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News: Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail

The Wittliff Collections at Texas State announce Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail

By Matt Flores
Office of Media Relations
September 30, 2015

FORT WORTH, Texas – For the first time ever, the biggest stars of the Lonesome Dove miniseries – including Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston, Ricky Schroder and Glenne Headly – will join other members of the cast and crew for a memorable reunion on March 31, 2016, at River Ranch in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.

The star-studded gala is the centerpiece of a months-long celebration called the Lonesome Dove Trail, which will feature a wide-ranging series of events celebrating the beloved miniseries and the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Larry McMurtry. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will introduce a new generation to the legendary Lonesome Dove story and bring the production to life for die-hard fans.

Lonesome Dove is a true American experience, and people have identified with it for decades because they believe they themselves have come from characters like Gus and (Woodrow) Call,” said Bill Wittliff, screenwriter and co-executive producer of the Lonesome Dove miniseries. “Qualities like bravery, friendship and humor matter to us, and we like to see those qualities in other people.”

The six-hour miniseries, a gripping story of two aging Texas Rangers on a 2,500-mile cattle drive from the Rio Grande to Montana, originally aired in 1989. It won seven Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Peabody Award, among others.

The Lonesome Dove Reunion will include special appearances and remarks by the cast and crew, live musical performances, a silent and live auction, a tribute to author Larry McMurtry, a gourmet dinner and more. The Lonesome Dove Reunion is a ticketed event benefitting the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. Reunion seating is limited.

The Lonesome Dove Trail, which kicks off Jan. 15, 2016, includes museum exhibitions, a miniseries screening, panel discussions and a symposium. The activities offer a rare opportunity to explore the many facets of the legendary Western. Held at multiple locations in Fort Worth and one venue in Albany, Texas, the Lonesome Dove Trail will feature costumes, props, photographs and other items on loan from the extensive Lonesome Dove Production Archive, which is permanently held at the Wittliff Collections. Activities along the Lonesome Dove Trail are open to the public.

The Lonesome Dove Trail is presented by Texas State and hosted though a collaboration with prominent cultural and educational institutions and organizations including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Cattle Raisers Museum, Center for the Study of the Southwest (Texas State University), Fort Worth Library, Lone Star Film Society, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Sid Richardson Museum, Sundance Square, Texas Christian University and The Old Jail Art Center. The title sponsor of the Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail is Frost Bank.

“With these panels and exhibits and the reunion gala, it gives people an opportunity to revisit Gus and Call, Clara, Lorena and Elmira – and people can take whatever part of it they most identify with,” said Wittliff. “It’s a way for them to be on the trail with those who made it.”

For more information, visit www.LonesomeDoveReunion.com. To receive regular updates on related events and activities, follow Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail on Facebook and #lonesomedovereunion on Twitter.

ABOUT THE WITTLIFF COLLECTIONS

The Wittliff Collections, located in the Alkek Library at Texas State University, are devoted to collecting, preserving, and sharing the creative legacy of the Southwest through literature, photography, film, and music. The Lonesome Dove Reunion will raise private dollars to support the Wittliff Tomorrow Fund, a special reserve dedicated to the acquisition of important collections essential to the Wittliff Collections’ mission of public service. Find out more at www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu.

ABOUT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Texas State University is a member of The Texas State University System and enrolls more than 38,000 students at campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. It is the state’s fourth-largest university and offers 97 undergraduate, 88 master’s and 12 doctoral degrees through its nine colleges. The institution has been designated an Emerging Research University in Texas and a federal Hispanic-Serving Institution.