MOLINE, ILLINOIS (October 9, 2025) — The Black Box Theatre located in downtown Moline present another premiere — The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse.
The play is a “satirical comedy that critiques the well-meaning but misguided attempts of four white characters tasked with creating a politically-correct Thanksgiving pageant for elementary school students. Their goal is to celebrate Native American Heritage Month while navigating their own biases and the complexities of cultural representation. However, the irony lies in the fact that none of them are Native American, leading to a series of comedic and revealing situations as they grapple with their lack of authenticity and understanding.” (wiki)
The author Larissa FastHorse says she wrote the play in response to “the common notion that her works couldn't be produced due to the perceived difficulty in finding Native American actors. To challenge this casting limitation, FastHorse crafted a play that tackles Native American issues without relying on Native American actors.”
Heading the production is director/light designer Alexander Richardson with a cast made up of Cole McFarren, Adrienne Jane, Celeaciya Olvera, and Thayne Lamb, with stage management/assistant direction by Kori Ralston, set and costume design by Lora Adams (Black Box Co-founder/artistic director), and set construction by Adams, Ralston, Richardson, and Michael Kopriva.
The show runs October 17 through November 1. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at theblackboxtheatre.com or at the door. The show is rated PG-13.
