The Sedona Red Rock High School’s Red Rock Players will premiere their fall show, a rowdy holiday-themed comedy, on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. as a free event in memory of Donna Jo Wagner.

The play, “Doublewide Texas Christmas” by Jones, Hope and Wooten, is described by director and drama instructor Phil DePasquale as a “wild, redneck Christmas.” DePasquale said that audiences can expect a lot of gags, schticks and charming backwoods wit, as the players don costumes and over-the-top accents. Characters in the play exchange memorable, quick-paced banter while they figure out how to avoid having their small trailer park community annexed by the neighboring town of Tugaloo. Their antics become increasingly absurd in this tale of proud Texans taking on the powers that be.

DePasquale’s typical structure is to choose comedies for the fall and save the dramas for the spring. That way, first-time thespians can have fun while DePasquale ascertains who among them will likely be able to handle the more serious roles of the spring. The cast includes Monse Arizmendi as Big Ethel; Christina Schweiss as Georgia Dean; Riley Whitaker as Lark; Jaden Strategier as Haywood Slogget; Emily Uribe as Patsy; Jeffrey Holmes as Baby Crumpler; Zoe Porteus as Joveeta; Chaiah Durst as Caprice; and Brian Galvez as Nash/Harley.

The play’s assistant director, freshman Serenity McFarland, said that her favorite part about helping direct is seeing things slowly take shape in rehearsals. In addition to the free Thursday night showing, “A Doublewide Texas Christmas” will have showings at Sedona Performing Arts Center Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets for the shows are $8; teacher and student admission is free. Proceeds go toward the Sedona Red Rock Players, who do not receive school funding. As far as what can be expected from the players in the future, DePasquale said that he might choose “Steel Magnolias” to be the school’s spring play.