The Theatre Department at CSU Stanislaus is preparing for its upcoming holiday performance: The Thanksgiving Play, a satire play written by Larissa FastHorse and directed by Carin Heidelbach bringing humor and social reflection to campus this November. This production follows a group of well-intentioned teaching artists as they attempt to create a Thanksgiving pageant that celebrates both the holiday and Native American Heritage Month.
The students have behind-the-scenes routines and procedures that help prepare them to create a dynamic production. Different facets of the play include tech crew, stage managers, directors, and the cast. Week-to-week, they practice their roles and test out new lighting and staging for each setting.
The Stan State student actors and crew explained their process as aspiring theatre actors and their experience working on “The Thanksgiving Play”.
Mackenna Hernandez (Theatre Arts, Junior), a member of the ensemble, expressed her excitement about the play’s humor, noting “I’m most excited about the jokes in the play that reveal a little bit of humanity.”
Hernandez then went on to explain that she believes staying in character during jokes is one of her biggest challenges as an actress.
Logan, one of the main characters, is portrayed by Sierrah Makenzie Stepps (Theatre Arts, Senior). She shared that the biggest challenge as an actor is portraying characters that may not align with her values.
“For Logan, she is not perfect, and there are parts about her that I do not like at all,” Stepps said.
Despite her challenge, she mentioned that she wants to treat Logan with empathy and dedication to provide a thoughtful performance.
Jamie Gonzalez (Theatre Arts, Freshman) plays a young student in the play’s Thanksgiving assemblies.
“For this play in particular, it’s just getting to let loose and act like a freak… You’re running around, going crazy, playing instruments, and you just get to be a kid,” Gonzalez says.
Rubi Paulina Jimenez (Theatre Arts/Spanish, Junior) plays Alicia, a “professional” actor hired by the school to add cultural authenticity who faces her challenges.
As a non-native English speaker, Jimenez said that “articulation and diction” are the hardest parts for her as an actor. She explains that she puts extra effort into understanding and expressing the lines for her character.
“It deals with a lot of topics that should be talked about, like red face and color-blind casting. There are so many conversations that need to be had,” Jimenez said.
Another key component is the technical crew’s behind-the-scenes production efforts, who work hand-in-hand with Heidelbach to bring this satirical play to life. Lighting, sound, and set design all play crucial roles in supporting the play’s comedic pacing and tone to create an entertaining experience for the audience. With patience, this crew takes their time to fix and move anything that has to be fixed and ready for opening night.
The whole department puts a lot of time and effort into the production of the play.
The set is filled with people working around the clock and making sure everything is ready without difficulties.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on November 20th through the 23rd and matinees at 2:00 p.m. on November 23rd and 24th, the play promises to deliver laughs and thought-provoking moments.
Tickets are available online for $10 general admission or $8 with student, senior, or military ID, with cash-only tickets at the door. Complimentary parking will be available for free in Lot 2 for the performances at the Studio Theatre (D40).
