Yee-haw! ‘Cowboys’ riding onto WICA stage
Published 1:30 am Friday, October 10, 2025
Saddle up, partner. An adaptation of “Cowboys Are My Weakness” is galloping onto the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts stage.
Originally written in 1992, the book of the same title by Pam Houston contains a collection of short stories of heroines and their wild, untameable men. The WICA production, which opened Friday and runs through Oct. 25, features four of these stories – “How to Talk to a Hunter,” “Selway,” “For Bo,” and of course, the titular “Cowboys Are My Weakness.”
Director Myra Platt is no stranger to the show, having directed a 1999 production at the Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle. While reprising her role as director, she adapted this latest production for Whidbey audiences, “showcasing women navigating desire and independence against the vast Western backdrop,” according to a press release.
WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan said the play is a “dynamic” collaboration with Book-It Repertory Theatre.
“This partnership is the perfect example of arts organizations coming together to spread awareness for work, proving we are stronger when we come together,” Duncan said.
Several actors play more than one character in the vignettes. The cast includes two Equity actors, Hilary Pickles and Hailey Henderson, professional performers who are members of the Actors’ Equity Association. Others in the cast include Alyssa Keene, April Jane Herrild, Miles Harrison, David Mayer and Max Cole-Takanikos. In addition, Whidbey musicians Barbara Dunn and Beverly Heising will accompany the performance with live music.
The production incorporates dialogue and narration, painting a vivid picture for audiences as the characters explore love, longing and life on the iconic frontier, according to the press release.
“These four stories, interwoven into one production, provide audiences with a bold take on the modern West through the eyes of women — who have largely been overlooked in the Western and cowboy genres,” Duncan said. “We see these women navigate that world, question the stereotypes and take control of their own stories.”
A specialty cocktail will be offered throughout the run of “Cowboys Are My Weakness.” The author herself, Houston, plans to attend the closing show on Oct. 25.
Performances run Thursdays through Sundays, with Thursdays designated as “pay what you can” days. Visit wicaonline.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
