Jaston Williams News

Comedian, actor, storyteller and writer Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame is joined on stage by Texas musician Kimmie Rhodes as they ponder the question - IS THERE LIFE AFTER LUBBOCK?

The multi award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) is thrilled to present a world premiere play, SissyBoy, written and performed by James Mellon and directed by Kevin Bailey. SissyBoy will begin previews on Friday, February 5 at 8pm; will open on Friday, February 12 at 8pm and run for eleven performances through Sunday, March 6, 2016 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim Blvd.) in North Hollywood.

But there are those Christmas-themed shows that we're delighted to see no matter the time or place. Case in point: A Tuna Christmas, the seasonal sojourn to the third smallest town in Texas, where the wacky denizens are up to all kinds of hijinks as they celebrate baby Jesus' birthday, complete with a Christmas Phantom, a sale on firearms at Didi Snavely's gun emporium and a reintroduction of Helen Bedd and Inita Goodwin, the good-time gals at the Tasty Kreme, and Joe Bob Lipsey, the extravagantly over-dramatic director of Tuna Little Theater's beleaguered production of the royalty-free A Christmas Carol.

Southern Winds Theatre presents A TUNA CHRISTMAS by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard from December 11-20 at The Venue on Virginia Drive.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Whether it's fruitcake or eggnog, people love their traditions during the Holiday Season -- and you'd better not disappoint. Memphians are accustomed to cranky 'Ebeneezer Scrooge' hoarding his coins at Theatre Memphis, and in midtown, we're resigned to A TUNA CHRISTMAS at Circuit and PETER PAN at Playhouse on the Square. Just last year, I had seen two -- yes, TWO -- productions of the latter: The version done live on NBC (with an off-center, almost 'sleep walking' Christopher Walken as 'Captain Hook') and the marvelous version directed and choreographed by Jordan Nichols and Travis Bradley at Playhouse. The Playhouse featured players were the unique Morgan Howard (as 'Peter') and the versatile David Foster (as a 'Jack Sparrow'-like 'Hook'); they were alternating the roles with Carly Crawford and Bill Andrews. I am happy to report that I finally was able to see Ms. Crawford and Mr. Andrews assay those roles, and they were equally inspired casting choices (but more about that later).

Southern Winds Theatre presents A TUNA CHRISTMAS by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard from December 11-20 at The Venue on Virginia Drive.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Thus, we are happy to present the return of one our most popular features: The Nashville Theater Calendar, a comprehensive - maybe even exhaustive (lord knows we're exhausted from putting it together, gathering all the info from all over the interwebs!) - listing of theatrical openings for the 2015/16 season. We'll update the calendar every Monday, clearing out the shows that have closed and adding additional information on the shows still to come. Something's missing? That's an easy fix: just send us a message here, on Facebook, or by email at jeffreyellis37215@att.com.

BROADWAY: THE BIG BAND YEARS is a thrilling musical adventure celebrating some of the best music of the Great White Way.  Featuring an orchestra of 12 and Broadway vocalists Patrick Cassidy and Lynn Andrews, the pianist, conductor and arranger Keith Levenson brings some of the hit Big Band Era songs to sonic heights. Popularized by stars of radio and television, these standards included: "The Lady is a Tramp," "My Funny Valentine," "Luck Be a Lady," "S'Wonderful," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and "Mack The Knife" among other classics from the great American songbook. Join us at the Spencer Theater for this night celebrating Broadway's best on Thursday, November 12 at 7 p.m. Excellent seats start at just $39. Call the Box Office at 575.336.4800 or visit www.spencertheater.comfor tickets. A pre-concert herb-crusted pork tenderloin buffet ($20) is also available in the lobby starting at 5 p.m.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

The Dio - Dining & Entertainment is excited to announce their 2016 theatre season which includes two plays, three musicals, and a South East Michigan professional premiere!

The Vagabond Players is now presenting the larger than real life comedy, Greater Tuna for just two more weekends, September 18-27. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard and directed by Anthony Lane Hinkle, this production is lauded as a super, never-stop-laughing comedy. Best of all there is a special $10 Thursday performance  on September 24 at 8:00pm.

The Vagabond Players, America's oldest continuously operating little theatre,  proudly opens its 100th Season with the larger than real life comedy, Greater Tuna on September 4, and running weekends through September 27. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard and directed by Anthony Lane Hinkle, this production promises to start off this historic season with a very Big Bang!

Spencer Theater Fall-Winter Season 2015-16: There's something for everyone in the 15-show line-up, all staged with superior lighting and grand acoustics at the award-winning, non-profit performance hall located 12 miles north of the mountain resort community of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Evening shows throughout the Fall-Winter-Springseason begin at 7 p.m., with dinner buffets ($20) in the Crystal Lobby starting at 5 p.m.

The Vagabond Players, America's oldest continuously operating little theatre,  proudly opens its 100th Season with the larger than real life comedy, Greater Tuna on September 4, and running weekends through September 27. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard and directed by Anthony Lane Hinkle, this production promises to start off this historic season with a very Big Bang!

Middlebury Actors Workshop, a small professional ensemble in residence at Town Hall Theater, announces its 15th Anniversary summer production of Greater Tuna, starring founding members Steve Small and Harry McEnerny. The production will run tonight, July 23 - 26 & July 30 - Aug. 2 at A.R.T.'s black box theater.

Here's some unsolicited career advice for those of you who might be considering relocating to Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas:  Tunanians - or Tunaites or however they refer to themselves - are sorely in need of a good beauty operator to help them keep their unruly wigs in shipshape, Bristol fashion. What with all the civic events, out-of-town trips and local affairs, every woman in Tuna should want their coiffures to be dazzling creations of the beauticians' trade.