The guys put on their makeup, and Chuck found out what happened when he said, "I'd better not see that picture on the website!"

Mat checked the program to make sure his name is spelled right!

You could feel the excitement backstage as the actors got ready to perform. They'd worked for 3 months, and they were finally going to get to perform in front of someone other than the crew! Everyone sneeked a peak through the one-way glass in the hall doorway to see if they knew anyone in the audience, then scurried back to the dressing rooms before the stage manager caught them!

As the audience fills the seats for Premier Night, siblings Jimmy and Shannon Grundman wait to watch brother Mark as "Noah Curry."

Keeping with tradition of all WRCT shows, the actors get a pep talk from the director in the hallway before the first performance of The Rainmaker.

The audience waited in anticipation, excited about the show that was going to be performed for them. They chatted about who they might have known in the cast. Audience response, be it laughter or tears, is one of the greatest things an actor can experience!

Back

Steve has been involved with WRCT since 1996, when he appeared in The Runner Stumbles. He was last seen in The Importance of Being Earnest last season. He directed The Cover of Life for WRCT in 2000. Steve is married to Jenny, with whom he has a son, Tyler. He is a Corporate Training Specialist at Sentry Insurance.

Mat is relatively new to the WRCT stage, as we first saw him in last season's Damn Yankees, but he's not new to theater. He has done extensive theatrical work with Christian Life Fellowship and the Sand County Players. Mat is a construction worker, and shares his life with his wife, Jenny.

You probably recognize James, as we saw him in the fall production of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. James made his WRCT debut as twin brothers in the 1998 production of Corpse! James is a disk jockey at a local radio station, and enjoys spending quality time with his children.

Susan Edgren Director of The Rainmaker

Susan Edgren returned to the WRCT director's chair for the first time since directing Cliffhanger in 2001. She was eager to get to work on The Rainmaker, which had been a favorite of hers since she was young.

Susan was gracious enough to talk with us the first night of auditions, and to answer some questions about the show. Her answers are below:

I saw the movie version of The Rainmaker when I was a kid. I fell in love with Burt Lancaster on the spot. I wanted to be Lizzie, just so that I could have  that one moment of having a handsome magic maker like Starbuck tell me I was the most beautiful girl in the world. As I grew older, I came to appreciate Katharine Hepburn's incredible performance as well. Lizzie's plight, her range of emotions, and her strength of character are inspiring. I had always wanted a chance to play Lizzie, but never got one. Now I was thrilled to be able to direct her instead! AND pick someone to play the most gorgeous, mesmerizing man in American theatre. (Talk about pressure, huh guys?)

What were you looking for in the actors that you cast?

There are many elements that I considered in choosing my actors. Acting skill and talent are, of course, a plus, but not the only considerations. Experience is a great teacher—I've known people with less natural talent than others who work very hard and achieve a good deal of success on stage. Those are valuable people. A healthy sense of humor is a must. Theatre requires a group of strangers/acquaintances to work closely together for an intense period of time. Tensions can rise, egos can get bruised, frustrations occur—laughter is essential to survival. Also, a strong capacity to cooperate. Flexible schedules and punctuality are equally important. All participants depend on each other to come on time, on a regular basis and with a professional attitude. Actors who do their homework are golden! 

Back  

A good director knows the importance of a good support team. Shown with Susan is Al Davis, Assistant Stage Manager, and Debbie Thomas, Stage Manager.

What do you feel was the biggest challenge in directing this play?

Back

The story opens on Lizzie Curry, loved deeply by her father and brothers, but destined by her plainness to be an old maid. The town, and Lizzie, are parched for life-giving rain—and in Lizzie's case, love. Lizzie is told frequently how plain she is by her oldest brother, Noah, the know-it-all who runs the family farm. Lizzie's father, H.C. Curry, and her next oldest brother, Jim, are both especially keen on getting Lizzie married off. Noah, however, keeps telling Lizzie to accept the truth—that she is likely to just be an old maid.

This romantic play unfolds as the family and Sheriff Thomas try to get the local divorced deputy, File, interested in Lizzie. Enter a drifter, sweet talker, dreamer, and self-proclaimed rainmaker, Bill Starbuck, who charms them all into believing in miracles. Lizzie is given the opportunity to see herself through the eyes of this charmer. Starbuck represents hope for the land, which is suffering from drought, and hope to fill the emptiness in Lizzie's heart.

This wonderful, nostalgic piece has its lighter moments along with heartfelt ones, and is sure to touch your soul. In the tradition of all American classics, the characters in The Rainmaker will be remembered by both the audiences who watch them and the actors who play them.

Back