"My Life With The Kringle Kult:
A Holiday Comedy"

Fatal Attraction Meets Santa's Workshop in
World Premiere by John Kuntz

When Boston Theatre Works opens "My Life With The Kringle Kult: A Holiday Comedy," the play will mark BTW's first commission of a new play, a world premiere and the company's first project with Boston playwright and actor John Kuntz. Performances are scheduled from November 28 - December 13.

This production also marks the company's first appearance at Boston Center for the Arts, a move made in anticipation of BTW becoming a future resident company at the BCA next season. (Boston Center for the Arts is located at 539 Tremont Street, Boston, in the heart of the South End.)

In the new holiday comedy, Kuntz plays Karl Kringle, Santa's right hand man and the head of Kringletown. Trouble begins when the Baroness Tinsel von Shatzdoodle (played by frequent Kuntz collaborator and co-star Rick Park) arrives in Kringletown hoping to donate her sizable riches to the Klan -- but there's a price: she must meet Santa. Of course the Baroness' evil plan to take over Kringletown may be thwarted by the overzealous number one elf, Twinkle, played by Laura Napoli.

One of Boston's most popular actors, Kuntz is no stranger to holiday mayhem, having delighted audiences in "The Santaland Diaries." His recent acting credits include roles in "Waiting For Godot," "Henry V," the world premiere of Payne Ratner's "Infestation" at Boston Playwrights Theatre and at The Huntington, "Betty's Summer Vacation."

Kuntz is also the writer/performer of four acclaimed solo shows: "Freaks!," "Party Poopers," "Actor With A Z" and "Starfuckers." His other plays include "Sing Me To Sleep," "After School Special," "Emerald City" and "Miss Price."

His play, "Jump Rope," was part of the Huntington's Breaking Ground new play reading series in 2002, was produced at Boston Playwrights' Theatre and received two readings at the Public Theatre in New York.

The recipient of both an Elliot Norton Award and an IRNE award, he performed "Starfuckers" at the 2002 New York Fringe Festival, where it received the Best Solo Show Award. It was recently produced off-Broadway at the Ohio Theatre. Kuntz can be seen in the upcoming independent films "The Red Right Hand" and "Anathema," and will appear in the title role of "Scapin" at the New Rep next spring. He also teaches at Emerson College.

Artistic Director Jason Southerland commented, "I'm incredibly excited about bringing John into the BTW fold. BTW has developed two dozen new plays and playwrights and it was time to commission a new work. It was only fitting that we tap Boston's most prolific and talented writer for our first project."

Tickets, priced at $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors, are available by calling the Boston Center for the Arts box office at 617-426- 2787 or by logging onto www.bostontheatreworks.com.

-- OnStage Boston

11/10/03

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