The Theater Arts program at GCC is hosting a free Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month satirical play reading on Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre, AU102. The chosen play for this reading is “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa Fasthorse, which premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in New York City on Oct. 12, 2018.

Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally woke teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. 

Larissa FastHorse is not a student at GCC, but her play was chosen for the reading.  The theater department made a decision to have it as a reading in order to introduce the play to the department and to the community, in order to have smaller cast plays presented and experienced. Play readings are very collaborative, and both students and teachers can get involved. 

Jeanette Farr-Hawkins, a theater instructor at GCC, organizes these play readings. “These plays were a response to offering more for our campus community to experience with limited rehearsal time and space-sharing. The plays are contemporary and were created with diversity in mind. The Thanksgiving Play is written by Larissa FastHorse, who is the first Native-American playwright produced on Broadway,” said Professor Farr-Hawkins.  

Students and faculty are cast for these events. Some cast members have been in the theater productions, others in the acting classes here at GCC. Auditions are held for the productions which are associated with classes. If this becomes popular, then students can share their interests to be a part of the next one. 

A typical play reading allows an opportunity for audience members to experience the play and engage their imagination. The actors read it with their own interpretation. The reading production utilizes music stands and chairs and some light props to help the audience visualize the action of the play. 

Sophomore Sydnie Marks, a double major in Theatre and English, is very involved in the productions. She got involved by reading what is posted on the walls around the auditorium and auditioning for what interests her. “A typical rehearsal for a reading consists of us going through the whole show and discussing what everyone will be doing. And then we read it as if we were actually performing. Rehearsals are about twice a week for either a week or two leading up to the actual show,” Marks said. 

Vanya Arakelian can be reached at [email protected].