Tourist season in the Highland Lakes brings out the Burnet Gunfighters, who are looking to recruit saloon girls when the Hill Country Flyer disembarks most Saturdays in downtown Burnet. The loud, entertaining show that plays out at 408 E. League St. near the train tracks was voted a 2023 Locals Love Us Favorite Theater Production by The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners.
“I think it’s great,” said Sheriff “Tex” Copsetta when told of the vote results. “To me, that’s quite an honor."
Copsetta has been shooting at outlaw Cactus Jack for about 24 years now, arresting him time and again in front of around 200 visitors per performance. Female cast members chosen from the audience don fancy saloon dresses and are put in the middle of the action.
“It’s fun, family entertainment,” Copsetta said.
It’s also safe, even though real guns — loaded with blanks — are involved. Each show begins with a gun safety talk.
“We don’t want kids playing with guns,” Copsetta said. “We don’t want anyone to think because the guns are loaded with blanks that they are not dangerous. Guns are dangerous.”
The show, however, is not and usually ends with lots of laughs and new friendships, said the "sheriff," who always gets his man — as long as it’s Cactus Jack.
Also voted Favorite Theater Production were the Hill Country Community Theatre for the Marble Falls area and the Llano Community Theatre for the Kingsland/Llano area.
Flip through the digital 2023 Locals Love Us magazine for a full list of winners.
suzanne@thepicayune.com
2023 Locals Love Us Favorite Theater Production: Burnet Gunfighters
Sheriff 'Tex' Copsetta (foreground) takes a 'shot' at outlaw Cactus Jack during a Burnet Gunfighters show. The free public shows take place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays starting in March each year. File photo