Company

Artistic Director Peter Marston Sullivan

Executive Director Peter Blair Mission & Vision Artistic Advisor BoHo Theatre’s mission is to create theatre Stephen M. Genovese that incorporates the arts as a whole — Art for art’s sake. Our vision is to challenge Executive Advisor convention through literary originality and Thomas J. Samorian eclectic expression while fostering an ever- evolving artistic environment in which people Assoc. Artistic Director are inspired to learn, think, dream, and feel. Peter Robel To teach others and ourselves how to expand, create, and present art through theatre while Managing Director reveling not only in the process, but also in the journey. Ryan Guhde Media Director & Board Graphic Designer Charles Riffenburg IV Stephen M. Genovese, president; Thomas J. Samorian, vice-president; Casting Associates Kaela Altman; Steve Goodman; Stephanie Sullivan Robert Kimmeth; Richard Maxen; Rebecca Mauldin Bob Turner; Jean Zuiker Development Coordinator Artistic Affiliates Anna Hammonds Anthony Apodaca, Brenda Didier, Board/Company Secretary Patrick Ham, Theresa Ham, Mary Kate Robel Jon Steinhagen, A. Scott Williams, and John Zuiker New Works & Social Media Manager Ariel Trocino

Company Member Sean Thomas

BoHo Theatre is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. Our events and productions are made possible by your generous donations and patronage. Please visit our website at www.bohotheatre.com or speak with our house manager to learn about more ways to contribute time, money, and talent to helping support art in . Any monetary donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you! BoHo Theatre: Bohemian Theatre Ensemble presents THE Rainmaker By N. Richard Nash

Featuring (in alphabetical order) File ...... Thad Anzur H . C . Curry ...... Robert Frankel Noah Curry ...... Daniel Gilbert Lizzie Curry ...... Anna Hammonds Starbuck ...... Matthew Keffer Sheriff ...... Russell Alan Rowe Jim Curry ...... Nate Santana

Scenic Design Costume Design Stephen M. Genovese Theresa Ham Lighting Design Sound Design Diane D. Fairchild Peter Robel

Properties Design Dramaturg Cassy Schillo Ariel Trocino Stage Manager Production Manager Meg Love Tammy Goodman

Directed By Stephen M. Genovese

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. New York City.

Partially Supported by Grants from THE RICHARD Gaylord & Dorothy H. DRIEHAUS Donnelley FOUNDATION Foundation BEAUTY IN BELIEF

ou look up at the sky and you cry for a “Ystar! You know you’ll never get it! And then one night you look down—and there it is—shining in your hand!”

Interwoven throughout the beautifully poetic language of N. Richard Nash’s The Rainmaker, questions relating to self and societal perceptions of beauty thrive. BoHo Theatre continues its tradition of exploring the four pillars of Bohemian Ideals of truth, beauty, freedom and love by tackling these complex perceptions of beauty in Nash’s piece.

Lizzie, our heroine, lives in her own confines of self-perception, finding herself “plain” and unappealing. The routine of caring for the men in her life and the inability to garner affection from potential mates has trapped Lizzie in a state of desperation—a desperation mirrored by the drought surrounding the family. Her dreams, while seemingly small, are filled with a desire to be loved and to be found beautiful by someone… maybe anyone.

When Lizzie comes face to face with the rainmaker, she comes to find he’s selling something much more profound than just rain. Hope guides our existence on a daily basis, from the mundane to the extraordinary; it pushes us towards the next moment. Though this sense of hope carries with it an immense threat of pain, it gives our lives meaning and purpose.

BoHo Theatre is proud to present The Rainmaker in an intimate way that allows you, our audience, to experience this journey as never before. If you enjoy what you see today, please consider making a donation to our company. Our house manager will be happy to tell you about our “Make it Rain” campaign. As we strive to find new and exciting ways to share stories that explore the bohemian ideals that surround our everyday lives, we are propelled in large part by generous donations from you, our audience.

Enjoy the performance, and thank you for being a part of our community!

