Theatre Season: A Year of Transformations. Blinn College Division of Visual and Performing Arts. Theatre Arts Program-Brenham

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1 Theatre Season: A Year of Transformations Blinn College Division of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre Arts Program-Brenham Greater Tuna by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard, and Joe Sears Resource Guide This resource guide serves as an educational starting point to understanding and enjoying Jaston Williams, Ed Howard s, and Joe Sear s Greater Tuna. With this in mind, please note that the interpretations of the theatrical work may differ from the original source content.

2 Greater Tuna By Jaston Williams, Ed Howard, and Joe Sears Directed by Jennifer Patrick Technical Theatre Direction by Kevin Patrick Costume, Makeup, and Hair Design by Jennifer Patrick 2014 Theatre Faculty Showcase Featuring Theatre Arts Director, Bradley A. Nies & Technical Theatre Arts Director, Kevin Patrick Directed by Theatre Arts Costume Designer, Jennifer Patrick Produced by Special Arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Performances September 4, 5, 6 September 7 7 p.m. 2 p.m. Dr. W.W. O Donnell Performing Arts Center Auditorium Brenham, Texas Tickets can be purchased in advance online at by calling , or by ing BoxOffice@blinn.edu

3 Synopsis What do Arles Struvie, Thurston Wheelis, Pearl Burras, Petey Fisk, Rev. Spikes, Vera Carp, and Bertha Bumiller have in common? They are all among the upstanding citizens of Tuna, Texas. See two Blinn College-Brenham theatre faculty members transform into twenty citizens of the third smallest town in Texas! The History of Tuna Jaston Williams and Joe Sears met in San Antonio, Texas at an audition for Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream. The two developed a strong friendship and, after being asked to write a comedy sketch for a friend s party, realized their ability to collaborate as playwrights. They convinced their friend and fellow actor Ed Howard to join them in producing and directing an original work that dramatized their experiences of being raised in small southern towns. This artistic venture led to the creation of four successful plays set in Tuna, Texas: Greater Tuna (1981), A Tuna Christmas (1989), Red, White, and Tuna (1997), and Tuna Does Vegas (2008).

4 The Good People of Tuna All the roles in Greater Tuna are played by two actors, adding to the humor of the show, as well as necessitating quick costume changes. Thurston Wheelis: A disc jockey for OKKK Radio in Tuna, Texas. Arles Struvie: Another disc jockey for OKKK Radio. Leonard Childers: The station manager for Radio OKKK. Harold Dean Lattimer: The OKKK Radio weatherman. Hank Bumiller: An ex-convict who was imprisoned for robbing a filling station. Bertha Bumiller: His wife, and a member of the Smut Snatchers of the New Order. Charlene Bumiller: Daughter of the Bumillers who wants to be a cheerleader. Stanley Bumiller: Charlene s brother who has returned home from reform school. Jody Bumiller: Youngest child of the Bumillers who is addicted to dogs. Vera Carp: The town snob, and Vice President of the Smut-Snatchers of the New Order. Petey Fisk: An employee of the Greater Tuna Humane Society. R.R. Snavely: The town drunk, and Tuna s amateur UFO-logist. Didi Snavely: R.R. s wife, and owner of Didi s Used Weapons. Pearl Burras: Aunt to Bertha, and Tuna s resident dog-killer. Reverend Spikes: President of the Smut Snatchers of the New Order. Phinas Blye: A perpetual candidate who is running for Tuna City Council. Elmer Watkins: Head of the local chapter of the KKK,. Sheriff Givens-Sheriff of the Greater Tuna Area. Chad Hartford: A reporter from Intellect Magazine in Houston. Yippy: A dog.

5 Did You Know These Crazy Texas Facts? *The Texas State Historical Association lists Tuna, Texas as a community that was founded sometime after The town was located about 95 miles southwest of San Antonio and was shown on some maps of La Salle County as late as the 1960s. *In Texas, it is illegal to milk another person's cow, sell someone s eye, or take more than three sips of beer while standing. *The King Ranch in South Texas is larger than the state of Rhode Island. *In Clarendon, Texas, it is illegal to dust any public building with a feather duster. *The city of Slaughter, Texas, has never had a homicide. *It is illegal in Galveston, Texas to let your camel run loose on the beach. *The director of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a student at the University of Texas who originally wanted to call the movie Headcheese. *There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper, a drink that was invented in Waco, Texas in *Amarillo, Texas has the world's largest helium well. Tuna *Oscar, the Academy Award statuette, was named for Texan Oscar Pierce. *The Off-Broadway production of Greater Tuna ran for over a year at the Circle in the Square Theatre (Downtown). It had 501 performances.

