The Rainmaker
The Rainmaker - 1954 Broadway History , Info & More
James Earl Jones Theater (Broadway)
138 West 48th St. New York, NY
Category
by Herbert Paine - Mar 23, 2025
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre's production of THE RAINMAKER is a heartfelt and intimate production that highlights the story’s enduring themes of self-worth and hope.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 5, 2024
Burning Coal Theatre Company announced its production of THE RAINMAKER, offering audiences a compelling theatrical experience. Discover the story and performances that bring this classic to life.
by Blair Ingenthron - Oct 22, 2023
The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast, hosted by Rob Morrison on 96.5 FM on Tuesday, October 24 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones musical 110 in the Shade. Get all the details here!
by Amanda Callas - Sep 29, 2023
Run, don’t walk, to the Laguna Playhouse’s production of the classic 1954 hit play The Rainmaker. I absolutely love this show. It's impossible to leave the theater after watching The Rainmaker without feeling lifted up by its transcendent joy and restorative optimism.
by Peter Rouleau - Nov 23, 2022
American literature has a soft spot for con artists, those ruffians who, lacking the skills or inclination to earn an honest living, prosper by using sheer charm and creativity to tell other people what they most want to hear. These rapscallions, despite living by lying, often find themselves in a position to help other characters discover certain truths about themselves. 1st Stage's production of N. Edward Nash's 1954 play The Rainmaker is an enjoyable and entertaining visit with one such miscreant.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2022
Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon, is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for “The Rainmaker” by N. Richard Nash. A road trip Nash took through the American west and a real-life rainmaker inspired him to write the story.
by Timothy Shawver - Apr 16, 2021
The impact on American theatre of N. Richard Nash's THE RAINMAKER, a mid-century, self-described Romantic Comedy, is primarily found in its formidable presence (exceeded only by OUR TOWN) in any and all monologue and scene-study books. The leads, 'Lizzie' and 'Starbuck', are ever present at auditions, duo-acting tournaments, and Intro to Acting courses in high schools and colleges coast-to-coast. Despite it's not uncommon presence in local theatre, I'd never seen the full play before attending Hale Centre Theatre's current production. The play is culturally dated most certainly but made enjoyable by some strong performances and deft staging by director Tim Dietlein.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 2, 2019
On August 1, N. Richard Nash's daughter, Amanda, who lives in Massachusetts, came to see East Lynne Theater Company's 'The Rainmaker' and brought four cousins, including Lois, the daughter of Nash's sister Mae, who was the inspiration for 'Lizzie' in this comedy-drama. They all loved the play, which again received a standing ovation. Amanda thanked director Gayle Stahlhuth for 'bringing this family back to life' in such 'a wonderful production.' She grew up with this play and the profits from it paid for her college education.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 2, 2019
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey continues its 57th season, entitled Incredible Journeys, with N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. Directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, this compelling story of love and hope has captivated audiences since it hit the stage in 1954. Patrons can purchase tickets at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre Box Office located at 36 Madison Avenue in Madison, by calling the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or by going online at www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Performances begin on July 31.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 22, 2019
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) continues its 57th season, entitled Incredible Journeys, with N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. Directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, this compelling story of love and hope has captivated audiences since it hit the stage in 1954. Patrons can purchase tickets at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre Box Office located at 36 Madison Avenue in Madison, by calling the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or by going online at www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Performances begin on July 31.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 9, 2019
'I tried to tell a simple story about droughts that happen to people, and about faith,' wrote N. Richard Nash (1913-2000) in regards to his own profoundly beautiful play, 'The Rainmaker.'