Sincerely,

Peter Marston Sullivan Artistic Director, BoHo Theatre Performer Biographies

Thad Anzur | File Thad Anzur is proud to appear in his third BoHo production, having previously performed in The Elephant Man and The Winter’s Tale. Other credits include We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Copperhead (City Lit Theater), Rabbit Hole (Aston Rep), Fucking Men (Bailiwick Chicago), Mad Forest and Book of Days (), and A Walk in the Woods (The Grounded Theatre). Thad is a member of The Free Readers Ensemble.

Robert Frankel | H. C. Curry Rob is returning to his hometown of Chicago after 25 years in the Minne- apolis, Minnesota area. Favorite roles include James Tyrone (Long Day’s Journey into Night), Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Matt (Talley’s Folly), Leo (Leading Ladies), Hucklebee (The Fantasticks), and title roles in The Foreigner and Becket. Rob is also author of over thirty published plays including the modern farce LOL and the spoof Whodunit... and to Whom. Rob is excited to be making his debut with BoHo Theatre.

Daniel Gilbert | Noah Curry Daniel is thrilled to be making his BoHo Theatre debut. Daniel holds a B.F.A in theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma and an M.F.A. in theatre from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Johnny Carson School of theatre and film. He would like to thank his wife for all of her love and support, Stephen Genovese for this wonderful opportunity, and his fellow cast and crew for all of their talent and hard work. Daniel’s other Chicago credits include Life Separates Us with and The World Over with The State Theatre.

Anna Hammonds | Lizzie Curry Anna is thrilled to be a part of this production. Recent Chicago area credits include BoHo’s Big River (Mary Jane, Miss Watson), Fox Valley Rep’s It’s A Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play (Sally/Mary), and Theatre at the Center’s Noises Off (Poppy). Other work includes Drury Lane Theatre, , JPAC, and Whoopi Goldberg’s White Noise at the Royal George Theatre. Formerly a company member with Re- naissance Rep in Tennessee, now a proud company member with BoHo Theatre. Many thanks to Steve, Rebecca, and the three Peters. Dedicated to the most beautiful woman I know, my mother.

Matthew Keffer | Starbuck Matthew is excited to be making his BoHo debut! Previous Chicago credits include Facing East, Meet John Doe (), and She Loves Me (Writer’s Theatre). He will next be appearing in State Street at City Lit Theatre as Uranus H. Crosby. More info available at www.matthewkeffer.com. Enjoy the show, and thank you for supporting Chicago theatre! Russell Alan Rowe | Sheriff Russell is thrilled to be working BoHo Theatre for the first time after a nearly fifteen year hiatus from live theatre. Since his last Chicago theatre appearance, Live Bait Theatre’s Devour The Moon, Russell has been busy with his band, The Russell Alan Rowe Trio/Quartet, which appeared weekly at the original Pops For Champagne in Lincoln Park as well as locations on Michigan Ave and the Gold Coast. Favorite roles in Chicago theatre include The Man in several productions of Christopher Durang’s Laughing Wild, Toumelle in two productions of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s Hotel D’amour, and the national tours of Into The Woods and The Secret Garden. Russell dedicates his work in The Rainmaker to the memory of his loving mother who would have absolutely loved this play.

Nate Santana | JIM CURRY Nate is very excited to be making his debut with BoHo Theatre Ensemble. Previously, he has worked with Imagination Theater, The Side Project, The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis, First Folio and Teatro Vista. He graduated with a BA in Theatre from Valparaiso University and can next be seen as Launcelot Gobbo in First Folio’s summer production of The Merchant of Venice.