6 Some Famous People Born in Texas Carol Burnett Actress and Writer April 26, 1933 San Antonio, Texas Cecil Cooper Baseball Player and Manager December 20, 1949 Brenham, Texas Joan Crawford Actress and Dancer March 23, 1904 San Antonio, Texas Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th US President October 14, 1890 Denison, Texas Alberto Gonzales 80th US Attorney General August 4, 1955 San Antonio, Texas Mean Joe Greene Football Player and Coach September 24, 1946 Elgin, Texas Buddy Holly Singer and Songwriter September 7, 1936 Lubbock, Texas Howard Hughes Business Magnate and Aviator December 24, 1905 Humble, Texas

7 Kay Bailey Hutchinson US Senator from Texas July 22, 1943 Galveston, Texas Lyndon B. Johnson 36th US President August 27, 1908 Stonewall, Texas Janis Joplin Singer and Songwriter January 19, 1943 Port Arthur, Texas Barbara Jordan US House of Representatives February 21, 1936 Houston, Texas Steve Martin Actor and Playwright August 14, 1945 Waco, Texas Matthew McConaughey Award Winning Actor November 4, 1969 Uvalde, Texas Willie Nelson Singer and Songwriter April 29, 1933 Abbott, Texas Jim Parsons Award Winning Actor March 24, 1973 Houston, Texas,

8 Tex Ritter Singer and Actor January 12, 1905 Murvaul, Texas Nolan Ryan Baseball Player and CEO January 31, 1947 Refugio, Texas Salena Singer and Songwriter April 16, 1971 Lake Jackson, Texas Sissy Spacek Actress and Singer December 25, 1949 Quitman, Texas Tommy Tune Actor and Dancer February 28, 1939 Wichita Falls, Texas Vanilla Ice Rapper and Actor October 31, 1967 Dallas, Texas Clay Walker Country Music Artist August 19, 1969 Vidor, Texas Ron White Comedian and Actor December 18, 1956 Fritch, Texas

9 Howdy, Teachers! We encourage you and your students to explore Texas further by checking out the following sources: Internet Source, UTEP Law School Preparation Institute-Lesson plans, resources, and recommended readings! Internet Source, UNT Libraries Digital Projects Department-Texas history notebook lessons, activities, and group-oriented projects! Internet Source, San Jacinto Museum of History-Curriculum guide for teaching about Texas! Internet Source, Stanford History Education Group-Texas Independence lesson plan for teachers! Internet Source, Texas State Historical Association-Education lesson plans for teaching Texas History! Internet Source, The Alamo-Lesson plans and worksheets for teachers! Internet Source, TAMU Family Development & Resource Management-Teacher lesson plans?

10 Resources Anderson, C. (1989). Nolan Ryan [Photograph]. Brunswick Records, Inc. (1957). Buddy Holly [Publicity Photograph]. Capitol Records, Inc. (1966). Tex Ritter [Publicity Photograph]. Clement, E. A. (2004). Kay Bailey Hutchinson [Photograph]. Faires, R. (2002). The Austin Chronicle. The Secret History of Tuna. Austin Chronicle Website. Gavan, I. (2012). Matthew McConaughey [Getty Images Photograph]. George, A. (2011). Sissy Spacek [Photograph]. Grossman Glotzer Management Co. (1970) Janis Joplin [Publicity Photograph]. Hansen, G. (2013). Chain Saw Confidential. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books Publishing. Hermansen, P. and Bruce C. Lee. (2009). Insights: A Study Guide to the Utah Shakespearean Festival-Greater Tuna. Cedar City, UT: Utah Shakespearean Festival. Holloway, E. (1958). Carol Burnett [NBC Publicity Photograph]. Hurrell, G. (1936). Joan Crawford [Publicity Photograph]. International Creative Management, Inc. (1977). Tommy Tune [Publicity Photograph]. Internet Source, The Greater Tuna Visitors Center-History.

11 Internet Source, Lortel Archives: The Internet Off Broadway Database. Internet Source, 50 Interesting Facts About Texas. Internet Source, Catalog Synopsis for Greater Tuna. Internet Source, Interesting Facts About The Lone Star State. Kleinschmidt, D. (2007). Vanilla Ice [Photograph]. Leffler, J. (2010). The Handbook of Texas. TUNA, TX. Denton, TX: The Texas Historical Association and the University of North Texas Press. Marano, J. (2011). Steve Martin [Photograph]. Massey, S. R. (1995). Interview with Jaston Williams. San Antonio, TX: University of Texas at San Antonio: Institute of Texan Cultures Oral History Collection. Miller, E. (2006). Clay Walker [Getty Images Photograph]. McCann, D. (2006). Clint Black [Photograph]. Newman, A. (1964). Lyndon Johnson [White House Press Office Photograph]. Organica Music Group, Inc. (2010). Ron White [Publicity Photograph]. O Halloran, T. J. (1976). Barbara Jordan [US News and World Report Magazine Photograph].

12 Perez, C. (1994). Salena [Photograph]. Philpot, L. (2009). Willie Nelson [Photograph]. Riggs, R., Heather Shades, and Wesley Treat. (2009). Weird Texas. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. Santos, K. D. (2009). Jim Parsons [Photograph]. UC International. (2007). Cecil Cooper [Photograph]. University of North Texas Archives. (1967). Joe Greene [Photograph]. US Department of Justice. (2005). Alberto Gonzales [Official Photograph]. White House Press Office. (1959). Dwight D. Eisenhower [Official Photograph Portrait]. Wide World Photos, Inc. (1937). Howard Hughes [Press Photograph].