Photos: First Look at THE RAINMAKER, Opening Tonight at The Sherman Playhouse

Tonight, July 18, The Sherman Playhouse will debut its summer production of the romantic comedy, THE RAINMAKER, by N. Richard Nash. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on this four-week run. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

THE RAINMAKER follows a girl (Stacy-Lee Frome, New Milford) whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her becoming an old maid as they are about their dying cattle due to a paralyzing drought in the West. The brothers try every possible scheme to marry her off, but without success. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, appears Bill Starbuck (Alexis M. Vournazos, Danbury), a character with a mellifluous tongue and the most grandiose notions a man could imagine. He claims to be a rainmaker. The rainmaker turns his magic on the girl and persuades her that she has a very real beauty of her own and she believes it. Just as her father believes that the fellow can actually bring rain. Rain does come, and so does love.

"Few plays from the 1950s hold up as well as this wonderfully folksy romance," said director and set designer Martin Rosato of New Milford. "Not only does THE RAINMAKER not seem dated sixty years after its premiere, it''s as funny and heartwarming as any play being premiered today. And despite the fact that it's set during the Great Depression, it might as well be take place somewhere in 2014 Middle America."

"THE RAINMAKER hasn''t lost one iota of its humor, charm, and broad audience appeal since its 1954 debut," said Robin Frome, president of The Sherman Playhouse. "It''s that rarity, a romantic comedy classic that people of all walks of life and ages can find themselves cheering with identical whoops and hollers. It's truly a production the whole family can, and will, enjoy."

Besides Mrs. Frome and Mr. Vournazos, the production features some of the region's best actors: Jeff Rossman (New Fairfield), David Almquist (Sharon), Kenn Sapeta (Cold Spring, NY), William H. Greenage IV (Wappingers Falls, NY), and Thomas Ovitt (New Milford).

Besides Mr. Rosato, the show's crew consists of producer Patricia Michael, assistant director and lighting designer Al Chiappetta, sound designer Jessica Rosato, costumer designer Lynn Nissenbaum, and stage managers Irene Hopkins and Danford Knowlton.

THE RAINMAKER made its Broadway debut on October 28, 1954 at the Cort Theatre and enjoyed a Broadway revival in 1999 starring Woody Harrelson. The revival garnered the show a Tony Award Nomination. In 1956, the play was adapted into a hit film starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn. The New York Mirror said the play was one of "admirable skill...[and] insight into the human heart.... The touch of a poet.... A hit you must see."

THE RAINMAKER runs today, July 18, and July 19 25,26,27 August 1,2 8,9,10. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on July 27 and August 10. Tickets for all shows are $20 for general seating. Reservations can be made online at www.shermanplayers.org or by calling the box office at (860) 354-3622. The Sherman Playhouse is a non-Equity theatre company located at 5 Route 39 North (next to the fire house) in Sherman, CT.

Photo Credit: Josh Siegel