Goldhaven the Musical

An Off-Off-Broadway Developmental Production

The Dastardly Thornes v. The Town of Goldhaven

By Ben Holbrook & Nate Weida

In “The Dastardly Thornes v. The Town of Goldhaven,” a new musical by Ben Holbrook and Nate Weida, an audience of local cowboys pile into an old western theatre filled with bizarre and unsavory characters, where the local theatre troupe facilitates the trial of the century. Explore contradicting colonizing narratives and themes of toxicity, manifest destiny, beans, and the ownership of history, in a collection of truly ridiculous reenactments from the bloodiest shootout in the town’s history.

After the most rootinest, tootinest showdown in local history, the town of Goldhaven, Arizona has (despite its lack of infrastructure) decided to carry out due process and put the treacherous Thorne gang (a family of outlaws) on trial. The town theatre, being the largest building in town, becomes the hotspot for this legal spectacle, the only catch, per their agreement with the mayor, everything performed on their stage is liable to be scrutinized, dramatized and set to music by their artistic director. Pull up a chair, crack open a can of beans and rub shoulders with an audience full of outlaws, neer-do-wells, and horses with ill-intent, as the local acting troupe performs each testimony with gusto, slowly revealing the lascivious lies and troubling truths that led to the most violent shootout in town history. “Goldhaven,” an immersive, comedic western musical, by Ben Holbrook and Nate Weida, explores contradicting colonizing narratives and themes of toxicity, manifest destiny, beans, and the ownership of history.

Creative Team

By Ben Holbrook and Nate Weida

Director Benjamin Viertel

Choreographer lisa nevada

Producers Zeynep Akca and Joel Edwards

Production Stage Manager Eulàlia Comas

Assistant Stage Manager Sam Kersnick

Scenic/Prop Designer B Entsminger

Costume Designer Kyle J. Artone

Lighting Designer Nicholas Pollock

Fight Choreographer Carl Bindman

Production Assistant Craig Carroll

Cast

Goldenteef Leon Schwendener

Mah Thea Brooks

Lester Fred Rice

Steakhouse Gio Naarendorp

Fish Carl Bindman

Hummingbird Imari Hardon

White Winged Dove David Hernandez III

Woodpecker Laura Galindo

Grackle Mary Nepi

Nighthawk Caleb Christensen

Cactus Wren Nicholas Biddle

Roadrunner Nate Weida

Scenic Design

Music Samples from GOLDHAVEN!

Take a listen and get a sneak peek at what our show will sound like!

@ The Brick

July 21 - August 12

Purchase your tickets here!

Budget Info

Our fundraising goal is just over $22k.

This budget largely goes to paying our cast of twelve, as well as covering the costs of the designers, stage managers, and crew necessary to make this production happen. We are thrilled to be receiving our performance space through the Brick and access to much of our physical production through Materials for the Arts, which eliminates the two largest budget lines for an average New York production.

Join us!

If this work speaks to you, please consider donating to support this project. We're seeking gifts of $500-$1,000, but a gift of any amount would mean the world to me. Donations are fully tax deductible.

We are also accepting in-kind donations (rehearsal space, concession sponsorships) or meal donations as well. Reach out on Instagram if you would like to support us in this way!