A Tuna Christmas facts for kids

A Tuna Christmas is a super funny play! It's the second show in a series about the tiny, make-believe town of Tuna, Texas. This town is so small, it's called the "third-smallest" in the whole state! The plays were written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard.

What makes these plays special? Two amazing actors play over twenty different characters! They play men, women, and people of all ages. It's a fun way to look at life in a small Southern town.

The first play, Greater Tuna, started in 1981. A Tuna Christmas first came out in 1989. The actors, Jaston Williams and Joe Sears, traveled all over the country performing these shows. They even performed Greater Tuna and A Tuna Christmas at the White House for President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush!

You can even watch A Tuna Christmas at home, as it's available on DVD. Lots of theaters still perform this play today, and people really enjoy it!

Meet the Characters of Tuna

This play is unique because only two actors bring all the characters to life! Here are some of the funny people you'll meet from Tuna, Texas.

Characters Played by Jaston Williams

• Arles Struvie - A disc jockey (DJ) at radio station OKKK.
• Didi Snavely - She owns a shop called Didi's Used Weapons.
• Petey Fisk - He works at the Greater Tuna Humane Society, helping animals.
• Jody Bumiller - The youngest child in the Bumiller family.
• Stanley Bumiller - He loves stuffing animals and is trying to stay out of trouble. He's Charlene's twin brother.
• Charlene Bumiller - Bertha Bumiller's daughter and Stanley's sister. She really likes Joe Bob Lipsey.
• Vera Carp - The town's biggest snob.
• Dixie Deberry - She's in charge of the Tuna Electric Company.
• Helen Bedd - A waitress at the Tasty-Creme diner.
• Farley Burkhalter - A customer at the Tasty-Creme.
• Garland Poteet - He delivers soda and is one of Inita's many boyfriends.

Characters Played by Joe Sears

• Thurston Wheelis - Another disc jockey (DJ) at radio station OKKK.
• Elmer Watkins - He had an accident and lost his eyebrows.
• Bertha Bumiller - A mom trying to keep her family together. She's mom to Jody, Stanley, and Charlene.
• Leonard Childers - A business owner and radio personality on OKKK.
• R.R. Snavely - Didi's husband, who studies UFOs.
• Pearl Burras - Bertha's aunt, who worked in a factory during World War II.
• Sheriff Givens - The town sheriff.
• Ike Thompson - A slow-witted highway worker.
• Inita Goodwin - Another waitress at the Tasty-Creme diner.
• Phoebe Burkhalter - She might be Farley's partner. You only see her wig on stage!
• Joe Bob Lipsey - He's directing the town's Christmas play, A Christmas Carol, but it's having lots of problems.

What Happens in A Tuna Christmas?

The story of A Tuna Christmas is all about the town's yearly Christmas Yard Display Contest.

The Christmas Contest and a Mystery

Vera Carp has won the contest 14 times in a row! But this year, things get tricky. A mysterious "Christmas Phantom" is going around and messing up the yard displays. This makes everyone wonder who will win!

Family Fun and Challenges

The play also follows the Bumiller family during Christmas. Stanley Bumiller is trying to finish his probation so he can leave Tuna. His mom, Bertha Bumiller, is working hard to keep her family happy during the holidays.

Putting on a Play

Meanwhile, Joe Bob Lipsey is trying to direct the town's Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. But he faces many funny problems and obstacles along the way.

Awards and Recognition

A Tuna Christmas and its actors have received some special awards!

Play Awards

• Nominee, Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards, 1990. This award is for great plays performed outside their home area.

Actor Awards for Joe Sears

• Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Touring Production, Helen Hayes Awards, 1990 and 1998.
• Best Actor, Los Angeles Dramalogue Award, 1993.
• Nominee, Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, 1995. The Tony Awards are very famous awards for Broadway plays.

Actor Awards for Jaston Williams

• Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards, 1990 and 1998.
• L.A. Dramalogue Award.