Production Crew Biographies N. Richard Nash | PLAYWRIGHT Born in Philadelphia in 1913, Nash’s first play was The Second Best Bed, produced on Broadway in 1946. The Shakespearian-themed comedy brought Nash much acclaim and led to his writing more shows, including The Young and Fair (1948), See the Jaguar (1952, for which he won the International Drama Award in Cannes and the Prague Award), and The Rainmaker (1954). The Rainmaker became so influential that it has been translated into 40 languages, became a popular film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn, and was adapted into the popular Broadway musical 110 in the Shade. In the 1950s, Nash moved from Manhattan to Los Angeles to write screenplays for Hollywood, though he continued to write plays and musicals for the Broadway stage, including Wildcat (1960, starring Lucille Ball), and The Happy Time (1968, nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical). By the 1970s, Nash had begun writing novels, two of which found their way to the New York Times bestsellers list: East, Wind Rain and The Last Magic.

Stephen M. Genovese | Director, Scenic Designer Steve has spent the better part of 30 years involved in theatre in one aspect or another. From stage direction to technical direction, costuming to props, acting to writing, being involved on so many levels has helped him officiate in the positions he currently holds as Artistic Advisor and founding Artistic Director at BoHo Theatre. Steve has performed at or worked with The Marriott Theatre, Pheasant Run Dinner Theatre, , and Stage Right Theatre, tto name a few. His works as director and/or designer for BoHo include the critically acclaimed hit musicals The Wild Party, the Jeff-winning SideShow, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Glorious Ones, and the plays I Am My Own Wife (co-director), Gross Indecency:The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and Dirty Blonde. Diane D. Fairchild | Lighting Designer Diane is excited to once again be working with BoHo Theatre after designing Icarus last summer. Past design credits include shows at TimeLine, Northlight, , The Side Project, Fleetwood-Jourdain, Sinnerman, Mortar Theatre, Infamous Commonwealth, Noble Fool, Redmoon, Pegasus Players and Court Theatre. Diane is a proud member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, an Artistic Associate of Next Theatre, resident designer at Wheaton College and adjunct faculty at The School of the Art Institute. Ms. Fairchild holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a BFA from Wright State University. Much thanks and love to F.L., X-Box and Q-Ball.

Theresa Ham | Costume Designer Theresa Ham is a Chicago-based Costume Designer whose work received the 2010 Joseph Jefferson Non-Equity Award for Outstanding Costume Design (The Glorious Ones: Bohemian Theatre Ensemble). She began working with BoHo in 2005 with their production of The Wild Party and is thrilled to continue to work with the company today! Favorite Chicago credits include Sweeney Todd and The Sound of Music (Drury Lane Theatre); Civil War Christmas and Souvenir (North- light Theatre); Cosi Fan Tutte (The Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera Chicago); and Hansel and Gretel and Die Fledermaus (DePaul Opera Theatre). Her work has also been seen at Porchlight Music Theatre, Theater on the Lake, Stage Left Theatre, and First Folio Shakespeare Theatre. Regional credits include Sullivan Little Theatre on the Square, Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara, Theatre Works Hartford, and Quality Hill Playhouse Kansas City. Theresa is an adjunct faculty member at Wilbur Wright College. She lives in Beverly with her husband Patrick and their awesome son Cole.

Peter Robel | Sound Design Peter recently directed and designed the sound for BoHo’s Jeff-recommended Tartuffe, as well as The Winter’s Tale. He also directed The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, and Yerma. BoHo audiences may also recall his Jeff-Nominated per- formance as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (and 35 other characters) in I Am My Own Wife. As an actor, Peter has appeared on many Chicago-area stages, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. In addition, he serves as BoHo’s Associate Artistic Director.

Cassy Schillo | Properties Design It is a pleasure to be returning to BoHo’s company for The Rainmaker! Recently earning a BFA from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, she is excited to continue that passion in Midwest theatres. Recent credits include Properties Master for Mar- riott’s Aladdin, Asst. Properties Master for Remy Bummpo’s Mourning Becomes Electra and Production Stage Manager for BoHo’s Striking 12.

