News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

True West 1980

Opened: December 23, 1980
Closing: January 11, 1981

True West - 1980 Off-Broadway History , Info & More

Joseph Papp Public Theater/Martinson Hall
425 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10003

A finalist for the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a nominee for three 2000 Tony Awards, including Best Play - This American classic explores alternatives that might spring from the demented terrain of the California landscape. Sons of a desert-dwelling alcoholic and a suburban wanderer clash over a film script. Austin, the achiever, is working on a script he has sold to producer Sal Kimmer when Lee, a demented petty thief, drops in. He pitches his own idea for a movie to Kimmer, who then wants Austin to junk his bleak, modern love story and write Lee's trashy Western tale.


Get True West Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

Warehouse Theatre To Honor Late Playwright Sam Shepard With Repertory Festival Featuring TRUE WEST and BURIED CHILD
by BWW News Desk - Sep 22, 2018


Warehouse Theatre will present The Sam Shepard Festival, a theatre repertory series honoring the American playwright Sam Shepard. The Festival will include fully staged productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Buried Child, the Tony Award winning play True West, and the semi-autobiographical play Cowboy Mouth, as well as readings on Curse of the Starving Class, Heartless, and Fool for Love.

Warehouse Theatre To Honor Late Playwright Sam Shepard With Repertory Festival Featuring TRUE WEST and BURIED CHILD
by BWW News Desk - Aug 31, 2018


Warehouse Theatre will present The Sam Shepard Festival, a theatre repertory series honoring the American playwright Sam Shepard. The Festival will include fully staged productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Buried Child, the Tony Award winning play True West, and the semi-autobiographical play Cowboy Mouth, as well as readings on Curse of the Starving Class, Heartless, and Fool for Love.

Warehouse Theatre To Honor Late Playwright Sam Shepard With Repertory Festival Featuring TRUE WEST and BURIED CHILD
by Stephi Wild - Aug 18, 2018


Warehouse Theatre will present The Sam Shepard Festival, a theatre repertory series honoring the American playwright Sam Shepard. The Festival will include fully staged productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Buried Child, the Tony Award winning play True West, and the semi-autobiographical play Cowboy Mouth, as well as readings on Curse of the Starving Class, Heartless, and Fool for Love.

Magic Theatre Celebrates the Life of Playwright-in-Residence Sam Shepard
by BWW News Desk - Aug 1, 2017


Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright Sam Shepard passed away on Thursday, July 27 of complications from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Shepard spent a decade as playwright-in-residence at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, where he premiered his masterworks Buried Child (Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 1979), True West (1980), and Fool for Love (1983, starring Ed Harris and Kathy Baker). Shepard returned to Magic in 2000 to direct the world premiere of his new work The Late Henry Moss, starring Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, and Cheech Marin.

Centenary Stage Company to Welcome Sam Shepard & Stephen Rae, 11/17
by Tyler Peterson - Nov 14, 2014


A Public Interview with Stephen Rea and Sam Shepard will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014 in the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center, 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown. The event is free and open to the public.

Magic Theatre Extends BURIED CHILD Through 10/13
by Tyler Peterson - Sep 24, 2013


Magic Theatre is thrilled to announce that audiences will have an additional week to experience Sam Shepard'sBuried Child. Originally scheduled to close on October 6, Buried Child adds 6 more performances and will now close on October 13.

NVA Presents SIMPATICO, 3/2-27
by BWW News Desk - Mar 2, 2011


New Village Arts has built quite a reputation for its productions of the work of one of America's greatest dramatists, Sam Shepard. To celebrate Season 10, NVA presents a Shepard favorite. SIMPATICO blends all of Shepard's trademarks with an unbelievable sense of humor in a film-noir style. The plot deals with a horse-racing scheme run amuck and follows two former best friends through blackmail, intrigue, betrayal and redemption and includes bourbon, Buicks and a Kentucky Derby dress. Equity actor Mike Sears (Carter) and NVA Ensemble Member Manny Fernandes (Vinnie) bring the two friends to life and are joined by NVA Ensemble Member Jack Missett (Simms), Kelly Iversen (Kelly), Terri Park (Rosie) and Kim Strassburger (Cecilia). Watch unbelievable actors tackle extreme situations under the direction of award-winning director and NVA Ensemble Member Lisa Berger, known for her ability to take edgy stories and tell them with compassion, humanity and humor. SIMPATICO will be playing at New Village Arts Theatre (2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village) from March 2 - 27, 2011. The official opening night is March 5 at 8 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.NewVillageArts.org or by calling 760-433-3245.

NVA Presents SIMPATICO, 3/2-27
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 26, 2011


New Village Arts has built quite a reputation for its productions of the work of one of America's greatest dramatists, Sam Shepard. To celebrate Season 10, NVA presents a Shepard favorite. SIMPATICO blends all of Shepard's trademarks with an unbelievable sense of humor in a film-noir style. The plot deals with a horse-racing scheme run amuck and follows two former best friends through blackmail, intrigue, betrayal and redemption and includes bourbon, Buicks and a Kentucky Derby dress. Equity actor Mike Sears (Carter) and NVA Ensemble Member Manny Fernandes (Vinnie) bring the two friends to life and are joined by NVA Ensemble Member Jack Missett (Simms), Kelly Iversen (Kelly), Terri Park (Rosie) and Kim Strassburger (Cecilia). Watch unbelievable actors tackle extreme situations under the direction of award-winning director and NVA Ensemble Member Lisa Berger, known for her ability to take edgy stories and tell them with compassion, humanity and humor. SIMPATICO will be playing at New Village Arts Theatre (2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village) from March 2 - 27, 2011. The official opening night is March 5 at 8 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.NewVillageArts.org or by calling 760-433-3245.

