Do you own six or more sex toys? If you live in Texas, that technically used to be a felony. Thanks to the outdated “obscene devices” law established in the 1970s, it was once illegal to own more sex toys than guns in the Lone Star State. While the law was overturned in 2008, it remains on the Texas books. God bless America.
Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger tells the story of a queer sex shop owner’s granddaughter who decided to go rogue by delivering sex toys to everyone, from unsatisfied sorority girls to horny nuns, so she could spring her Grandma from jail. Along the way, she accidentally kidnaps the conservative governor’s adult daughter AND falls in lust and love with her. Oh, and her guiding light throughout this hilarious and heartfelt roadtrip is none other than the spirit of her grandmother’s late girlfriend in the form of a rainbow Fleshlight. Yee-haw!
Jenn Howd has been the creative force behind Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger, a project that began as a song and evolved into a multifaceted exploration of sexual freedom, shame, and campy humor. From its humble origins as a music video to its current iteration as a stage musical, Texas Annie continues to push boundaries while staying deeply rooted in Howd’s personal journey.
This twisted tale was a song, turned screenplay, turned interactive stage musical from creators Jenn Howd, Roz Milhalko, and a superstar team. The hilarious multi-genre romp incorporates country music, hip hop, and good old-fashioned show tunes with a dirty modern twist (think many, many F bombs and sex puns). The concept album is rife with bangers, from the gospel-inspired “Dildos are the Devil’s Tools” to the stirring eleven o’clock number “Every BODY is Divine.” Annie’s signature tune “The Moan Ranger” brims with sexy swagger and sass—the latter’s music video, a prizewinner at the 2020 Hollywood Women’s Film Festival, will lift your spirits in less than three minutes.
The story of Texas Annie began in 2011 when Howd and her creative partner, Roz Mihalko, were introduced to a cheeky song titled “Texas Annie” by musicians Cass King and John Woods, known as The Wet Spots. The song, which tells the story of a renegade sex toy dealer in Texas where sex toys are illegal, immediately struck a chord with the duo. The concept seemed ripe for adaptation into a musical comedy film, a chance to satirize the absurd “obscene devices” law in Texas and tackle the subject of sexual shame, a theme that resonated deeply with Howd.
“I grew up in a household where we never talked about sex. In fact, just saying the word was taboo,” Howd recalls. “I saw this project as an opportunity to confront and heal that shame.” With that motivation, Howd and Mihalko reached out to King and Woods, who were thrilled by the idea. The script for the feature film was written, and the project began to take shape. Though the film never materialized, the team had unknowingly planted the seeds for something that would grow over the years in surprising ways.
In 2017, as political tides shifted with the election of Donald Trump and the rise of the #MeToo movement, Howd felt a renewed sense of urgency. The themes of Texas Annie—sexual freedom, anti-obscenity laws, and LGBTQ+ rights—felt more relevant than ever. Despite never having directed a music video before, Howd took a leap of faith, creating a video for one of the songs from the musical. The result was a success: the video premiered at numerous film festivals and captivated audiences, especially when they learned that the Texas law featured in the story was real.
“Honestly, we thought we were writing a campy satire. We had no idea this law would become relevant again,” says Howd. “But here we are in 2024, and it feels more pertinent every day.” As anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and bans on sexual content have become more common, Texas Annie has only grown in importance. Howd, a queer gender non-conforming person, and Mihalko, a trans woman, feel an even deeper connection to the material as it aligns with the broader fight for sexual and gender rights.
From there, Howd’s vision expanded further into the realm of live theater. After connecting with Jack Crumley at the 2019 Cindependent Film Festival, the duo began exploring the possibility of adapting Texas Annie into a stage musical. The team brought on Maggie Perrino, a theater director at The Carnegie in Covington, KY, who loved the script and suggested applying to the 2020 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Though the pandemic delayed their plans, it gave the team more time to refine the show.
When the musical finally debuted in 2022 at the Cincinnati Fringe, it was a smash hit, winning the Pick of the Fringe Audience Award and a critic’s pick encore performance. The response was overwhelming—sold-out crowds, standing ovations, and the joy of seeing a long-cherished project come to life.
Now, in 2024, Howd has set her sights on expanding the show further, with a new interactive version designed for easy touring. This adaptation, which includes a digital component with projected visuals, karaoke-style singalong animations, and audience shoutbacks, allows the show to be performed in a variety of spaces, from LGBTQ+ bars to cabarets and even private homes. The first performance of this modified version will be a fundraiser in Cincinnati on January 18, 2025, before taking it to the NYC Fringe Festival in April 2025.
Howd’s ultimate vision for Texas Annie extends beyond just entertaining audiences. She envisions the show sparking conversations around the fight for sexual freedom and rights, with potential partnerships with sex educators, LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and nonprofits that advocate for sexual and gender rights. “I’d love for us to be a part of that dialogue—especially in red states, colleges, and universities,” she says. “And it would be amazing to see it play at places like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and, of course, a regular late-night show in Brooklyn.”
In addition to the stage musical, Howd still dreams of a Texas Annie feature film, ideally with a production company like A24, known for its bold, innovative style. Comedian Fortune Feimster is Howd’s ideal choice for the title role, and she even imagines a cameo by the legendary John Waters, a major influence on the project.
As Texas Annie continues to evolve and expand, Howd is open to all kinds of support and involvement from the community. Fans can follow the project on Instagram, listen to the concept album on Spotify, sign up for the newsletter, or even make a tax-deductible donation to help the show reach wider audiences. “It’s a feel-good, sexy, campy romp with a heartwarming, smart, satirical edge. We welcome any and all support,” Howd says with enthusiasm.
From its inception as a playful song to its current journey as a stage musical, Texas Annie stands as a testament to the power of art to heal, provoke, and entertain. For Howd, the ride is just beginning, and she invites everyone to join in as the legend of Texas Annie continues to unfold across multiple platforms, making audiences laugh, think, and fight for a world where sexual freedom and self-acceptance can thrive.
Texas Annie will perform an interactive version at the Cincinnati fundraiser on January 18, 2025, followed by the NYC Fringe Festival in April 2025. Bring Texas Annie to a theatre or alternative venue near you! And if you have any other ideas, resources, etc. that could help support Texas Annie, reach out to them at Howdy@TexasAnnieMusical.com.