Tammy Goodman | Production Manager Tammy is thrilled to be working with BoHo again! She started as an intern in 2008, and moved on to assist with the fabulous wigs for La Cage Aux Folles. Most recently, she served as the production manager for Pippin and Tartuffe. She also stage managed and was the lighting assistant for Dearly Departed at Theater in the Woods this past July. Tammy graduated this past May from Occidental College with a B.A. in Theater. She would like to thank her family, friends, and her BoHo family for all of their love and support! Meg Love | Stage Manager Meg Love is so very excited to be back at BoHo! After stage managing Songs for a New World in the runs at Theatre Building and Theatre on the Lake, Bernarda Alba, La Cage Aux Folles, The Glorious Ones, Hello Again, Dirty Blonde, Icarus, and Tartuffe, Meg is proud to be part of another terrific BoHo production. She’d like to thank the wonderful production team and cast for a great experience. She also extends her deepest gratitude to her family, friends and Dan for all their love and support.

SPECIAL THANKS

Theater Wit for welcoming us; The Marriott Theatre: Terry James, Andy Hite, Aaron Thielen, Margaret Newton, Rob Rahn; Rick Julien and Chad Bianchi; Cooper’s Restaurant; Brandon Dahlquist Photography; Cuna Sports Lounge.

The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Alphawood Foundation; the Arts & Business Council of Chicago; ArtsWorks Fund for Organizational Development; The Saints for their financial and artistic support (and for helping us find our seats); and generous matching donations from Jim Beam and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The BoHo Board of Directors and Company members who strive daily to make this a place where artists can learn, grow and fulfill their dreams.

Stay Engaged During Intermission with the Rainmaker Backstage Pass!

Go behind the scenes of BoHo’s The Rainmaker with BoHo’s Backstage Pass online. Get exclusive interviews and insights from the artists and actors creating the play, read up on the Dustbowl era, and explore how the hardships of the Curry family are relevant today.

Use the QR Code to access the Backstage Pass on your mobile phone, or read up online at: www.BoHoTheatre.com/backstagepass Become a Rainmaker for BoHo Theatre!

Even though BoHo Theatre is a critically-acclaimed arts organization, with 11 Jeff Awards and 40 nominations, we remain a small neighbor- hood theatre run by an all-volunteer staff, and ticket sales make up less than half of our operating budget.

BoHo is proud that a full 75% of our budget is spent on our productions, with 30% of our expenses spent to support our artists.

Your donation to our Make It Rain Fundraising Campaign will help us continue delivering a rich theatrical experience to our community and provide a foundation for our eclectic 2012/13 season based on the exploration of the four Bohemian Pillars of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love.

Connect with your house manager or visit us online to Make It Rain for BoHo today! www.BoHoTheatre.com

Show your BoHo Theatre ticket Located just across the street from stub for Theater Wit! a 10% 1232 W. Belmont Ave. discount on food! 773.929.2667 www.cooperschicago.com Mission: sMart art Theater Wit dedicates itself to producing plays that address contemporary issues with humor and intelligence. With groundbreaking new plays and classic works, Theater Wit seeks to engage its audiences with wit and wisdom.

Now a year at our newly renovated 3 theater complex, Theater Wit strives to create a welcoming and professional home for the neighborhood to experience Chicago’s diversely talented theater scene.

MORE THEATER. MORE!!!

Take full advantage of all the productions and companies at Theater Wit

MeMbership With a Theater Wit Membership, you can see as many plays as you want, year round, for $36/month: » Reserve a seat at any production in our facility. Do it in advance or just drop by on impulse. » Free ticket exchanges and replacement tickets. » Attend as many different shows as you want each month. Come once, twice or five times a week at no additional charge. » No initiation or startup fee, but members must agree to a three- month minimum. » Twice a year, bring a friend for free. Flexpass Theater Wit’s FlexPass allows you see anything in the building at a dramatically reduced price: » Your FlexPass gives you 10 tickets for any shows at Theater Wit to be used any way you want for only $200. See 10 shows, go on 5 dates or just bring your 9 closest friends with you to a show. » After ordering, you get a card in the mail within a week with your FlexPass code which can be used online, over the phone or at the box office. RESIDENT AND VISITING SHOWS WitRESIDENCE THIS SEASON AT THEATER WIT

