6H7FXT2Y.jpg "How does the Bucs schedule compare to Saints and Falcons in the NFC South?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/LSwwbGU-cY_QLlS9dK9dCYrYkzs=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NEOWNWYHUBH3DASHWRKQQUMRPA.jpg "The deep family ties between FSU’s Tate Rodemaker and Gators’ Napier")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/18dSnt9gp-DYDlft4NsKTnDnyJA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/S5KGX3GVBDGEWFYE7P5C4VRSEM.jpg "On Trump, let voters, not judges, decide | Column")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/lSJktVemDl11sXJHdTRvkNPW6ww=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/I5L5IXMXNVFLNKQV7BOY7CGCAE.jpg "In the surreal waves of grief’s early days, remembering Dad")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/bMz5nAOWw8w6pWA8tB9XcVvK8FM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BHLXDVKO5BGYNG2LNZT7EHFHDQ.jpg "Why Americans feel gloomy about the economy despite falling inflation and low unemployment")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/nYkePnu8rO40atTp0x0EkmCXF44=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/W2SJG4VCE5HNXC3CZWTQIERY3M.jpg "USF seniors seek to finish journey from basement to bowl eligibility")