Much Ado Out West

Book By: Wade Bradford
Play #: 8298
Pages: 48 pgs
Cast: 5 m, 9 w, extras

Pedro, Ben and Claude discover that while they've been away at the Civil War, Betty and the other womenfolk have been doing all of the roping and ranching. This Western romp is inspired from Shakespeare's hilarious battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedy, "Much Ado About Nothing." Despite how much the cowpokes and the ladies of the ranch taunt each other, love seems to be in the air. Claude falls head over heels in love with Winny, a lovely Southern belle, but Calamity Jane, a rambunctious tomboy, secretly longs for Claude's affections and is bent on stirring up a big bowl of trouble when she doesn't get her way. Meanwhile, Ben and Betty are arch-rivals, only happy when they are insulting each other...or is it just their way of masking their deeply guarded feelings for one another? This easy-to-produce, fun-to-perform show is filled with witty, Western-flavored dialogue, Shakespearian twists and turns, and lots of wild and untamed characters just waiting to come to life on your stage.

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Productions

SANTA BARBARA JUNIOR HIGH 2 Performance(s)
SANTA BARBARA, CA 11/21/2024
COLE COUNTY R-V HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
EUGENE, MO 10/15/2024
JUDITH MOUTAIN PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
LEWISTOWN, MT 8/10/2024
SPOTLIGHT COMMUNITY THEATRE 10 Performance(s)
TURNER, OR 5/9/2024
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ALMA CENTER, WI 4/3/2024
SERRANO HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PHELAN, CA 3/28/2024
KINGS PLAYERS, INC. 9 Performance(s)
LEMOORE, CA 11/3/2023
SUMITON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SUMITON, AL 5/4/2023
NUCLA HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
NUCLA, CO 4/28/2023
LEWISTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 1 Performance(s)
LEWISTOWN, MT 4/27/2023
DAVID STODDART SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CLINTON, CANADA 4/19/2023
MCKINNEY REPERTORY THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
MCKINNEY, TX 7/29/2022
PARADISE VALLEY CHRISTIAN PREPORATORY 1 Performance(s)
PHOENIX, AZ 4/22/2022
GLORIA DEI 3 Performance(s)
URBANDALE, IA 2/25/2022
ACADEMY OF THE HOLY FAMILY 3 Performance(s)
BALTIC, CT 11/19/2021
JCB HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 3 Performance(s)
PHOENIX, NY 11/4/2021
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACAD 1 Performance(s)
BINGHAMTON, NY 3/27/2020
VALENTINE PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
VALENTINE, NE 10/13/2019
VALENTINE PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
VALENTINE, NE 10/10/2019
MARKHAM WOODS MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LAKE MARY, FL 4/4/2019
OCHRE RIVER RECREATION COMMITT 3 Performance(s)
OCHRE RIVER, MB 11/10/2018
COFFEE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
MANCHESTER, TN 9/28/2018
COFFEE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MANCHESTER, TN 9/24/2018
LITTLE COLONEL PLAYERS 5 Performance(s)
CRESTWOOD, KY 7/19/2018
PROVIDENCE ACADEMY DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
GREEN BAY, WI 3/16/2018
BRUSH HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BRUSH, CO 2/1/2018
LITTLE RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LITTLE RIVER, KS 5/6/2017
KNOXVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KNOXVILLE, TN 4/28/2017
PINE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
PENSACOLA, FL 4/13/2017
MIDWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
INKSTER, ND 4/3/2017
SANTA BARBARA JUNIOR HIGH 2 Performance(s)
SANTA BARBARA, CA 11/17/2016
MIDDLETOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS , PA 11/12/2016
CHULA VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHULA VISTA, CA 11/3/2016
WMS DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
ST. LOUIS, MI 4/15/2016
FHS 2 Performance(s)
FLANDREAU, SD 4/9/2015
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL ASB 4 Performance(s)
WHITE SALMON, WA 3/19/2015
CCS DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
CONWAY, AR 3/19/2015
ORTEGA MIDDLE SCHOOL 6 Performance(s)
ALAMOSA, CO 3/15/2015
LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
COLUMBIANA, AL 3/6/2015
PARKWAY NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOO 2 Performance(s)
CREVE COEUR, MO 3/5/2015
BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WESTMORELAND, KS 11/30/2014
NIOBRARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LUSK, WY 11/21/2014
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WILLISTON, FL 5/9/2014
WEST HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MILLERSBURG, OH 5/2/2014
GOODRIDGE SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
GOODRIDGE, MN 4/24/2014
HOT SPRINGS SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
HOT SPRINGS, SD 3/13/2014
NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
NEW ULM, MN 3/7/2014
PARKWAY CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHESTERFIELD, MO 3/7/2014
JACKSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
JACKSONVILLE, AL 1/29/2014
TIMBERVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
FORT WORTH, TX 12/5/2013
RIDGWAY SECONDARY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RIDGWAY, CO 12/5/2013
ORTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ORTONVILLE, MN 11/22/2013
CASHTON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CASHTON, WI 10/24/2013
ST JOSEPHS CATHOLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CHALFONT ST PETER, BU 6/17/2013
FALCON COVE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WESTON, FL 5/15/2013
COLEBROOK ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
COLEBROOK, NH 4/26/2013
MALTA COMMUNITY THEATRE 4 Performance(s)
MALTA, MT 7/20/2012
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOO 1 Performance(s)
WILDOMAR, CA 5/19/2012
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOO 1 Performance(s)
WILDOMAR, CA 5/18/2012
WAUBAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WAUBAY, SD 4/27/2012
ABUNDANT LIFE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SHERWOOD, AR 4/19/2012
JACKSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
JACKSONVILLE, AL 4/5/2012
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
FAYETTEVILLE, NC 2/13/2012
SANTA BARBARA JUNIOR HIGH SCHO 2 Performance(s)
SANTA BARBARA, CA 11/18/2011
MERCY ACADEMY 4 Performance(s)
LOUISVILLE, KY 10/13/2011
DRAKE ANAMOOSE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DRAKE, ND 5/14/2011
CHISHOLM TRAIL ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
KEENE, TX 5/9/2011
KONA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
KAILUA-KONA, CA 3/15/2011
CHULA VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHULA VISTA, CA 11/18/2010
OLATHE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
OLATHE, CO 10/15/2010
MIDDLETOWN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MIDDLETOWN , OH 3/5/2010
HAY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HAY SPRINGS, NE 11/17/2009
MCAULEY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CINCINNATI, OH 11/13/2009
EASTERN SIERRA UNIFIED SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BRIDGEPORT, CA 6/10/2009
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SANTA ANA, CA 5/21/2009
UNION GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
UNION GROVE, WI 4/30/2009
WALKER HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WALKER, LA 4/30/2009
HAY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HAY SPRINGS, NE 4/17/2009
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
BLOOMINGTON, IN 4/6/2009
BROOKFIELD ISD 4 Performance(s)
BROOKFIELD, MO 12/15/2008
MCPHERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TRYON, NE 11/22/2008
ENCORE THEATRE 6 Performance(s)
INDEPENDENCE, MO 10/3/2008
OAKLAND HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
OAKLAND, OR 5/8/2008
PRINCETON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
PRINCETON, IL 4/18/2008
CHEBOYGAN AREA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHEBOYGAN, MI 2/29/2008
LAKES CLUBHOUSE THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, FL 2/25/2008
LAKES CLUBHOUSE THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, FL 2/23/2008
WYNFORD HS DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
BUCYRUS, OH 11/16/2007
JOHN OWENS JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
READING, MI 11/16/2007
SKYLINE SCHOOL USD 438 2 Performance(s)
PRATT, KS 11/8/2007
FRESNO CHRISTIAN HS 2 Performance(s)
FRESNO, CA 10/1/2007
CONRAD BALL MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GREELEY, CO 5/4/2007
CHEYENNE-EAGLE BUTTE HIGH SCH 2 Performance(s)
EAGLE BUTTE, SD 3/23/2007
ALGOMA CHRIST SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
KENT , MI 3/22/2007
LYMAN HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LYMAN, WY 3/15/2007
RICH HILL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RICH HILL, MO 12/9/2006
HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HARRISON, AR 11/15/2006
SHELTON SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DALLAS, TX 11/2/2006
LA PINE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LA PINE, OR 5/21/2006
THOMASTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
THOMASTON, ME 5/19/2006
ANACOCO HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ANACOCO, LA 5/8/2006
EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
EXCEL, AL 5/4/2006
VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ORDERVILLE, UT 5/4/2006
SOUTH JR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BOISE, ID 4/18/2006
PORTERVILLE USD 1 Performance(s)
PORTERVILLE, CA 4/15/2006
HARTLEY MELVIN SANBORN HS 2 Performance(s)
HARTLEY, IA 3/25/2006
PRAIRIE FARM 3 Performance(s)
PRAIRIE FARM, WI 3/24/2006
TYLER CONS HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SISTERSVILLE, WV 3/24/2006
GRANT COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
DRY RIDGE, KY 3/24/2006
CITY OF ATLANTA 2 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, KS 3/18/2006
GREENWOOD LAKES HIGH 2 Performance(s)
LAKE MARY, FL 3/15/2006
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 3 Performance(s)
WHEATON , MN 3/10/2006
WARREN AREA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WARREN, PA 2/17/2006
CITY OF ATLANTA 2 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, KS 2/12/2006
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
FRESNO, CA 1/16/2006
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
FRESNO, CA 12/3/2005
TINTIC HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EUREKA, UT 11/4/2005

