The Williamston Theater to Present TUNA DOES VEGAS, 7/11-8/18

The Williamston Theatre, mid-Michigan's award winning professional theatre company located at 122 S. Putnam Street in downtown Williamston, brings its Tuna Trilogy to a climactic conclusion with Tuna Does Vegas by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard. Tickets for this final installment of this three-season event go on sale Tuesday, June 18 at Noon.

Tuna Does Vegas begins with five Preview performances starting Thursday, July 11. During the first four Previews audience members will have the opportunity to take part in the process of creating a show by participating in a talkback session with the director following each performance. The Official Opening Night is Friday, July 19 with the show scheduled to run through Sunday, August 18. Performances will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at eight o'clock and Sunday matinees at two o'clock with additional three o'clock matinees on Saturdays starting July 20

Aral Gribble and Wayne David Parker reunite one last time as the loveable and eccentric characters from the third smallest town in Texas as they take a rambling romp in Sin City. When Arles Struvie announces on air that he and his wife, Bertha Bumiller, are heading to Vegas to renew their wedding vows everyone in Tuna goes along for the ride! Tuna Does Vegas is an affectionate comment on small-town life as well as a hilarious satire of the same. The eclectic band of citizens that make up this town are portrayed by only two actors, making this send-up on life in rural America even more delightful as they depict the men and women of Tune, Vegas showgirls, Elvis impersonators and more!!

The Williamston Theatre welcomes back the hilarious team of Aral Gribble (boom, Red, White and Tuna, Dead Man's Shoes) and Wayne David Parker (Red, White and Tuna, It Came From Mars, Talley's Folly). The Director for Tuna Does Vegas is Quintessa Gallinat. The production team includes Set Design by Bartley Bauer (10:53, The Understudy, This Wonderful Life), Lighting Design by Genesis Garza (Shirley Valentine, The Dead Guy), Costume Design by Karen Kangas-Preston (Red, White and Tuna, Greater Tuna, The Smell of the Kill) and Sound Design by Will Myers (Dead Man's Shoes, And The Creek Don't Rise, It Came From Mars). The Stage Manager is Nan Luchini.

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can for Thursday, July 11. Remaining Preview tickets are $15.00! Starting Opening Night, tickets prices are $25.00 for Friday and Saturday evenings, $22.00 for Saturday and Sunday matinees and $20.00 for Thursday evenings. Discounted rates are available for senior citizens (65 and older), students (with a valid student ID) and groups of 10 or more (booked at least 1 week in advance). Tickets can be ordered by stopping by the theatre or calling (517) 655-SHOW (7469), Tuesday - Friday from 12 - 6pm or on-line by visiting our website www.williamstontheatre.org.

Tuna Does Vegas is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Williamston Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional live theatre company, dedicated to producing plays that excite, engage and entertain our audiences. The theatre opened its doors in 2006 and has received a number of local awards including the 2008 Robert Busby Award for extraordinary overall contribution to theatre in the Greater Lansing Area.

Williamston Theatre patrons will find ample parking on the street and in several municipal lots throughout the city. The theatre is located in downtown Williamston (exit 117 off of I-96) just south of Grand River Avenue. Additional information about the company and the upcoming 2013-2014 Season is available online at www.williamstontheatre.org or by calling (517) 655-SHOW (7469).