Buddy Mahoney and Jay Jenkins appear in A Tuna Christmas now playing at ArtsWest in the West Seattle Junction.
This holiday season, ArtsWest Playhouse will transport you to Tuna, Texas – the state’s 3rd smallest town – for the raucous quick-change comedy, Tuna Christmas by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard, and Joe Sears. The show will run Dec. 1-24, with a special holiday party and performance on Friday, Dec. 3.
In this award-winning sequel to Greater Tuna, it’s 24 hours before Christmas and all hell is breaking loose as the eccentric citizens of Tuna attempt to cope with several monumental seasonal traumas.
Whether it’s a disaster-prone theatre production of A Christmas Carol or a sabotaged yard-decorating contest, these extraordinary and devoted characters find a way to forge their own special brand of Christmas.
Tuna Christmas is a show that is dense with strained relationships, ridiculous situations and eccentric characters. And playing all 22 characters are ArtsWest newcomers, Jay Jenkins and Buddy Mahoney.
“Rehearsals have been tremendously fun, and extremely strenuous with so many character and costume changes,” said Director MaryBeth Dagg. “At one point, Jay joked that he needed a defibrillator back stage.”
The show was an easy choice for ArtsWest Playhouse. Executive Director Alan Harrison recalled, “I used to live in New York and I saw the original show, Greater Tuna, at Circle in the Square Off-Broadway about a half dozen times. It was that funny. And not because it was a broad, slapstick jab at life in Texas, because it's actually not. In fact, the writers treat small-town Texas with a pretty loving, accurate eye. These characters are real and funny to the core of their being.”
A Tuna Christmas has experienced wildly successful runs both on and off Broadway, and received three Helen Hayes Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Play.
On December 3, ArtsWest will be hosting a special Holiday Party and raffle followed by a performance of A Tuna Christmas. Tickets are $100 with all proceeds benefiting ArtsWest’s education and arts programs.
Tickets are $32 and may be purchased online at HYPERLINK "http://www.ArtsWest.org" www.ArtsWest.org, by phone at (206) 938-0339, or in person at the ArtsWest Box Office at 4711 California Avenue S.W. Groups of 10 or more save up to $12 per ticket. $10 tickets available for ages 25 and under. This show is suitable for all ages.
Performance Schedule: Wednesday-Saturday: 7:30 pm; Sunday: 3 pm; Special Holiday Party and Performance on Dec. 3; Additional performances on Dec. 14, Dec. 20, Dec. 21 at 7:30 pm; and Dec. 24 at 5 pm.
