A quiet, mysterious gunslinger settles in a Wyoming town, stirring up trouble for the characters of Karen Zacarías’ Shane, presented by the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA). The play, adapted from a 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, opens at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria on Feb. 12 and runs until March 1.
In a story keen on morals, sacrifice, honor, and courage, the audience will see protagonist Shane try to outrun his past in search of a better life.
“Shane’s presence stirs more than curiosity, it kicks up a storm between a ruthless rancher and the settlers and Native families holding their ground,” PCPA described in press materials. “As lines get drawn and bullets threaten to fly, Shane must choose between the peaceful life he longs for and the violent past he thought he’d left behind.”
Playwright Karen Zacarías is scheduled to attend as an honored guest during the theater’s final production of the play on March 1.
Tickets start at $25 and can be bought online at pcpa.org/shows or by calling the box office at (805) 922-8313. The Marian Theatre is located at 800 S. College Drive in Santa Maria.
This article appears in February 12 – February 19, 2026.