CCRI Players tackle post-Vietnam life in rural America with 1959 Pink Thunderbird
Dec. 11, 2019
Through witty dialogue and poignant storytelling, the Community College of Rhode Island
Players take an unconventional look at post-Vietnam life in rural America with their
upcoming production of 1959 Pink Thunderbird.
Written by the late James McLure, 1959 Pink Thunderbird is a two-part play following the lives of a married couple from Maynard, TX, a small
town of approximately 1,600 located 140 miles north of Austin.
1959 Pink Thunderbird premieres at CCRI’s Liston Campus beginning Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 pm. The
play continues with 7:30 shows on Friday and Saturday night in addition to 2 pm matinees
Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $12 with a discounted price of $10 for CCRI students, faculty, staff and
seniors and are available by calling 401-825-2219.
Directed by CCRI alumnus and Adjunct Theater Professor Anthony Goes, 1959 Pink Thunderbird opens with “Laundry & Bourbon,” which follows Elizabeth, the lonely wife of Vietnam
veteran Roy, who is struggling to deal with her husband’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) while trying to find the appropriate time to tell him she is pregnant. Elizabeth
spends her afternoon folding laundry, only to be disrupted by her friends Hattie and
Amy Lee, who spill small-town gossip and squabble over a few glasses of bourbon and
Coke.
In “Lone Star,” the second act of the play, viewers meet Roy –rugged, macho war veteran,
and former high-school superstar – wasting away the wee hours of the morning at a
small bar alongside his brother, Ray, and close friend, Cletis, while sharing the
intimate details of his time in Vietnam and his difficulty letting go of the past.
Roy learns his most prized possession, his 1959 Pink Thunderbird, is destroyed, as
is the foundation of his marriage, both at the hands of his most trusted allies.
Originally written by McLure as a comedy, Goes says 1959 Pink Thunderbird is as relevant and important today as it was in the early 1970s with its reoccurring
themes of PTSD and military veterans struggling with reacclimating to a civilian lifestyle.
This week’s production is Goes’ first as a director and the six-person ensemble cast
is composed entirely of CCRI students. Warwick native Dan Garcia plays the role of
Roy and Deryn Leigh of East Greenwich stars as Elizabeth.
“This type of production gives the actors relatable topics and allows them to be at
the forefront of current events. There are such real themes in both plays,” said Goes,
a Pawtucket, RI, native and 2003 CCRI graduate. “While it’s labeled as a comedy, the
comedy comes out of the truth of the situation as opposed to a traditional laugh riot.
“As we continued to work on it, we said to ourselves, ‘This is a really honest, dramatic
piece of theater.’ The characters have no filters and the viewer is driven to laugh
out of a state of uncomfortableness. Working with the students and watching these
young actors learn how to play to those moments was truly inspiring.”
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI Launches Free Ophthalmic Technician Training Program
April 23, 2025
Warwick, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce the launch of a new Ophthalmic Technician training program through its Division of Workforce Partnerships. This 120-hour program, beginning in May 2025, is free of charge and designed to prepare participants for immediate employment in a fast-growing healthcare field.
Read More
CCRI Foundation Elects Four New Members to its Board of Trustees
April 23, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Foundation has appointed four new members to its Board of Trustees. We are honored to welcome these four distinguished leaders to the CCRI Foundation,” said Rosemary Costigan, Ph.D, RN, Interim President of CCRI. “Their diverse backgrounds, deep ties to the community, and shared dedication will support us in advancing the college’s mission of access, equity and opportunity.
Read More
CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program
April 17, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Energy are teaming up to offer a free exploratory program designed to give participants a window into the growing utilities industry.
Introduction to Utilities – free to anyone who meets eligibility requirements through funding from Rhode Island Energy – is a seven-hour introductory course that provides participants with foundational skills and knowledge to explore career pathways within the utilities sector, specifically with Rhode Island Energy.
Read More
Four CCRI Faculty Honored with NISOD Awards of Excellence
April 10, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announces that four distinguished faculty members have been recognized with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The recipients, honored for their exceptional dedication to student success and academic excellence
Read More
CCRI Achieves Gold Status as Military Friendly® School
April 10, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce that it has been designated a Military Friendly® School for the fourth consecutive year, achieving Gold status for the first time during the 2025–2026 academic year. This prestigious recognition underscores CCRI's unwavering commitment to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.
Read More
CCRI Celebrates First Cohort of MC3 Graduates, Expands Apprenticeship Readiness Program to Providence and Newport Campuses
April 08, 2025
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates the graduation of its first cohort of the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Program, marking a significant milestone in the college’s commitment to expanding career pathways in the skilled trades. The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, April 3, at 3:30 p.m. at CCRI’s Warwick Campus.
Read More
CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic to Host Free Sealant and Fluoride Community Day for Children & Teens
March 31, 2025
The CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic’s upcoming Sealant and Fluoride Community Day on Friday, April 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Lincoln Campus will provide free dental sealants and fluoride treatments for children and teens ages 6 to 17. The event will be led by CCRI’s dental hygiene students, who will provide preventative care under the supervision of licensed professionals.
Read More
Lucas Johnson Named Rhode Island's 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar
March 17, 2025
Warwick, RI- Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) student and Warwick resident, Lucas Johnson, has been named a 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.
Read More
Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship
March 07, 2025
NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.
Read More
CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare
March 05, 2025
For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.
Read More
CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament
March 05, 2025
Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.
Read More
CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins
March 04, 2025
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.
Read More
CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence
February 14, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
Read More
Black History Month
February 10, 2025
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.
Read More
Fall 2024 Dean's List
January 08, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
Read More
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Westerly Education Center (WEC)
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Liston Campus
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Liston Campus
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Flanagan Campus