The Players at Perry-Mansfield are taking their momentum following a well-received production of “Clue” and using it to present a thought-provoking satirical examination of the holiday of Thanksgiving.

The Players will be presenting “A Thanksgiving Play,” which was written in 2015 by playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse, who is a descendent of the Sicangu Lakota. It was first staged in 2018 throughout the United States to high acclaim before arriving at the Hayes Theater on Broadway in 2023. 

The show opens Nov. 15 and 16 at the Julie Harris Theater with additional performances on Nov. 22 and 23. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the performances commencing at 7 p.m. There will also be a special presentation supporting the Hayden Arts Council at the Hayden Town Center Theater on Nov. 24 with admission beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the show starting at 6 p.m.

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The cast features Abbey Iberg as Logan, Ben Kiser as Jaxton, Sarah Laping-Garland as Alicia and Kirk Aigner as Caden. The production was self-directed by cast members as well. 

The play follows four characters as they seek to write and stage a play about Native Americans without directly consulting a tribal member in the process. Through satirical comedy, it presents and examines misrepresentations of indigenous peoples as the plot progresses. 

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“A Thanksgiving Play” fits well with the direction that The Players want to take, as they seek to stage newer and more meaningful productions that address contemporary societal topics while causing reflection within theatre goers.

“One of the things that I enjoy about this production is that this is the first Thanksgiving-themed production that we have done,” added Aigner. 

Iberg, who had costumed the play previously in Jackson Hole in 2021, spoke to the satirical relevance of the play. 

“It’s really interesting how the things in the play are also things that we are seeing a lot more often in everyday life, and not necessarily in a bad way,” she said. “I love Larissa Fasthorse’s writing because she has this great way of calling people out in a friendly way while inviting people to laugh at themselves.”

Sarah Laping-Gardner added that the play is liberating as it allows audience members to laugh and think while creating an attitude and ethos of liberation from the feeling of being stymied by the fear of making mistakes.

“People are afraid of offending each other, afraid of not helping in the correct way, and are so afraid of not being perfect that they end up doing nothing,” noted Iberg. “I have seen when instead of speaking up, people are editing, and editing, and editing and at the end of the day nothing gets said.”

Laping-Gardner noted that the cast and production crew felt comfortable presenting the play, despite it addressing sensitive topics in regards to Native Americans. She said that theatre goers, though they might feel “called out”, are among the most receptive in taking the thesis of the production and using it to reflect on themselves. 

“By having a play that is written by a Native American who is pointing out some of the more funny and ridiculous things that we do culturally, the audience is more willing to listen, learn and move forward,” said Laping-Gardner. 

She added that the play contains humor that will resonate with a wide range of audiences as well. 

“We can all hear each other laugh,” she said. “That’s part of what makes theatre such a great place to have these conversations.”

Executive producer and production manager Brad Kindred added that there were extensive conversations regarding whether the topic was “appropriate” for the audience, as well as gauging what their reactions would be. 

“Frankly, as a community theatre, we feel like it is part of our job to challenge our audience a little bit,” he said. “This is our response to that.” 

Kindred noted that there are other productions that meet that criteria in the Players lineup, including “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom, which will be staged in March. 

“You need to be able to laugh at the habits you used to have or the ways that you used to be,” closed Iberg. “That, in and of itself, is a radical act as you care enough to pay attention and listen to other people even if you are not sure of what to do.” 

For more information on The Players at Perry-Mansfield, and their upcoming productions, please visit Perry-Mansfield.org/programs/community-programs/the-players.