Open Space Arts: My Life as a Cowboy

Momina Shazad, Octavio Montes De Oca, and Ben Chalex

Open Space Arts Presents MY LIFE AS A COWBOY - Shania Twain Would Be Proud

TLDR: Bouncing between his two sets of friends, teenager Conor feels like he’s torn between either existing in his small town or breaking out of it. A feel good, coming-of-age story My Life as a Cowboy shows a moment in a young person’s life as they choose what’s important.

Octavio Montes De Oca and Momina Shazad,

Let’s Go Girls…To Open Space Arts

If you felt the call and immediately started mouthing the words to “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!,” then you would fit right in sitting in the audience at Open Space Arts where the country  hits are banging. All the preshow music is full of iconic hits from the likes of Ms. Twain herself, Queen Dolly Parton, and covers by the quintessential cowboy, Orville Peck. 

Complementing the vibe of the soundtrack, we have on one half of the stage a bedroom covered in pictures and posters of all these country artists and more. On the other half of the stage though is a tiled wall, swimming fins, and a sign declaring the pool rules. We can almost smell the chlorine when we jump over to the community pool on this opposite side.

My Life as a Cowboy bounces between these two sets as our main character, 17-year-old Conor played by Octavio Montes De Oca, wrestles with his discontent living in a small English suburb. On the one hand what’s so bad about staying in Croydon? On the other hand, he has a feeling inside of him he just can’t shake - he needs to be a country-western dancer! And where else is he going to get his big break than at the town festival talent show.

Octavio Montes De Oca and Ben Chalex

Friendship and Dancing Your Heart Out

But before he even can think about taking the stage, Conor needs some help first. Yelling through the bedroom door announcing her presence is Momina Shazad as his best friend, Zainab. She tells Conor when he’s being daft, but never lets him down when he needs her help.

Barging onto the pool floor, clipboard in hand, is Michael, played by Ben Chalex. Temporarily distracted from yelling at kids in the pool, Montes de Oca leans shyly against the back wall staring at his fellow lifeguard with what can only be described at hearteyes. Filled with dreams himself, this wannabe musician may have what Conor needs to win his stardom.

My Life as a Cowboy is filled with moments like this that remind us of our adolescence. The push and pull of old friends vs new ones. Moments of creating dances with your friends in your bedroom. The panic that rises when stage fright first hits and you have no idea why you decided to put yourself out there. But ultimately there’s that moment of do you need to move on to accomplish your dreams? Or is everything you need right in front of you?

Octavio Montes De Oca, Momina Shazad, and Ben Chalex

The After Party Thoughts

The first word that comes to my mind if you ask me to describe My Life as a Cowboy is cute. You can’t help but smile at Conor’s crush and his and Zainab’s matching fringed jackets. In my opinion, the main push and pull could have been stronger as Conor decides which direction he wants to take. We get that there’s tension as he tries to get closer with his new guitarist friend and his lifelong BFF feeling ousted, but things felt a bit rushed and that point was a little muddled. But overall, My Life as a Cowboy hits the notes about staying true to yourself and letting yourself grow with your chosen family and friends if you give them a chance to grow right alongside you. 

So if you’re in the mood for a play about friendship, growing up queer, and lots of dancing, this would be be a good fit for you!

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Momina Shazad, Octavio Montes De Oca, and Ben Chalex

When

Now through March 1, 2026

Where

Open Space Arts

1411 W. Wilson Ave.

Chicago, IL 60640

Runtime: 70min, no intermission

Tickets

$30+

Tickets can be purchased through the Open Space Arts website

Photos

Tadhg Mitchel

Find Allie and The After Party feature on Theatre in Chicago

Momina Shazad and Octavio Montes De Oca

CAST

Octavio Montes De Oca (Conor)

Momina Shazad (Zainab)

Ben Chalex (Michael)

CREATIVE

David G. Zak (Director)

Devin Meseke (Set Design)

Jade Andrews (Costume Design)

Ethan Brentlinger (Lighting Design)

Zach Stinnett (Sound Design)

Kevin Chlapecka (Choreography)

Jason Fleece (Dialect Coach)

Eliza Tryon (Stage Manager)

Baneet Chawla (Assistant Stage Manager)