All hell is about to break loose in Tuna, the “third-smallest” town in Texas, as a mischievous Christmas Phantom threatens to throw the annual Christmas Yard Display Contest into turmoil by vandalizing competitors’ lawns. On top of inevitable seasonal stress and family tensions, the local production of A Christmas Carol is turning into a tragedy. A Tuna Christmas is second in a trilogy of comedic plays written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard that tenderly yet satirically comment on small-town, Southern charm. In The Circle Ensemble Theatre Company’s production, local actors Dustin Drake and Scotty Gannon will take on the challenge of portraying all 22 eccentric denizens—an aspiring taxidermist, a UFOlogist, the owner of a used weapons store, disc jockeys of radio station OKKK and the like. A special performance on Thursday, Dec. 19 will benefit AIDS Athens. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost $15 for students or $20 for general admission.