Greater tuna cast & crew including (l-r, back row) Tyler Moran, Taylor Moran, Ron Houghton, Tony Purk, Daryn Cherveny, and Nolan Salas; (l-r, front row) Maddalyn Brown, Kathy Holtz, Oliver Brown, Finn Miller, Mary Fasse-Shaw, Lilith Duncan, Darcy Lamb, Jon Huebner, Arctix Houghton, and Jo Love. PHOTO BY DIXIE FORCHT

There’s a preacher in a white suit, a guy trying to save the ducks, a girl wanting to be a cheerleader, a group trying to ban books from the school, a UFO sighting, and the local judge was found dead in a fringed one-piece swimsuit. Although there may be some similarities, this isn’t Tama nor Toledo; this is the town of Tuna.

“Greater Tuna,” a two-act play written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, will hit the Wieting Theater stage next week. The satiric story of the goings on in the small town of Tuna, Texas, will have you slapping your knees with delight. Dixie Forcht talked about the similarities between the comedy’s fictional town of Tuna and our towns.

“Small towns are small towns, so there’s always characters,” she said. “There’s always things people love and hate about small-town life, so that’s where we thought it would be a good fit.”

Cast member Marry Fasse-Shaw was the one to suggest the play; Shaw had previously produced the play in 1992. Forcht directed the play once before at STC High School in 2014.

The play has had to deal with a few difficulties so far, mainly the lack of support or behind-the-scenes crew. However, the on-stage cast has taken to their roles like jelly to toast. From STC students who have only been in a couple of productions to the seasoned actors of the group, all have made the characters their own.

Mary Fasse-Shaw makes her return to the Wieting stage in Greater Tuna. Bringing the eccentric Pearl Burras to life in a way that only a master thespian can.

Fasse-Shaw, who plays Pearl Burras, a woman with an odd predilection, said she’s excited to be acting again.

“This is my third play here, and I’ve enjoyed all three,” said Jonathan Huebner, who plays the local Reverend Spikes. “It’s cool to see the process from the first moments, the first table read.”

With the directors ready and the actors in their costumes, the OKKK radio station is ready to go on the air. The best endorsement for the play comes from Forcht, the co-director who said of the locals who will come to see this play about a small town — “You’re probably going to see somebody you know.”

The show will go on at the Wieting Theater on July 11, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets now.

The cast of locals is as follows: Thurston Wheelis-TONY PURK, Arles Struvie- TAYLOR MORAN, Ronnie-DARYN CHERVENY, Didi Snavely- DARCY LAMB, Harold Dean Lattimer-NOLAN SALAS, Elmer Watkins-ARCTIX HOUGHTON, Petey Fisk-DARYN CHERVENY, Bertha Bumiller-KATHY HOLTZ, Jody Bumiller-OLIVER BROWN, Stanley Bumiller-FINN MILLER, Charlene Bumiller-MADDALYN BROWN, Chad Hartford-ARCTIX HOUGHTON, Yippy-TAYLOR MORAN, Leonard Childers-RON HOUGHTON, Phinas Blye-ARCTIX HOUGHTON, (Aunt) Pearl Burras-MARY FASSE-SHAW, Vera Carp-DARCY LAMB, Virgil Carp-OLIVER BROWN, R. R. Snavely-NOLAN SALAS, Connie Carp-LILITH DUNCAN, Ida Thompson-JO LOVE, Reverend Spikes-JON HUEBNER, Coach Raymond Chassie-NOLAN SALAS, Sheriff Givens-ARCTIX HOUGTON, Hank Bumiller-JON HUEBNER

A peek at the local radio station OKKK.

Darcy Lamb blows away the stage with her popping props! Darcy has been in the previous two community theater shows and continues to bring her amazing acting acumen to Tama-Toledo.