The Rainmaker

Main Stage:

The Rainmaker

Performance Dates: December 5 - 22, 2024

On a hot summer day in the middle of a drought, the Curry family is as concerned about their sister Lizzie’s marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. When a stranger shows up out of nowhere, promising both rain and hope, the family must choose how far they are willing to go to believe.

Hopeful ● Modern Classic

On a hot summer day in the middle of a drought, the Curry family is as concerned about their sister Lizzie’s marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. When a stranger shows up out of nowhere, promising both rain and hope, the family must choose how far they are willing to go to believe.

Learn more about ticket discounts (including $5 student tickets, educator discounts, military discounts, and Pay-What-You-Can day) on our Plan Your Visit page.

Have accessibility concerns? Review our options on the Accessibility page. Give us a call at (919) 834-4001 or email development@burningcoal.org to request accommodations or give feedback. 

CAST

Preston Campbell
Andrew Carlile
John Jimerson
Carl Martin
Dan Oliver
Jim Roof*
Laurel Ullman

*Denotes membership in Actors’ Equity Association.

TEAM

Director: Steven Roten

Production Stage Manager: Jeremy Vance

Set Designer: Jordan Jaked Carrier

Sound Designer: Juan Isler

Costume Designer: Beth Gargan

Properties: Bri Flynn

Tech Director: Barry Jaked

ASMs:  Brenda Bailey, Addison Florio, Gabriella Terrero

Fight & Intimacy Coach: Jeffrey A.R. Jones

Male Swing/Fight Captain: Nash Tetterton

Tickets to a particular performance are subject to availability, and we recommend subscribers reserve tickets 48 hrs* in advance to guarantee their spot. Reserving your ticket means you’ll be on the check-in list for that performance. To reserve, please email your preferred performance date/time to: development@burningcoal.org to reserve your ticket, or call the box office at (919) 834-4001.
 
*Reservations made less than 48 hours in advance may not be entered in time!
 
If you did not make a reservation, please bring the subscriber card that was mailed to you for a quick verification at check-in. We will do our best to seat you.

Check out the DIGITAL PROGRAM here

About the Playwright

N. Richard Nash was born Nathan Richard Nusbaum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 8th, 1913. He was the youngest and only male amongst six children. His father would often take him to political meetings while his mother managed the family grocery store through the Great Depression. He dedicates his success to the protection and care throughout his childhood from his older sister Mae, who inspired the character Lizzie in The Rainmaker.

Nash attended the University of Pennsylvania and later taught drama there, as well as Bryn Mawr and Haverford College. He worked on screenplays and Broadway plays, continuing to write plays until he died in 2000. He took the pseudonym, John Roc during the 70s as American theatre changed. Some of his other well-known works are A Handful of Fire, The Vicious Years, and Cry Macho

Themes

  • Family
  • Gender roles
  • Economic struggle
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