A TUNA CHRISTMAS to Open 12/4 at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

Jack Utrata and Tom Ollis will portray more than 20 characters in "A Tuna Christmas", running December 4-22, 2013, presented by the Carolina Actors Studio Theatre at the Gilweit Theatre.

The show will run Wednesday and Thursday: 7:30 PM
Friday, and Saturday: 8 PM and Sunday: 2:30 p.m.NO LATE SEATING! Tickets: $28 adults; $22 seniors (60+)
$18 (students). or call 704-455-8542; GROUP SALES - GroupSales@NCCAST.com or 704-968-9849.

CAST brings back the comedy classic "A Tuna Christmas" by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard and Joe Sears with the same zany antics that make audiences roar holiday season after holiday season. Tom Ollis and Jack Utrata play more than 20 characters with 364 costume changes. Expect 1,003 laughs. The directors are Lena Olson and Michael R. Simmons, CAST's Artistic Director.

THE STORY: It's Christmas Eve in the third smallest town in Texas. TUNA Radio station OKKK on-air news personalities, Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including hot competition in the annual lawn display contest which is under sabotage by the "Christmas Phantom," and the voracious Joe Bob Lipsey's production of "A Christmas Carol" - jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. Celebrate the Holidays as only a bunch of good old boys and gals from Texas can. Oh, did we mention that ALIENS LAND ON CHRISTMAS EVE???!!!

THE CAST:

TOM OLLIS: Tom Ollis has been acting in and around the Carolinas for nearly 25 years and has performed in more than 50 plays. Most recently at CAST, he was seen as "Jim Reston" in "Frost/Nixon." You may have caught him as "Titus" in Citizen of the Universe's production of "Titus Andronicus" at Snug Harbor. Some other favorite roles include "White" in Cormac McCarthy's "Sunset Limited" and "Mr. Blonde" in COTU's "Reservoir Dogs," for which he won a Metrolina Theater Award as Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Tom has also done sketch comedy and Improv with Psychotic Pooch. He has even done street theater with his three-man (well, two men and one woman) comedy team, The Knights of M.

JACK UTRATA: Jack Utrata made his professional Charlotte debut in CAST's production of "Recent Tragic Events." Jack was in the Playmakers Repertory Company's production of "Cabaret" with Taylor Mac and Lisa Brescia in Chapel Hill. Some of Jack's favorite past roles include Pip/Theo in "Three Days of Rain" (Ground UP Productions), Big Stone in Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice" (DDA UNC Chapel Hill), "Chad" in "All Shook Up" (Pauper Players UNC Chapel Hill) and Joe Orton in "Diary of a Somebody" (LAB! Theatre UNC Chapel Hill).

SPECIAL EVENTS:

FUEL PIZZA FRIDAYS: Ticket-buyers can enjoy complimentary slices of Fuel Pizza (while supplies last)!

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4: Get $1 off any ticket price for the Dec. 4 show for donating a can of tuna or a jar of peanut butter at the door. Your donations will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. (Limit: 5 donations or $5 off ticket price. No advance sales.)

THURSDAY, Dec. 5: "A Tuna Christmas" Holiday Hoedown Fundraiser, featuring dinner from Bojangles' Famous Chicken & Biscuits, open bar, cast meet & greet, wine tasting, door prizes and more. Attire: Holiday shirts and sweaters, jeans. Cowboy hats and boots optional. Advance sales: $50 single; $75 couple; door: $75 single; $100 couple. Tickets are available at NCCAST.com or 704-455-8542.

FRIDAY, Dec. 6: VIP Night for "O Guru Guru Guru" and "A Tuna Christmas." Enjoy a special "Home Style" dinner before the show. At intermission, enjoy complimentary desserts from Amelie's French Bakery and freshly brewed coffee from Magnolia Coffee Co.

SATURDAY, Dec. 7: Tom and Jack are scheduled to be on WBTV Weekend between 6:15 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

MONDAY, Dec. 9: Wilson's World on WCCB Charlotte is scheduled to broadcast a behind-the-scenes look at "A Tuna Christmas," starting around 6 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11: Get $1 off any ticket price for the Dec. 11 show for each travel size toiletry item you donate at the door. Your donations will benefit USO of North Carolina. (Limit: 5 donations or $5 off ticket price. No advance sales.)

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18: Donate pet food and receive special discounts at the door for the Dec. 18 show. The food will go to Humane Society of Charlotte. Get $1 off any ticket price for each can of cat or dog food (up to 5 cans); $5 off any ticket price for 10 pound bag of dog or cat food. (Limit $5 off ticket price. No advance sales.)