By JASMINE BOWEN, Student Reporter
Northwestern’s Fine Arts Department soon will host the first theater production of the fall semester, “A Tuna Christmas.”
The performance is set for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. in the Herod Hall auditorium. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the start of the show.
Kimberly Weast, a professor of theater arts, said the play is a sequel to the April play “Greater Tuna.”
“’A Tuna Christmas’ circles around a Christmas decorating competition, and there is some conflict amongst the competitors to win the rights to this outstanding Christmas display,” Weast said. “Some characters from the first play will re-appear, and then there are new personalities brought into the story.”
The play is written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard. “A Tuna Christmas” is in a sequence of comedic performances, each set within the fictional city of Tuna, Texas, the “1/3-smallest” city within the country. The play is part of a four-play series, but the theater production will be stopping with this one.
The production of “A Tuna Christmas” has 20 cast members, 17 of whom are students.
Sydney Endsley, a senior from Ringwood, said the production is a satire. She recommends audiences come ready to laugh.
“I was a part of the first one, and I figured it would be fun to play somebody new and something different than the second one,” she said. “I have been in every production that this school has put on for the last three years. The most fun part for me was the fact that I could put my creative self out there.”
Sam Grinder, a sophomore from Sayre, plays the part of a twin brother named Stanley Bumiller.
“I wanted to be a part of the production because I love theater,” Grinder said. “I love acting, and I love music even more, but this is helping me find some of the things I like to do.”
Endsley said being involved has been a rewarding experience.
“I have designed the lights, I have designed costumes, makeup,” Endsley said. “I’ve done basically all of the above, and it’s fun for me to show my art in a different way than a painting or a drawing.”
“I think the most fun part about being in theater is the social interaction and the ability to become someone else,” Grinder said. “To dive into someone else’s thoughts, to step into their shoes and see how they would be in your perspective on things as they would see it.”
Weast said the production is a wonderfully written satire involving lots of jokes.
“When [audiences] walk out, they will have an understanding that humanity is so similar,” Weast said. “We all think we are so unique and different, but the similarities between us are valid.
“The fun thing about this is there are tons of jokes that will be re-established in this, and you don’t have to know the first one to enjoy and understand this one. This play is poking holes into some of the attitudes and the way that we treat people.”
Grinder said he hopes people will come out and support the show.
“It’s going to be a good time,” Grinder said. “Be open to interpretation, and I would say go do some research on some of the things you’re going to hear in this production. Because some things don’t make sense to certain people, and I feel if they do some research about it, it’ll make more sense than it will to others.”
General admission costs $10, but Northwestern faculty and staff can get in for $5. Students can get in for $3 with a student ID.
Weast said she hopes Northwestern students, faculty and staff go to the play.
“Nothing is better than sitting in a live situation, laughing with other people,” Weast said. “You can watch TV and laugh, but when you’ve got other people laughing and responding, there’s this magic in live theater that you don’t get anywhere else.”
To reserve tickets, contact Weast via phone by calling 580-327-8458 or via email at kkweast@nwosu.edu. Attendees can also contact Mickey Jordan via phone by calling 940-642-8158 or via email at mojordan@nwosu.edu.