December 6-21, 2008
by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams
“Justin Barnette and Brian Letchworth, the show’s only actors, run frantically between scenes and expertly jostle between costume changes without any glitches…A Tuna Christmas is well worth a visit. I left with that fantastic feeling in my stomach after I’d been laughing for two hours, and I am still chuckling at the sight of that purple tracksuit. I fear I will be giggling at that for days to come.”
-Sarah Portlock, The Brooklyn Paper
“The funniest aspect of this very, very enjoyable production is the copious drag. The two men do women so well it’s downright scary…A Tuna Christmas is like the perfect holiday gift: not expensive, not overblown, but well thought out and presented with a great deal of affection.”
-Steve Weinstein, EDGE New York
Producer: Robin Mishik-Jett/The Gallery Players
Director: Andrew K. Russell
Production Stage Manager: Erika Omundson
Assoc. Producer: Graham Mills
Set Designer: Edward Morris
Lighting Designer: Maureen Hanratty
Props Master: Nicole Gaignat
Costume Designer: Dawn Luna
Sound Designer: David Roy
ASM/Props Assistant: DaVonne Bacchus
Pictured (l to r): Brian Letchworth and Justin Barnette* in A Tuna Christmas. Photo by Bella Muccari.
Starring:
Justin Barnette*
Brian Letchworth
*courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
The Gallery Players ring in the holidays with the affectionate satire of small-town southern life, A Tuna Christmas. Bring the whole family down to The Gallery Players for this limited holiday engagement December 6-21, 2008!
Pictured (l to r): Justin Barnette* and Brian Letchworth in A Tuna Christmas. Photo by Bella Muccari.
In this hilarious sequel to Greater Tuna, it’s Christmas in the third smallest town in Texas. Radio station OKKK news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including hot competition in the annual lawn display contest. In other news, the voracious Joe Bob Lipsey’s production of “A Christmas Carol” is jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. Many colorful Tuna denizens, some you will recognize from Greater Tuna join in the holiday fun. Audiences who have and who have not seen Greater Tuna will enjoy this laugh filled evening. A Tuna Christmas has been called, “A hoot!” by The New York Times, and the NY Post exclaimed, “So funny it could make a raccoon laugh affectionately at Davy Crockett…. It’s far too good for just Christmas.”
“I remembered our local theater back in Indiana doing all the TUNA plays and thought to myself, ‘why not return to this tiny Texas town for a spell?’” says director Andrew K. Russell. “I forgot how funny the plays were and then re-read this script and couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud. The challenge of directing two actors playing over 20 roles was also appealing.”
Mr. Russell directs performers Justin Barnette* and Brian Letchworth in hilarious fast-paced portrayals of twenty some-odd lively characters from Tuna, Texas.
Pictured (l to r): Justin Barnette* and Brian Letchworth in A Tuna Christmas. Photo by Bella Muccari.
Performance schedule:
Saturday, December 6th at 8:00 pm - opening night
Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 pm
Thursday, December 11th at 8:00 pm
Friday, December 12th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 13th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 14th at 3:00 pm
Thursday, December 18th at 8:00 pm
Friday, December 19th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th at 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 21st at 3:00 pm
