"A Classic Tale of Law & Order Versus Intimidation & Violence in the Old West”

When Ransome Foster, a scholar from New York City, first came to the town of Twotrees he arrived bloody and beaten. Yet after a quick recovery and a promise to a young woman to help her learn to read, Foster begins to change the small town he starts to call home with love & education.
 
This catches the attention of Liberty Valance, an outlaw who seeks to restore his view of ”the norms of society” through terror & bloodshed.  Suddenly, Foster finds himself on a collision course with the experienced gunman forcing him to make a choice: to run or to stand up for what he believes in, to live or to fight for what is right…
 
Please join Onomatopoeia for this classic tale of good versus evil, of law & order versus intimidation & violence, of one man versus Liberty Valance.

​Most people do not think of a theatrical production when they think of a “Western”, they think of film. Movies such as “The Searchers”, “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, or even “Blazing Saddles”. For many the “Western” is a genre best known through the numerous films created in the golden age of Hollywood.
 
This is part of what makes Jethro Compton’s stage adaptation of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” so wonderful. The story of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is probably best known from the 1962 film by John Ford, starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin and Vera Miles. The film is considered a timeless classic, but, like many films, it does not entirely follow the original story by Dorothy M. Johnson. Playwright Jethro Compton has smartly based his theatrical production on her original story, allowing him to put a fresh coat of paint on this classic fable, dealing with timeless issues such as racism, guns, and violence in America. This enables the theatrical production to truly become something special: a live action “Western” that honors the classic film, speaks to modern issues and touches upon universal themes, such as love and forgiveness.
 
Though the play is consummately American, it was given its world premiere at London’s Park Theatre in May of 2014. This was followed by its American premiere at the Rubicon Theatre in Los Angeles in March of 2016. Now The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company is proud to be presenting the New York City premiere of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” this July at the Gene Frankel Theatre.
 

Note On Gun Safety For This Production

Out of an abundance of caution, The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company will not be using blank guns for this production of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance”. Instead, we will be using non-firing replica prop guns and sound effects for all gun fire.

The Gene Frankel Theatre has remained steadfast since Gene Frankel founded the theatre in 1949; finding and cultivating an audience that can share with us the discovery and excitement of theatre. Currently, the Gene Frankel Theatre is operated by Executive / Artistic Director Gail Thacker &  Artistic Director Thomas R. Gordon.  We are looking to give a home to artists that cultivate a theater that speaks not only of a socio-political change – but a personal change, the only truly manageable change that can lead to a new and better social, political, economic world. The work that has come from this venue for the last seventy-one years has had civil rights and progressive thinking at its core. Today this is more relevant and necessary than ever. We are looking to reach out to our community and invite its people in their whole to celebrate new thinking, new ideas and a deeply emotional positive change.