Van Reenen: The cast who saved Liberty Valance

Prepare to embark on a journey into the heart of the American West with an enthralling tale of courage, honor and sacrifice.

Imagine, if you will, that you have been offered the chance to make the dream of a lifetime become a reality. That dream – the one you have only ever dared to wish for on a falling star – has been offered to you. Did your heart rate quicken with excitement?

Imagine the date you’ll receive it is only a couple months away. Nerves. Anticipation! You must be prepared. You have two months to do extensive research, memorize pages of content, and complete over 60 hours working in-person with others who are realizing this dream with you – plus more countless hours in prep work while alone. You and all your new team members tell everyone you know hoping to muster as much excitement and support as you can for the big day! And because you are so committed, you leap over every milestone ahead of schedule.

Then imagine being told just two and a half weeks before the illuminated date that your dream was not going to become a reality after all.

Your thoughts tumble as you try to grasp the news. Your heart free falls like sand through your fingers.

The scenario above was the reality for the cast of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” - a group of 13 Lubbockites who sat together in a room expecting to begin rehearsal but were instead told their months of passion and hard work were for naught. Two and a half weeks before the show was to open at Buddy Holly Hall, they were informed the powers-that-be had decided to pull the plug.

Misinformation swirled around the reasons. Two and a half weeks until opening night and there was no set, no costumes, no props, and no venue. A haze of broken hearts and broken trust settled like dust clinging to overturned chairs in an abandoned mansion.

The story doesn’t end there, because the folks who sat together receiving this news are a collection of incredible people. They are a motley crew from different communities all around Lubbock who have shown an inspiring degree of encouragement, support, and commitment to their fellows over these last few months. They selflessly gave so many exhausting, laborious hours to this shared project, all while also having day jobs and families. They believe in each other, and the beauty found in the story they were working so hard to bring to life. I know because I am honored to be a member of this cast.

“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is a beautiful story of sacrificial love overcoming reckless lawlessness in the American West. Looking around the room as we were being told of our end, I saw the spark that remained in our eyes. It was the spark of the Spirit of Lubbock, holding courage, audacity, faith. If the characters from the sun-burned, dusty town of Twotrees can overcome grief to stand up against villainy, so could we! This story was meant for us. This story is meant for Lubbock. Walking away from the commitment we made to ourselves, to each other, and to the community of Lubbock was not an option – not if we could save it.

This cast and crew of passionate storytellers rallied to make good on our promises as an independent cast of Lubbockites, and we have been blown away by the response to our beacons of need! Within a single week, community members and theatre groups from all over Lubbock have come to our aid offering use of their costuming and props, resources for set design and building, and so much more. Our own cast is beaming with talent and offerings that are being freely given on top of committing to another month and a half of time and energy to rework the entire show. It has been an experience filled with chaos and anxiety, but also heaping piles of humility and gratitude to receive such an outpouring of love and support from all who are giving of themselves to make this show come back to life. And the outcome is promised to be an exceptional theatrical experience for the people of Lubbock!

Many folks might know the story of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” presented in film in 1963 starring John Wayne, and they’ll see all their favorite moments in the play - with a couple new elements that grab you by the collar and pull you into the many deep emotions on stage. We humbly hope that Lubbock rallies, too, in support of a play that takes place in a dusty Western town with a cast that exemplifies the very Spirit of Lubbock. Yes, we have heart. We have passion. I daresay, we have insane talent. But what we have in spades is the audacity to carry on. We are The Cast Who Saved Liberty Valance.

The play: “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," written by Jethro Compton, Based on the short story by Dorothy M. Johnson

When: 7 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16 in Crickets Theater at Buddy Holly Hall.

Tickets available now for $20 at buddyhollyhall.com or at the Buddy Holly Hall Box Office. ($5 discounts for seniors and students)

Produced and performed by an Independent Cast of Lubbockites: The Cast Who Saved Liberty Valance

We will be sharing special thank you’s and updates along the journey on our social media – so follow along with us, partake in offering gratitude, help support, and share in the fun @TheCastWhoSavedLibertyValance (Facebook & Instagram)

Also made possible by The Wild Lark Books Fund: Supporting the Art of Storytelling - a certified nonprofit in Lubbock.

("The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is presented by Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. - www.concordtheatericals.com)

(Brianne van Reenen is a Lubbockite, storyteller and owner of Wild Lark Publishing.)

(Editor's note: Buddy Holly Hall officials confirmed the production of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance scheduled for June 30-July 2 will now run in August.)

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Van Reenen the cast who saved Liberty Valance in Lubbock