Behind The Scenes

PLAYWRIGHT WADE BRADFORD

TALKS ABOUT "MUCH ADO OUT WEST"

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: I've always loved cowboys. I love the playful yet straightforward way Western folk communicate. And of course, as the title suggests, I was inspired by Shakespeare's classic comedy "Much Ado About Nothing." Benny and Betty are perfect characters for a cowboy story they exemplify the feisty spirit of the Old West.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

A: Hmmm. I would have to say when Benny is tricked by his friends. In just a few pages he goes from arrogant bachelor to love-struck fool. It's a fun and fast transformation.

 

Q: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER AND WHY?

A: I rather like Drake Turnabout. He's an infamous cattle rustler who has stolen hundreds of cattle. But he's also an ex-accountant not to mention a devoted vegetarian. He's a complex guy, really.

 

Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

A: Ever since reading G. B. Shaw's "Man and Superman," I've been interested in a classic-styled "Battle of the Sexes" comedy. Hopefully, this play highlights the hilarious ways in which men and women often misunderstand one another.

 

Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT IT?

A: This play offers a lot of room for additional cast members. I've tried to create a lot of interesting supporting characters, especially strong female roles. I think a good director and cast could have a terrific time making each character, whether minor or principle, truly unique and fun to watch. And while I'm at it, I'd like to thank all of the teachers, directors, cast and crew members who have been a part of my shows over the years. It's been wonderful knowing that you talented people are out there bringing the plays of Eldridge Publishing to life. Thank you all!