2nd call for 'Tuna Christmas'

The final performances of "A Tuna Christmas" by the Douglas High School theater department will be 8 p.m. today and Saturday, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday.

"A Tuna Christmas" covers the comedic Christmas activities of the third-smallest town in Texas, including a yard display contest and a search for the "Christmas Phantom."

When asked what is unusual about the play, director-designer James Darby Scoggins said that foremost the comedy contains no fins or scales.

"First of all, there are no fish in this play," said Scoggins. "The title comes from the setting of the play, a mythical town in Texas named 'Tuna.'"

"A Tuna Christmas" is the second in a trilogy of comedic plays - preceded by "Greater Tuna" and followed by "Red, White and Tuna." The trilogy was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard.

"Tuna" was originally written for just two actors, but Scoggins expanded the number of actors to 10, and then divided up the 22 roles. Scoggins describes the characters as being more like "caricatures," "since we see them for short amounts of time and it would be difficult to identify traditional heroes or villains in the play.

"This offers the actors an opportunity to stretch their acting muscles a bit, playing personas that are different than the actors themselves. Accents are used, as well as physical performances that require the actors to alter their normal movement."

The New York Times described the play as "a hoot."

"'A Tuna Christmas' received favorable reviews when it played off-Broadway in New York, and luckily, we were able to secure the rights to the show on a short notice," said Scoggins.

Performances will take place in the Douglas High School theater, located at 1670 Highway 88 in Minden. The house opens 30 minutes before each performance and there is no late seating. Cost for the event is $5 for students and seniors, $8 for adults. Tickets may be purchased at the door. The comedy is not recommended for children younger than 13.

Cast and crew:

Arles Struvie/Stanley Bumiller/Joe Bob Lipsey - Nate Schaller

Bertha Bumiller - Morgan Davis

Inita Goodwin - Allison Hines

Helen Bedd/Didi Snavely - Rachel Anderson

Aunt Pearl Burras/Vera Carp - Ashley Smith

Thurston Wheelis/R.R. Snavely - Jesus Palma

Petey Fisk/Farley Burkhalter - Michael Magno

Jody Bumiller/Charlene Bumiller/Phoebe Burkhalter - Jamie Jameson

Sheriff Givens/Garland Poteet/Leonard Childers - Connor Woodman

Dixie Deberry/Ike Thompson - Rachel Kiehne

Understudy - Jacob Reid

Performance stage manager/light board operator - Analyse Klekar

Rehearsal stage manager - Casey Cotter

Assistant stage manager - Desiree Davis

Sound board operator - Emily Chessell

Stage crew - Samantha Cobb, Desiree Davis, Analyse Klekar, Tiera Johnson

Costume design - Avery Carrig

Costume crew - Morgan Davis

Director/designer - James Darby Scoggins