With smoking guns in hand, the CHS9 theater department delivers the Wild West with its upcoming production of “The Wild Bunch Women” by Nelly E. Cueller-Garcia.

Performances will take place April 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. in the CHS9 Dome. Set in the old west, the play follows protagonist Pearl Hart and her group of female outlaws as they attempt to start over in a small town, only to uncover past secrets and unexpected challenges.

The show features a double cast, with seventh period Theater Appreciation B performing on Wednesday and eighth period Theater Appreciation B performing on Thursday.

Freshman Henry Mink plays town priest Father Santiago.

“While [seventh period] has our show put on by our cast, and eighth period has their own cast that performs on a different day,” Mink said. “Sometimes we take inspiration from their blocking and they will take some of ours.”

Singdha Koti and Chloe Booker-Flynn alternate in the lead role of Pearl Hart.

“She is a very studious, confident and mysterious woman,” Koti said. “She’s a natural leader, and I channel that energy by thinking of what she has been through.”

Norah Ireland plays supporting character Abigail.

“She grew up mostly by herself, learning how to make ends meet until she found Pearl,” Ireland said. “My favorite scenes are with Pearl because it is fun getting to do them with one of my good friends.”

Theater director Eugenia Montoya said the students have grown in their acting abilities over the course of the year, starting with a review of the basics and progressing to more advanced acting like characterization, character walk, objectives and relationships. She said she’s seen them apply all of that in their acting.

““What I really liked about this play was that it was female centered and also it was written by a Texas theater teacher,” Montoya said. “It had good storytelling, that’s something we do in theater: we tell stories.”

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