The Thanksgiving Play Preview

By BreAnne

Thanksgiving Play” is a satirical one-act about four white adults struggling to devise a politically correct elementary school production of the first Thanksgiving for Native American Heritage Month.

In attempt to save her job, the director hires three other adults to help derive a “woke” or all-inclusive play about the holiday’s origins that will give due respect to Native Americans.

One of the adults hired is a supposed Native American who they were going to rely on for cultural insight, but it’s later revealed she is actually a white actor who just plays a Native American.

Now with four white people, they have to navigate their way through privilege, historical accuracy, and school district rules in hopes to achieve their artistic goal.

Ultimately, they fall short.

“Their efforts thwarted by competing interests, creative differences, and crippling liberal guilt,” as described by americantheatre.org.

The play features a small cast of four actors with big personalities.

Olivia Freeze a junior of Bridgeport as Logan. She’s the director in the show who is adamant about doing the right thing but in her attempt to include everyone in on the collaboration, derails the play.

Brayden Schuelke a freshman of Rapid City, South Dakota as Jaxton. He’s the Las Angeles surfer archetype who everyone loves, but his politically correct thinking takes odd turns.

Izzy Ashley a sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota as Alicia. She’s the one who was hired to be their Native American/cultural compass but is actually white. Her character is pretty but unfortunately not the brightest crayon in the box.

Levi O’Dell a senior of Piedmont, South Dakota as Caden. He’s a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School System who has big aspirations but no real knowledge for how things work on stage. 

“There are so many funny moments that we are having a hard time keeping it together and staying in character when rehearsing a scene,” said O’Dell “there are so many jokes and laughable moments.”

Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday.

Admission is free for all CSC Theatre productions; seats may be reserved at csc.edu/theatre.