theater Wit theater Wit providing a hoMe to ChiCago’s theaters The North Plan Tigers Be Still Each season, Theater Wit offers its space to one or more companies February – April April – May to produce in year round. The WitRESIDENCE program combines the principles of a cooperative and a traditional rental house to create a more cohesive, professional, and efficient nonprofit environment. stage left stage left The Fisherman Leapfest 9 In its facility, Theater Wit will play host to other Chicago theater February – April May – June companies on a minimum two-year basis. The resident companies will volunteer their time for space maintenance, share audience development initiatives, and gain a home under one roof. Meet our theater Mir strange tree group The Sea Goodbye, Cruel World resident companies for 2011-2012! March – April June – July BOHEMIAN THEATRE ENSEMBlE bohemian theatre ensemble sideshow theatre Company BoHo Theatre’s mission is to create theatre that incorporates the The Rainmaker The Gacy Play arts as a whole — Art for art’s sake. April – May June – July BoHo’s vision is to challenge convention through literary originality and eclectic expression while fostering an ever-evolving artistic environment in which people are inspired to learn, think, dream, and feel. To teach others and ourselves how to expand, create, and With so much going present art through theatre while reveling not only in the process, THEATER WIT STAFF on at theater Wit, we but also in the journey. BoHo’s season is chosen to highlight and recommend you get our explore the four bohemian pillars of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Jeremy Wechsler ...... Artistic Director Love. Four shows, four pillars (and maybe a holiday musical thrown e-newsletter to keep up. in for good measure!) David Wechsler .....Company Manager get updated news on Mercedes Rohlfs ...... Grant Director STAGE lEFT THEATRE Mikey Laird ...... Box Office Manager our resident companies, Josh Nordmark ...... Box Office pre-production insights, Majel Cuza ...... Bar Manager Stage Left Theatre’s mission is to develop and produce plays interviews and photos. that inspire debate about political and social topics. We focus on Ryan Wesneski ...... Bar You can also be our presenting complicated issues in the context of an engaging story, Jennifer Howard, Caitlin Body without prescribing a single point of view. We attempt to spark Interns bestest ever e-pals by visting us at facebook. respectful debate about the issues most relevant to our community, Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Assocs and activate audiences to continue those conversations beyond the Press Relations com/theaterwit. walls of the theatre. Stage Left also works to inspire playwrights to address political and social themes through our Downstage Left new Fill out a mailing list work development program. board oF direCtors Kathryn Stieber ...... President insert and give to any Paul Danao ...... Vice-President bartender, usher or NEW MIllENNIuM THEATRE COMpANy Charles Hornewer ...... Treasurer house manager to get a Todd Goldberg New Millennium produces a varied season which focuses on new free piece of chocolate, and non-traditional approaches to theater. They create plays geared Neal Smyth or sign up online at Bruce Wechsler to audiences who have been reluctant to attend traditional theatre theaterwit.org/join. offerings, producing shows that are fun and relevant to today’s complex audiences. BoHo Theatre’s 2011/12 season

Here at BoHo Theatre, our seasons are anchored by the Four Pillars of our Bohemian Values: Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love. Each show in our season is chosen to represent one of these pillars by highlighting that theme within its production.

Join us for the final show in our 2011/2012 Season in June at Theater Wit.

Floyd Collins by Tina Landau and Adam Guettel Directed by Peter Marston Sullivan

In January of 1925, Kentucky explorer Floyd Collins was searching for an underground cave system spectacular enough to become a tourist destina- tion and make his family rich. Instead, he became trapped in a narrow crawlway 55 feet below ground. His family’s rescue attempts quickly created a national media circus, and rescue began to take a backseat to profit. This true story features a musical style drawn from authentic bluegrass, folk, and Americana.

June 15 – July 15, 2012

www. BoHoTheatre.com Theater Wit Box Office 773-975-8150 /bohotheatre /bohotheatre