WILLITS, CA., 9/7/25 – “True West,” a dark comedy centered around family ties and the mystique of the American West, opens Friday at the Willits Community Theatre.
The play was written by the late Pulitzer Prize-winner Sam Shepard, who is best known for “Paris, Texas,” “The Right Stuff,” and “The Pelican Brief.”
It centers around two brothers: Austin (Schuyler Marcier), a Hollywood playwright, and Lee (Eric Layer), a drifter and thief. The two come together at their mother’s house, where Austin is working to finish a script.
Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head, exploring themes of identity, resentment, the American Dream, the fantasy of escaping it all through a Western film – and a toaster or two.
Joshua Sternberg makes his debut as director.
“It’s an adventurous ride for the audience in how it takes you through a tableau of emotions, from sadness to elation, humor, and even a little fear or anxiety,” Sternberg said about the play.
“True West” runs Sept. 12-28 at the Willits Community Theatre, 37 W. Van Lane, Willits. Tickets start at $20 and are available at https://www.wctperformingartscenter.org.