Christmas is coming early to NIU this year.

The NIU School of Theatre and Dance will present two one-act monologues entitled “Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings,” running Nov. 11 to 14 and again Nov. 17 to 21 in the Stevens Building Players Theatre.

The monologues, written by playwright David Sedaris, take a sarcastic look at Christmas and the holiday season.

Santaland Diaries is a story of Sedaris’ experiences while working as an elf for Macy’s department store. Playing the role of the elf will be Phil Timberlake, a voice and speech professor at the School of Theatre and Dance.

The play covers Sedaris’ applying for the job, interviewing for the job and training seminars to become an elf.

“It asks what Christmas is and what it has become, especially in accordance with someone who has a horrible day job,” Timberlake said.

Timberlake said he has spent a lot of time developing his character over the summer and has met with the director to develop certain points of view.

Season’s Greetings, the second monologue, is about housewife Jocelyn Dunbar, who writes a family newsletter for the holidays in an attempt to turn her family’s troubles into Christmas cheer.

Deborah Robertson, head of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program and undergraduate adviser, will play the part of Jocelyn.

In the end, Jocelyn’s writing reveals too much about her family and her overbearing nature.

“Season’s Greetings is very challenging. It has a dark component, but it’s very funny,” Robertson said. “I’ve never done a one-woman show and not having a visual partner to work with makes the show even more challenging and yet exciting.”

Weekday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students.

For information or reservations, call the Stevens Building box office at 753-1600.