Showdown at the Hoedown
It's the late 1890s, and the little town of Astaire, Wyoming, ready to enter the new century as the "Paris of the Plains," has just elected the first female sheriff west of the Mississippi! Daisy Dandelion vows to bring about law and order with just a law book and "good ol' female common sense." The mayor, who's always looking at the “big picture," and his town council are holding a hoedown in honor of Daisy, who loves to dance. But this celebration is tap-dancing with trouble! One young woman, in a burst of defiance against husbands ruling the roost, encourages the ladies to march around the barn crowing like roosters, even though they don’t have a parade permit! Next it’s revealed that Daisy is a notorious outlaw, and there’s no way to put a good spin on that! Then suddenly the infamous Bullmoose Brothers arrive on the scene. Will these yahoos looking for a showdown be out-danced by Daisy? Can the mysterious Widow Astaire shed any light on the situation? And finally, who will win the pie baking contest? Because if it’s not the mayor’s wife, he may be sleeping in the barn!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT GEFF MOYER TALKS ABOUT
“SHOWDOWN AT THE HOEDOWN”
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: My first melodrama was so well-received that I wanted a second.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: My favorite characters are Rose, because of her caustic nature (I can relate to it) Petunia, for her constant remarks, yet never raising her head from her knitting and especially the Widow Astaire, simply because so many of her lines are so off the wall.
Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: The characters are not based on anyone I know. They simply came from the twisted reaches of my mind but people who have seen the show tell me how they identify with certain characters or how a character reminds them of someone they know.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: What I wanted to achieve with this play was a fun piece that was "sort of" a musical, but without any singing. The dancing should be lively and vibrant and fun. And, ultimately, it is the dancing, and the town's reputation for dancing, that saves everything.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
A: Have fun! And watch for another one!