<div>Hi friends. My name is Michael and I’m a playwright, but more importantly a human who writes from the places I’ve lived and the stories that refuse to leave me alone. In the summer of 2024, I took my first summer stock theatre job in Virginia City, Montana, where I fell in love with the town, its Wild West history, and met my incredibly talented girlfriend, Emily Wunderle, who has helped me brainstorm and shape this play ever since. While performing daily in that historic town (which we returned to for a second summer), I kept hearing about the infamous outlaw Henry Plummer, a man surrounded by wildly conflicting stories that immediately fascinated me.

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<div>Some historians paint Henry Plummer as an evil bandit, while others argue he was a hardworking lawman pushed out of the way by newcomers from the East. Reviews of books about him contradict each other entirely — one even asking, “If Henry Plummer was an idiot who couldn’t even shoot a gun, how did he lead a gang?” That line inspired this show. In my parody version, Henry isn’t the brightest bulb in the saloon, and while I can’t say for certain he secretly wanted to be a larger than life barber in real life, I can tell you that in my universe, he absolutely does.

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<div>We’re raising funds to produce this show in a black box theatre in Chicago for one live audiences, followed by a professionally filmed pro-shot that will be released virtually so audiences everywhere can experience it. All donations will go directly toward theatre rental, filming costs, and set and costuming. Ticket sales will go back to the cast and crew once the show is complete. For me, this isn’t a for-profit venture as every dollar that I personally make will be put back into making another show happen. 

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<div>This play has been a passion project of mine for nearly two years, and my biggest goal is to make people laugh. If you believe in independent theatre, absurd comedy, and stories that lovingly tear myths and folklore apart, we’d be incredibly grateful for your support, whether that’s through donating, sharing our story on social media, or simply cheering us on. Any donation to this project is appreciated and donors will be listed in our credits when the pro-shot is released. I hope this show brings you into the life of the most chaotic western you’ve ever seen.

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J Mitchell Ruth

Tammy Lockhart

Anonymous

Kandace Bisbee

Johnna Moreland

Sean Bogue

John Albrecht

Keri Newton

Birgit Bock

Sheri Jarvis

Christina Koch

Donate in Support of Chicago Artists and New Work

Just $285$ to go! Make an impact.

Donate in Support of Chicago Artists and New Work

Just $285 to go!
Make an impact.