The Wild West offers an introduction to WordTheatre's comprehensive survey of the literature inspired by the West. This vital genre has, for the past 150 years, shown us who we are by reflecting the struggles of individuals facing a lawless frontier.
We begin our journey with Deadwood Dick: At the Met, a rambunctious example of the notorious dime novels. Amy Madigan (Pollock, Carnivale) gives a rip-roaring reading of Edward Wheeler's 1887 account of one night inside Deadwood's wildest saloon, featuring a cameo appearance by Calamity Jane.
Next, Sheila Kelley (The Sopranos, Dancing at the Blue Iguana) offers a heartbreaking performance of Dorothy M. Johnson's short story, Journey to the Fort, a psychologically acute rendering of one woman's path back to civilization.
Gary Dourdan (C.S.I., Alien Resurrection) smoothly inhabits The Naked Gun, a powerful fable of fate working through innocent hands from John Jakes' Western story collection, The Bold Frontier.
WordTheatre brings people together to share stories in a unique way. Through this collective experience, we aim to deepen our sense of community as we celebrate the oral storytelling tradition.
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