The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets is a self-billed "musical fable" in the avant-garde tradition created through the collaboration of theatre director Robert Wilson, musician Tom Waits and writer William S. Burroughs.

The story is based on the German folktale "Der Freischütz", which had previously adapted as an opera by Carl Maria von Weber.

[1] Only the dialogue was translated by the dramaturg and key collaborator of the entire creative process, Wolfgang Wiens; the songs were performed in English.

In order to marry, Wilhelm must prove his worth as a hunter and gain her father's approval, but, as "a man of pen and ink," his shot is lousy and his hopes of marriage worsen.

The play premiered in Finnish in October 1998 by the Helsinki City Theatre, translated by Markku Salo, directed by Anneli Mäkelä, with a live Devil's Rubato Band.

The band, The Magic Bullets, was headed by Bent Clausen and David Coulter and featured Thomas Bloch, Terry Edwards, Caroline Hall, Jack Pinter, Rory McFarlane, and Kate St. John.

The show opened in May 2004 at London's Barbican Arts Centre, and then transferred to San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater later that year.

The production was remounted in Vancouver in January 2008 at the Arts Club Theatre, Granville Island stage, co-presented as part of the annual PuSh Festival.

Produced by the Companyia Gataró starting December 2009, it was performed by Oscar Martínez (Wilhelm), Ferran Frauca (Robert), Bealia Guerra (Kätchen), Jordi Vidal (Pegleg), Muntsa Rius (Anne) and Frank Capdet (Bertram), plus special guest acting by Xavier Ribera-Vall (Kuno).