Comedy “A Tuna Christmas†To Benefit Services Of Berkshire County Red Cross
Pittsfield, Mass. – The Berkshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross and Lost Planet Productions are proud to present “A Tuna Christmas” – a two-actor comedy that is set in Tuna, Texas. Proceeds from “A Tuna Christmas” will benefit the Berkshire County Red Cross Disaster Services and the Red Cross Services for Military Families in Berkshire County.The two-actor play will be performed at The Colonial Theatre on Wednesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 11, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased through The Colonial Theatre Box Office by phone at (413) 997-4444, online at www.thecolonialtheatre.com, or in person at The Colonial, 111 South Street, Pittsfield.
“A Tuna Christmas” stars Pittsfield’s own Michael P. Murphy and Sam Slack who portray all 24 citizens of Tuna, which is the third smallest town in Texas. Originally created and written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard over 20 years ago in Austin, Texas, “A Tuna Christmas” takes place during the 24 hours leading up to Christmas in the town of Tuna. With various costume changes, voice modifications and, of course, southern drawl, the two actors bring each citizen of Tuna to life, along with all the hilarious holiday shenanigans that you might expect from people in a small Texas town.
“A Tuna Christmas” is being produced locally by Lost Planet Productions and is directed by Leonard Yon. For more information about “A Tuna Christmas” and its beginnings, please visit www.greatertuna.com.
About the Actors:
A lifelong resident of the Berkshires, Sam Slack has worked as actor, director, scenic and lighting designer, technical director, and now producer for many different theater and dance companies in the Berkshires and beyond since 1971. He has an A.A. in Theater Arts from Berkshire Community College and is presently the Facilities Manager at the Colonial Theatre. Slack lives in Pittsfield with his wife, best friend and business partner Mary Vasquez-Slack.
Michael P. Murphy is a lifelong resident of the Pittsfield area. He has been appearing on local stages since the early 1970’s with most of his work being done with the Town Players of Pittsfield, one of the oldest amateur theater groups in the country. He has worked with Sam Slack, his friend since junior high, numerous times over the years including two previous productions of Greater Tuna, which appeared on the Colonial Theatre stage this past April. In addition, Murphy is the coordinator of health and safety services for the Berkshire Red Cross, starting with the Chapter in 1992. He and his wife, Susan, live in Lanesborough and have two grown children.
The Berkshire Red Cross is a volunteer-led organization that serves all of Berkshire County. The Berkshire Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. The chapter’s services include blood collection; disaster relief; service to the military and their families; transportation for those needing to get to medical appointments outside of the town they reside in; First Aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator training; lifeguard and water safety training; HIV/AIDS education and case management; and youth leadership training.
For more information about local American Red Cross services, or volunteer and donation opportunities, contact the Berkshire County Chapter at (413) 442-1506 or visit www.redcrossberkshirecounty.org or www.redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.
