After Jones arrived in New York, Schmidt and he wrote a few songs for the musical and made a demo (but gave up since they could not acquire the rights).
[2] The show premiered on February 16, 2001, at the Irving Arts Center in Irving, Texas, with a cast consisting of Randy Tallman (Pap Raider), Stan Graner (Amos K. "Buzzey" Hale), Julie Johnson (Hannie Raider), Ryan Appleby (Red Ike), Steve Barcus (Black Ike), Jonathan Beck Reed (Texas), Richard Estes (The Verdigree Marshall), Rick Prada (Neb, the Jailer), Jerry Haynes (Judge Snodgrass), and Lois Sonnier (Miz Foster).
The show opened Off-Broadway at the York Theatre on November 29, 2001, and starred Jennifer Allen (Mitz Foster), Ryan Appleby (Red Ike), G.W.
Bailey (Pap Raider), Steve Barcus (Black Ike), Tom Flagg (Ned the Nailer), James Hindman (Amos K. "Buzzey" Hale), Julie Johnson (Hannie), Jonathan Beck Reed (Texas), and William Ryall (The Vedigree Marshall).
Act One On a small, traveling tent show stage like the ones that used to tour rural Texas during the early part of the twentieth century, Uncle Billy Barlow (G.W.
Opening over, Uncle Billy steps into his role as Pap Raider while several of the others join him in a small “covered wagon” made of old-fashioned cut-out scenery.
As the two look-alike cousins, Red Ike and Black Ike (Ryan Appleby & Steve Barcus) kneel in the shadows at the side and make the sound of horses’ hoofs, Pap sings ROADSIDE, joined first by Buzzey (James Hindman), a dried-up little farmer who is following on foot, and then by Pap’s daughter Hannie (Julie Johnson), a lusty western woman with a romantic heart and a wicked sense of humor.
The Ikes come rushing in with news of a crazy ring-tail-tooter of a cowboy named Texas who got drunk and tore up the town of Verdigree.
Pap and Hannie are very excited, expecting to see a miraculous fight, but Texas is staring straight into the Marshal’s rifle, and he is thoroughly hungover.
On the streets of Verdigree, Neb, the jailer, (Tom Flagg) and Miz Foster, the town busybody (Jennifer Allen) sing of the virtues of law and order as they watch a stream of people go by: first, Texas and Marshal, then Pap and the Ikes on their way to rescue Texas, and finally Hannie, followed by Buzzey, all rushing to the courthouse (PEACEFUL LITTLE TOWN).
Texas’ spirits are somewhat lifted at the sight of the demolished courtroom, but the Marshal, backed up by Neb and Miz Foster, tries to convince him to mend his ways and learn how to TOE THE LINE.
In the wild courtroom scene that follows, Pap and the Ikes do manage to set Texas free, but Hannie stops him before he can escape.
I’m who you are!” Finally, as even the disillusioned Buzzey joins the townspeople in an improvised wedding song (PEACEFUL LITTLE TOWN, Reprise), Texas and Hannie are married by the Marshal.