Greater Tuna at the Lake Worth Playhouse
Two actors, twenty characters and a barrel of laughs, y’all!
August 15, 2011
GREATER TUNA is a comedic genius not to be missed! This minimalist show does not hold back on the jokes with its wild sense of humor and hilarious characters. Think you understood small town America? Think again!
Greater Tuna will bring back to the Playhouse a few favorites from last year’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare…Abridged including Todd Caster and director Stephanie Haver. In addition, Stoan Maslev will be joining them as the second player after his break out Playhouse performances in Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues.
Synopsis:
What do Arles Struvie, Thurston Wheelis, Aunt Pearl, Petey Fisk, Phineas Blye and Rev. Spikes have in common? In this hilarious send-up of small town morals and mores, they are all among the upstanding citizens of Tuna, Texas’ third smallest town.
The long-running Off-Broadway hit features two actors creating the entire population of Tuna in a tour de farce of quick change artistry, changing costumes and characterizations faster than a jack rabbit runs from a coyote.
History:
Greater Tuna is the first in a series of 4 comedic plays (followed by A Tuna Christmas, Red, White and Tuna and Tuna Does Vegas), each set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas, the “third-smallest” town in the state. The series was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard. The plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes but also a withering satire of same. Of the four plays, Greater Tuna is the darkest in tone.
The plays are notable in that two men play the entire cast of over twenty eccentric characters of both genders and various ages. Greater Tuna debuted in Austin, Texas, in the fall of 1981, and had its off-Broadway premiere in 1982.
According to the play’s official web site, by 1985, Greater Tuna was the most-produced play in the United States.
Schedule
· Preview Night is Thursday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m.
· Opening Night is Friday, September 2 at 8:00 p.m.
· Evening Performances are on September 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 8:00 p.m.
· Matinee Performances are on September 3, 4, 10, 11 at 2:00 p.m.
· Dinner & Show Night is September 1 and includes a 6:00 p.m. pre-show dinner at Paradiso Italian Restaurant in downtown Lake Worth prior to the 8:00 p.m. performance. The all-inclusive dinner/show package price is $50 and includes a three-course meal and premium seats for the preview performance.
Tickets
· Individual show tickets are $26 and $30 for opening night and all regular performances.
· Preview Performance tickets are $23 and $27.
· Opening Night tickets are $32 and include our Opening Night Gala.
· Dinner & Show tickets are $50 and include a pre-show three-course dinner.
Tickets can be purchased through the Lake Worth Playhouse Box Office at 561-586-6410 or online at lakeworthplayhouse.org.
Location
Lake Worth Playhouse is located at 713 Lake Ave in Downtown Lake Worth. Valet Parking is available for $5. Street and lot parking is also available.
ABOUT LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE
Lake Worth Playhouse is a non-profit community theatre with a diverse array of offerings, including award-winning dramas, comedies, musicals, area premieres, Broadway favorites, children’s shows, ballets and operas on film, live concerts, improv comedy and alternative programming. In addition to its main stage theatrical fare, the Playhouse presents year-round independent and foreign films in the Stonzek Theatre, an intimate black-box style theatre equipped with a large viewing screen and high-definition projection. The Playhouse is proud to offer a variety of educational programs for adults and children, as well as community outreach initiatives that bring cultural programs into the neighborhoods of underserved youth and also make theatre available free of charge for disadvantaged citizens in the community.
The Lake Worth Playhouse has announced its 59th season to being this July with Chicago – more information to come in the near future.
Contact:
Theresa Loucks
Tel: 561-586-6169 (ext. 216)
E-mail: theresa@lakeworthplayhouse.org