The Chicago Cowboy

West Side Chicago, 1940. A pianist plays jazz in a hotel lobby.

A personal and political story told through the lens of one family, The Chicago Cowboy explores the close and fraught relationship between the black and Jewish communities in the 30s and 40s.

Sam is a hotel owner, and part-time cowboy who rides in rodeos with the Kosher Cowboys. The only thing he loves more than a good steak is his wife and daughter.

Earl arrived from the South as a young man looking for a better life, and found his way to being manager of the Regency, Rush St.

Infused with live jazz, this is an upbeat and insightful tale.

Photos from our premiere

The Chicago Cowboy premiered at the Rosemary Branch in May 2013.
We were thrilled to be able to put together a fantastic team to make it happen.

Creatives:
Director & Co-producer	Leah Townley
Musical Director & Co-producer	Peter Michaels
Writer	Katty Pearce
Designer	Ele Slade
Lighting Designer	Christopher Nairne
Lighting Operator	Ceri Benjamin
Co-producer	Daniel Ball
Cast:
Alice	Elisa King
Doris	Jodyanne Richardson
Earl	Marcus Adolphy
Sam	Lloyd Morris
Joe / Pianist	Ashley Henry

Read review of our premiere in the Hackney & Islington Gazette

R&D week, 6th - 10th August 2012

We recently conducted an R&D week for our new production, The Chicago Cowboy, rehearsing in an disused office in Southwark, made possible through charity Healthy Planet and theatre company Tangled Feet.

At the end of the week, we had a work-in-progress showing for a small audience of colleagues and friends at the Actor's Center, Covent Garden.

It was a wonderful opportunity to see great actors play out the scenes we had been imagining as well as working with them to develop the characters. We also had a chance to explore our storytelling style for this project, and particularly to see how we could weave live music into the story and bring the era to life.




Images from our work-in-progress showing:















Some photos of rehearsals:



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