The Boxcar Cowboy

Conrad Beaubien presents a dramatic reading of The Boxcar Cowboy, his new one-act play.  Based on a true story, the piece follows the journey of a local Hillier boy who, one morning just before his 16th birthday and at the time of the Great Depression, hid away in a rail freight car and traveled the country east to west for thirty years afterward, living the life of a drifter. The performance is directed by John Burns and features actors Lisa Messina, David Miller & Micheline Cox, with music by Nicholas Peat and lighting by Phil Dowling.

Beaubien is the 2021 recipient of our Public Art grant. This grant program provides artist fees towards the realization of public art projects, and is supported through our Artist Fund. We found his unique, place-based approach compelling, and were encouraged by the project’s potential to help connect the audience to an aspect of our region’s history.

As Beaubien notes, “Storytelling is embedded within humanity. Where opportunities exist to recount real life past experiences of people, both local and broader audiences gain an understanding of the stuff that underpins a community’s past. On this occasion, audiences share the ground where the story is rooted”. 

The 45-minute performance will take place on November 13 at 7PM. Following in the “open air theatre” tradition, it will be held outdoors at the Garden Wall Performance Space (24 Station Road in Hillier). Audience members are advised to dress warmly and bring their own chair; a hot beverage will be provided. A brief Q&A session will follow the performance. Admission is free, and advance reservations are not required. Covid-19 public health protocols will be in effect.