Saint Sebastian Players to Present GREATER TUNA This December

As an addition to its season, the Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) and Such Devoted Sisters Productions present a Sebastian Studio Project, Greater Tuna by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard. Performances run December 7-10 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago.

Greater Tuna is the first in a series of four 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 plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes and a withering satire of them. Noteworthy is that two actors (usually men) play the entire cast of more than 20 eccentric characters of both genders and various ages. Greater Tuna debuted in Austin, Texas in 1981 and had its off-Broadway premiere in 1982. St. Vincent Summer Theatre produced the play in 2000.

Playing the 20-plus citizens of Greater Tuna are Sandra Leander and Robert-Eric West*. The production team includes consulting director Renae Stone*, producer Jim Masini*, sound and lighting designers Jonathan Hagloch and John Oster*, and dressers Natalie Reff* and Jessica Woodburn (* denotes SSP company member).

SSP's 2017-18 mainstage season continues with the British farce Hay Fever by Noel Coward February 16-March 11 and the gritty Chicago comedy The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur April 27-May 20.

SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago's North Side. When the parish closed in 1990, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for smaller Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/production-history.

Performances of Greater Tuna take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available in two lots. Full-priced tickets are $20; tickets for seniors, students with valid IDs at the door and children younger than 12 are $15. Group rates also are available. All programming is subject to change. For tickets and information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

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