by Stephi Wild - Apr 27, 2019
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) has announced the full cast and creative team for Moon's next production, the 8-Time Tony Award-nominated musical 110 IN THE SHADE. Based N. Richard Nash's acclaimed 1954 play THE RAINMAKER (the basis for the 1956 film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn), 110 IN THE SHADE features music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones (THE FANTASTICKS), and a book by Nash adapted from his own play. 42nd Street Moon's production of 110 IN THE SHADE runs from April 24 - May 12, 2019 and will perform at San Francisco's Gateway Theatre (215 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111). The press opening will take place on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets range from $30 - $75 and can be purchased through the Box Office at (415) 255-8207 or online at www.42ndstmoon.org.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 27, 2019
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) has announced the full cast and creative team for Moon's next production, the 8-Time Tony Award-nominated musical 110 IN THE SHADE. Based N. Richard Nash's acclaimed 1954 play THE RAINMAKER (the basis for the 1956 film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn), 110 IN THE SHADE features music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones (THE FANTASTICKS), and a book by Nash adapted from his own play. 42nd Street Moon's production of 110 IN THE SHADE runs from April 24 - May 12, 2019 and will perform at San Francisco's Gateway Theatre (215 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111). The press opening will take place on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets range from $30 - $75 and can be purchased through the Box Office at (415) 255-8207 or online at www.42ndstmoon.org.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 15, 2019
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) has announced the full cast and creative team for Moon's next production, the 8-Time Tony Award-nominated musical 110 IN THE SHADE. Based N. Richard Nash's acclaimed 1954 play THE RAINMAKER (the basis for the 1956 film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn),110 IN THE SHADE features music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones (THE FANTASTICKS), and a book by Nash adapted from his own play.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 28, 2018
Blackfriars Repertory Theatre celebrates their 20th anniversary with a new production of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker, co-producing with The Storm Theatre Company, opening April 27, 2018 in the Black Box Theater at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 17, 2017
Set in a time of a paralyzing drought in Depression-era America, The Rainmaker tells the story of a pivotal hot summer day in the life of spinsterish Lizzie Curry, whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. Enter Starbuck, the consummate con man, who promises to solve all their problems, for a fee. The Rainmaker is a captivating classic, guaranteed to break your heart and then fill it with hope.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 10, 2017
Gloucester Stage Company continues its 38th season of professional theater on Cape Ann with N. Richard Nash's moving American classic The Rainmaker from July 14 through August 5 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Set in the time of a paralyzing drought in Depression-era America, The Rainmaker tells the story of a pivotal hot summer day in the life of spinsterish Lizzie Curry, whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. Enter Starbuck, the consummate con man, who promises to solve all their problems, for a fee. Directed by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh, The Rainmaker cast features Brian Homer as Starbuck; Jessica Bates as Lizzie Curry; David DeBeck as H.C. Curry, the patriarch of the Curry family; Joe Short and Sean McCoy as the Curry brothers; Dave Rich as File and longtime Gordon College Professor of Theater Arts Norm Jones as Sheriff Thomas. N. Richard Nash's most celebrated play, The Rainmaker, appeared in all three mediums; on Broadway in 1954, as a motion picture starring Katharine Hepburn in 1956, and as a television production in 1982. A musical version of The Rainmaker, entitled 110 Degrees in the Shade, debuted on Broadway in 1963.
by BWW News Desk - Feb 13, 2017
All Star Productions has just announced they will stage a rare London revival of the 1963 musical 110 IN THE SHADE.
by Nicole Rosky - May 9, 2016
Today in 2007, the first Broadway revival of 110 in the Shade opened at Studio 54, where it ran for 94 performances. 110 in the Shade is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt. Based on Nash's 1954 play The Rainmaker, it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest, and her relationships with local sheriff File, a cautious divorce who fears being hurt again, and charismatic con man Bill Starbuck, posing as a rainmaker who promises the locals he can bring relief to the drought-stricken area. The revival cast featured Audra McDonald as Lizzi and John Cullum as H.C. Curry.
by Sally Henry Fuller - Nov 15, 2015
Hartford Stage presents the sold-out world premiere of REAR WINDOW, adapted for the stage by Keith Reddin, and directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, closing tonight, November 15. Led by screen star Kevin Bacon, the show opened on October 30.
by BWW News Desk - Oct 30, 2015
Hartford Stage presents the sold-out world premiere of REAR WINDOW, adapted for the stage by Keith Reddin, and directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, opening tonight, October 30.
by BWW News Desk - Oct 23, 2015
Hartford Stage presents the sold-out world premiere of REAR WINDOW, adapted for the stage by Keith Reddin, and directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, from tonight, October 23, through November 15. Openign night is October 30.
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 25, 2015
Hartford Stage announced today the cast and creative team for the sold-out world premiere of Rear Window, adapted for the stage by Keith Reddin, and directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, from October 22- November 15.
by BWW News Desk - Aug 14, 2015
110 in the Shade, a richly evocative and touching musical about desperation, desire, and hope, opens at Palm Beach Dramaworks tonight, August 14 (8pm) and heats up the Don & Ann Brown Theatre through August 23.
by BWW News Desk - Jul 24, 2015
110 in the Shade, a richly evocative and touching musical about desperation, desire, and hope, opens at Palm Beach Dramaworks on Friday, August 14 (8pm) and heats up the Don & Ann Brown Theatre through August 23. The show, with music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones, and a book by N. Richard Nash based on his play The Rainmaker, will be presented in concert, with direction by Clive Cholerton, choreography by Michelle Petrucci, and musical direction by Howard Breitbart.
The Rainmaker History
Other Productions of The Rainmaker
| 1954 | Broadway |
Broadway |
| 1999 | Broadway |
Roundabout Revival Broadway |
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