Theatre For A New Audience Extends NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, Closes 11/28
by BWW News Desk - Nov 28, 2010


The New York premiere of Notes from Underground, adapted for the stage by the OBIE Award-winning actor Bill Camp and Robert Woodruff, is extended through Sunday, November 28.

Theatre for a New Audience Presents NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND, Opens 11/7
by BWW News Desk - Nov 7, 2010


Theatre for a New Audience, in association with Baryshnikov Arts Center, presents the New York premiere of Yale Repertory Theatre's production of Notes from Underground, the revolutionary novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Notes from Underground is adapted for the stage by the OBIE Award-winning actor Bill Camp, and Robert Woodruff. It is directed by Mr. Woodruff and stars Mr. Camp as the Underground Man.

Theatre For A New Audience Extend NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND 11/28
by Gabrielle Sierra - Nov 5, 2010


The New York premiere of Notes from Underground, adapted for the stage by the OBIE Award-winning actor Bill Camp and Robert Woodruff, is extended through Sunday, November 28.

Theatre for a New Audience Presents NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND, Opens 11/7
by Gabrielle Sierra - Sep 23, 2010


Theatre for a New Audience, in association with Baryshnikov Arts Center, presents the New York premiere of Yale Repertory Theatre's production of Notes from Underground, the revolutionary novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Notes from Underground is adapted for the stage by the OBIE Award-winning actor Bill Camp, and Robert Woodruff. It is directed by Mr. Woodruff and stars Mr. Camp as the Underground Man.

Second Thought Theatre Presents A LIE OF THE MIND, 10/29-11/14
by BWW News Desk - Nov 14, 2009


In A Life of the Mind, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard depicts the aftermath of a romance torn apart by spousal abuse and the war that breaks out between two families. A Lie of the Mind depicts the many ways that the mind protects the heart.

Second Thought Theatre Presents A LIE OF THE MIND, 10/29-11/14
by Aimee Savoth - Oct 28, 2009


In A Life of the Mind, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard depicts the aftermath of a romance torn apart by spousal abuse and the war that breaks out between two families. A Lie of the Mind depicts the many ways that the mind protects the heart.

RIALTO CHATTER: Sam Shepard Arrested For DUI
by Eddie Varley - Jan 4, 2009


The Huffington Post is reporting that Police in Illinois have stated that actor and playwright Sam Shepard has been arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving. Police Lt. Mark Kotte says officers stopped Shepard early Saturday morning, January 3rd in the central Illinois town of Normal.

Bond and Woodruff Team Up for CHAIR, Opening 12/11 at The Duke
by Faetra Petillo - Oct 30, 2008


Acclaimed British playwright Edward Bond, will reunite with acclaimed American director Robert Woodruff for Theatre for a New Audience's New York premiere production of Mr. Bond's Chair featuring Stephanie Roth Haberle beginning previews Friday, December 5, at 8:00pm for an opening Wednesday, December 11, at 8:00pm for a run through December 28 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project, 229 West 42nd Street.

'Kicking A Dead Horse' Closes At The Public 8/10
by Faetra Petillo - Aug 10, 2008


The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) announced that KICKING A DEAD HORSE, a new play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard and featuring Tony Award nominee Stephen Rea, has extended its run by two weeks. Following a sold-out run at Ireland's Abbey Theatre, it will preview at The Public on Wednesday, June 25 and run through Sunday, August 10 with an official press opening on Monday, July 14 at 7 PM.

Kicking A Dead Horse Begins Previews At Public 6/25
by BWW News Desk - Jun 25, 2008


The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) will begin previews for Sam Shepard's new play KICKING A DEAD HORSE on Wednesday, June 25. Directed by Shepard, KICKING A DEAD HORSE will run through Sunday, August 10 with an official press opening on Monday, July 14 at 7 PM.

Kicking A Dead Horse Begins Previews At Public 6/25
by BWW News Desk - Jun 13, 2008


The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) will begin previews for Sam Shepard's new play KICKING A DEAD HORSE on Wednesday, June 25. Directed by Shepard, KICKING A DEAD HORSE will run through Sunday, August 10 with an official press opening on Monday, July 14 at 7 PM.

The Public Announces 'Kicking A Dead Horse' Extension
by BWW News Desk - May 15, 2008


The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) announced that KICKING A DEAD HORSE, a new play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard and featuring Tony Award nominee Stephen Rea, has extended its run by two weeks. Following a sold-out run at Ireland's Abbey Theatre, it will preview at The Public on Wednesday, June 25 and run through Sunday, August 10 with an official press opening on Monday, July 14 at 7 PM.

Public Theater to Present New Play by Sam Shepard
by BWW News Desk - May 12, 2008


The Public Theater concludes its 2007-2008 downtown season with the U.S. premiere of 'Kicking a Dead Horse', a new play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard and featuring Tony Award nominee Stephen Rea.

True West History

Other Productions of True West

1980   Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
1982   Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway

Videos