The
show began as a simple party skit based on a political
cartoon more than 20 years ago in Austin, Texas. Talented
creators Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard were the
imaginative authors that parlayed the sketch into a critically
acclaimed production which has entertained audiences across
the country ever since.
G
reater Tuna
is the hilarious comedy about
Texas' third smallest town, where the Lion's Club is too liberal
and Patsy Cline never dies. The eclectic band of citizens
that make up this town are portrayed by only two performers,
making this satire on life in rural America even more delightful
as they depict all of the inhabitants of
Tuna -- men, women,
children and animals.
The
early tour dates found an instant audience coast to coast
as the show played to packed houses in San Francisco, Atlanta,
Houston and Hartford before original stars Joe Sears and Jaston
Williams found themselves performing
Greater Tuna for over
a year Off-Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre. This
successful New York run lead to an HBO Special produced by
Norman Lear which took the
"Tuna"
phenomenon to every city
in America.
By
1985,
Greater Tuna was the most produced play in
the United States with schools, colleges, community and professional
theatres all anxious to add the hit comedy to their repertoire.
Meanwhile, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams were continuing their
whirlwind tours in such prestigious theatres as the Kennedy
Center h Washington D.C. and the Marines Memorial Theatre
in San Francisco.
G
reater Tuna's
popularity crossed the Atlantic in
1988 as the highlight of Scotland's famed Edinburgh Festival.
Back at home, the Marines Memorial Theatre in San Francisco
began a local production of
Greater Tuna which ran continuously
for a record-breaking seven years.
The
popularity of
Greater Tuna has even extended to
the most distinguished home in the country,
with Command Performances
at the White House upon the invitation of President and Mrs.
Bush in 1990 and again in 1991.
The
demand for a sequel then became so great that writers
Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard created
A
Tuna Christmas,
in which the much beloved citizens of
Tuna contribute their
special brand of humor to that holiday for their appreciative
audiences nationwide.
In
December of 1994,
A
Tuna Christmas took Broadway by storm,
playing to rave reviews and turning the toughest critics into
"Tuna"
fans. In return they presented Joe Sears with the esteemed
honor of a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.
To
complete the Tuna Trilogy, creators Jaston Williams, Joe
Sears and Ed Howard have written the final installment
entitled
Red, White and Tuna, which is touring nationally.
As
the legend continues...
