By Jodi Helmer
Christmas means just one thing in Tuna, Texas: It’s time for the annual Christmas Yard Display Contest. The competition is heated: Vera Carp is hoping to take home the prize for the 15th year in a row and Joe Bob might not be able to compete because of unpaid electric bills. To complicate matters, a Christmas Phantom has been vandalizing the yard displays.
Tuna might be the third smallest town in Texas but hijinks are larger than life - and they’re all being reported by radio personalities Thurston Wheelis and Aries Struvie on OKKK radio.
A Tuna Christmas was written by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams as a sequel to their award-winning comedy, Greater Tuna. A hilarious take on small-town Southern life, the play has been performed for audiences around the country, including a performance at the White House for former president George H.W. Bush.
The family-friendly performance is a perfect way to start the holiday season with a laugh. According to a review published in USA Today, “Its slyness and affection have made A Tuna Christmas a viable alternative to A Christmas Carol.”
Performances are held at 8 p.m. on December 3-5 and December 10-12 and at 2:30 p.m. on December 6 and 13. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children. The Old Courthouse Theater is located at 49 Spring St. NW in Concord. For more information, go to
www.oldcourthousetheatre.org or call 704-788-2405.