Greater Tuna

Production

GREATER TUNA

October 1 - October 24 at

8:00 pm - 2:00 pm

On Friday evening, October 1 the Sherman Community Players will open their new 2010-2011 Season with GREATER TUNA, the hilarious comedy that affectionately parodies small-town Texas life. The eclectic band of citizens that make up Tuna, Texas are portrayed by only two male actors, making this send-up of life in rural America even more delightful as they depict over twenty characters including men, women, children and animals!

The show began in Austin as a simple party skit by three Texans, Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard and eventually became one of the most popular plays produced in the United States, sending audiences into throes of laughter. Williams and Sears who originally performed the play, and still do, have appeared on Broadway, in an HBO special and before President George and First Lady Barbara Bush in the White House. The show has since produced three sequels – TUNA CHRISTMAS; RED, WHITE AND TUNA; and, most recently, TUNA DOES VEGAS.

Taking on the daunting challenge of creating the numerous roles are SCP veteran performer Darrah Dunn and new face on the Finley stage, Bruce Stidham. Dunn is a versatile actor having played Henry Higgins in MY FAIR LADY and Felix Unger in THE ODD COUPLE. For over eighteen years he has been delighting Sherman audiences in a variety of roles including comedies, dramas and musicals.

Sherman realtor Bruce Stidham is a first time performer with the Players, but this is not his first venture into acting. Prior to moving to the area in 1982, he was a professional actor in Los Angeles, appearing in numerous commercials, television movies and Little House on the Prairie. In Sherman, he worked for KXII-TV for 12 years, regularly hosting the Annual Grayson Rehabilitation Telethon.

Production personnel for GREATER TUNA include Ron Cassady as director, Mickie Martin as stage manager, Tammi Daubenspeck as costume designer and Webster Crocker as set designer. Backstage dressers include Leah, Rachel and Rebekah Martin, and Billy Keene will operate lighting controls, with Darrin Wade in charge of sound design and controls.

GREATER TUNA plays Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. through October 24 in the Finley Playhouse at 500 N. Elm. The box office opens for season members on Monday and Tuesday, September 27 and 28, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, September 29. The box office telephone number is 903-892-8818.

There will be a special preview performance on Thursday, September 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the preview are $5 and may be purchased at the door.