The Trial of Jack McCall is the one show every Deadwood history fan hears about first. It is a stage play, based on the impromptu trial held the day after Wild Bill Hickok's murder in 1876, and it covers the shooting and the capture of Jack McCall, nicknamed Crooked Nose, in front of Saloon No. 10. The Deadwood Alive troupe performs it, and the town's tourism pages note that the show has been staged in Deadwood since 1924, making it one of the longest-running pieces of Wild West theater in the country. What sets it apart is audience participation. Visitors are cast as extras in the trial, so you may find yourself on the jury, in the crowd or in a bit part, and the troupe handles it with humor. The show is described as family-friendly, runs for a modest ticket price and brings the story to life in a way that a museum plaque cannot. The historical outline is dramatic: McCall shot Hickok from behind during a poker game, was tried by an improvised miners' court and acquitted, was later retried in Yankton, and was ultimately hanged. The play compresses that into a lively, accessible evening.
Timing and tickets deserve a little planning. The show runs Monday through Saturday in peak season, with an early-evening capture scene on Historic Main Street followed shortly afterward by the trial itself. Tickets are sold in advance online and by phone, and also at the door and at the information chuckwagon on Main Street, with advance purchases needing a day's notice. Prices are modest and have separate rates for seniors, adults and children, with the youngest free, but they change, so confirm the current figures before you go.
Seasonality is the key caveat. This is a summer-oriented show, and the schedule outside peak season is limited or absent, so do not assume it will run on a winter weekend. Check the troupe's current schedule when you plan your dates. The same troupe performs other shows around town, including free Main Street shootouts, so if the Trial is not running, there is usually another piece of live theater to fill the evening.
Who will like it most? Families with school-age children, history buffs who enjoy a dramatized version of events and anyone who likes interactive theater. It is less suitable for visitors who dislike audience participation, though you can generally stay in the audience without a big role. Pair it with a visit to Mount Moriah Cemetery to see the graves of Hickok and the others in the story, and with a walk past Saloon No. 10, where the shooting is remembered.
What to expect
The experience
A staged courtroom drama based on the 1876 trial of Wild Bill Hickok's killer, with a capture scene on Main Street and audience members cast as extras.
Best time
Summer evenings in peak season, Monday through Saturday.
How long
Roughly an hour, including the scene on Main Street.
Tips
Buy tickets in advance if you can, arrive early for a good seat and check the troupe's current schedule.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and history fans who want the Hickok story told as theater.
- Families
- Yes. The show is family-friendly and kids often enjoy being part of the jury.
- Couples
- A fun, light evening before dinner.
- Pair with
- Mount Moriah Cemetery, the Main Street shootouts and Saloon No. 10.
- Time needed
- About ninety minutes including arrival and the capture scene.
Good questions
What is the Trial of Jack McCall?+
A stage play based on the impromptu trial held the day after Wild Bill Hickok was shot in 1876, performed by the Deadwood Alive troupe.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, the show is described as family-friendly, and children can take part as extras.
When does it run?+
It runs Monday through Saturday in peak season, with limited or no performances outside the summer. Check the current schedule.
How do I buy tickets?+
Online or by phone in advance, or at the door and at the information chuckwagon on Main Street. Advance purchases need about a day's notice.
Do I have to take part?+
Audience members are cast as extras, but the troupe is good-natured about it and you can usually stay in the audience if you prefer.
