Will Boone and Randy Kennedy's "Red Gap" Radio Play Debuts at Chinati Weekend 2026
On October 9, 2026, at the Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas, artist Will Boone and writer Randy Kennedy engaged in a conversation about their play "Red Gap," which centers on the Santa Claus Bank Robbery that took place in Cisco, Texas, in 1927. The discussion, moderated by Nate Freeman from Vanity Fair, highlighted Boone, the artist in residence at the Chinati Foundation, and Kennedy, a former editor at the New York Times. Directed by Rob Weiner, the production featured performances from Terry Allen, Joe Harvey Allen, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, and Eileen Myles, with musical contributions from Chrome Chasm, Garrett T. Caps, and Leo Kennedy. The robbery, occurring on December 23, 1927, involved ex-con Marshall Ratliff and his partners, culminating in a fatal shootout and a significant manhunt. The event's broadcast spanned 30,000 square miles and was accessible on Mixcloud.
Key facts
- The opening talk of Chinati Weekend 2026 took place at the Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas, on October 9, 2026.
- Will Boone and Randy Kennedy co-authored "Red Gap," a play about the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery in Cisco, Texas.
- The play was broadcast live on Marfa Public Radio on October 9, 2026, at 11 p.m.
- The Santa Claus Bank Robbery occurred on December 23, 1927, at the First National Bank in Cisco, Texas.
- The robbery was carried out by Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Louis Davis.
- Police Chief G. E. Bedford, Deputy George Carmichael, and robber Louis Davis died in the shootout.
- Marshall Ratliff was lynched on November 19, 1929, marking Texas's last recorded mob killing.
- The play was directed by Rob Weiner and featured performances by Terry Allen, Joe Harvey Allen, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, and Eileen Myles.
Entities
Artists
- Will Boone
- Randy Kennedy
- Nate Freeman
- Marshall Ratliff
- Henry Helms
- Robert Hill
- Louis Davis
- G. E. Bedford
- George Carmichael
- David Hammons
- Rob Weiner
- Terry Allen
- Joe Harvey Allen
- Jimmy Dale Gilmore
- Eileen Myles
- Chrome Chasm
- Garrett T. Caps
- Leo Kennedy
- Conrad Hilton
Institutions
- Chinati Foundation
- Crowley Theater
- Marfa Public Radio
- Vanity Fair
- The New York Times
- First National Bank
- Glasstire
- Karma
Locations
- Marfa
- Texas
- United States
- Cisco
- Highland Avenue
- South Carolina
- West Texas