Synopses: In Life and Death in Cowboy Country, Dos, a bounty hunter, shoots his quarry, Uno. Dos reflects upon the nature of killing and the "toll on the soul" it may or may not take. He thinks about the other men he's killed. Then, he realizes that Uno isn't quite dead yet. The two share a polite conversation, given the circumstances, until Dos takes the opportunity to ask the killed-but-not-dead Uno about what dying is like. Uno responds, after some prompting, that he's thinking about his daughters, and his horse, and how he wanted a better life for himself and his girls. He realizes that they probably didn't want all that though: they'd give it all up if he just came back. Uno dies. Dos searches for something to say for a long time; he never finds it. In The Deed, Julie has always wanted to die. Mack has always wanted to kill someone. Over the course of an evening, they discuss a mutually agreeable solution to their problems. Despite their differences, they come to enjoy each other’s company, but they’re both stuck to their courses. Eventually, Mack goes to kill Julie only to discover she doesn’t have it in her. Julie, however, discovers she does have a survival instinct and kills Mack in self-defense.

The Argument: Within the season’s theme, the festival highlights how legends are born—not only from the past, but from the artists who shape our future. Every great play, every timeless character, once had a first performance. By championing new work, we honor the legacy of theatre itself: a living, evolving art form where today’s creations become tomorrow’s unforgettable stories.