Cowgirl Heaven tells the lively, colorful story of five amazing cowgirls at a time when female daredevils rode bulls, wrestled steers and competed with men in leading rodeos.

The fictionalized characters were inspired by real-life rodeo stars who developed phenomenal talents and performed throughout the world in the 1920s. Some were as glamorous and famous as movie stars. As we follow the careers of the play’s five extraordinary characters, they reveal their dreams, sacrifices, triumphs and hard-learned lessons.

Laramie Tiller, an orphan, is a young telegraph operator who wants to make a name for herself and escape a painful past. Chaps Purcell, the female boss and a champion roper, will do anything to take the show to Madison Square Garden. Maude Mahoney, fresh off the boat from Ireland, illiterate and poor, can ride like the wind. Amarillo Rose is the sweetheart of the rodeo, a champion bull rider as feminine as Mary Pickford. Minx Carter, a silent loner, is tough enough to wrestle steers to the ground.

Among the 15 original songs in the musical are the high-spirited Rodeo Life and That’s a Lotta Bull. Minx sings that she’s a Tough Girl, and Rose counters with Cowgirl Cute. In a beautiful Irish ballad Maude laments that she’ll be Old at Thirty, and Chaps inspires them with My Dream. Laramie is philosophical in That’s the Breaks.

Award-winning playwright Dorothy Velasco is the author of over 30 produced plays, including the musicals Miracle In Memphis (published by Samuel French) and Ever the Dragon, developed by University Theatre. Her most recent full-length play was Pigs In Love. She co-authored the feature film, Raising Flagg, starring Alan Arkin. The New York-based composer, Karl Mansfield, has composed and conducted music for productions in many leading theatre companies, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

"Cowgirl Heaven" Auditions

Auditions for Cowgirl Heaven have concluded. Please see our Auditions page for upcoming auditions for other VLT shows!

Show Dates

Box Office opens Friday, August 12. Phone: (541) 344-7751.
Hours: Wed. through Sat. 2:00-5:30 PM and ONE Hour before each performance (7:00 PM, or Sunday Matinees 1:00 PM).

Cast List

Production Staff