Back Alley Productions brings hilarious comedy ‘Thanksgiving Play’ to the stage

Back Alley Productions (BAP) will present “The Thanksgiving Play,” a hilarious comedy about theatre, Thanksgiving and culture, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., Nov. 19-21 and Dec. 3-5.

Performances will be at the Mars Theatre, 117 N. Chattanooga St., Lafayette. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office 30 minutes before showtime; seating is first come, first served.

“When a friend confessed her disappointment that there weren’t more plays revolving around Thanksgiving, I set out to find a great one,” Director Krystale Dawson said. “That’s when I discovered ‘The Thanksgiving Play.’ As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to direct the show.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Back Alley Productions for this opportunity and also to the cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication, and I hope the community comes

out to celebrate Thanksgiving with BAP and see this hysterical and biting satire,” Dawson said.

“The Thanksgiving Play” is probably Larissa Fasthorse’s most well-known and accessible play. It tells the story of Logan, a school theater teacher. After a disastrous

production of “The Iceman Cometh,” 300 parents sign a petition to have her fired. Desperate to save her job and win everyone back, she decides to produce a historically accurate, but culturally sensitive, play about the first Thanksgiving.

With the help of Jaxton (Logan’s idealistic and unconventional boyfriend), Caden (a high-strung elementary school teacher and history expert) and Alicia (an odd but beautiful professional actress), Logan enthusiastically begins the first rehearsal. However, it’s not long before things descend into utter chaos.

A sharp commentary on hyper-political correctness and a love letter to the mishaps of theatre, “The Thanksgiving Play” is ultimately an examination of the complexity of culture, respect and school district rules. The production contains some adult content that some might consider unsuitable for children.

BAP requires all patrons to wear masks at this time.

Visit https://www.bapshows.com or call 706-6212870.

Left: Caden, played by Gavin Russell, holds a potato while wearing a bonnet. Above, Left: Logan (right), played by Sally Sainthill, looks on with concern while one of her actresses, played by Jessica Parker, struggles through her lines. Above, Right: Christian Blackmon plays Jaxton, an L.A. surfer actor who’s in touch with his third eye.

Contributed Above: From left, Jessica Parker, Sally Sainthill and Gavin Russell are an odd cast of characters trying desperately to put on a culturally sensitive version of the first Thanksgiving. Right: From left are Christian Blackmon, Gavin Russell, Jessica Parker and Sally Sainthill.