American Blues Theater to Open 30th Season with THE RAINMAKER, 8/28-9/27

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble celebrating 30 years of presenting visceral theatrical works while engaging its audience in missions of local service agencies, are proud to announce The Rainmaker, by N. Richard Nash and directed by American Blues Theater Co-Founding Member Ed Blatchford, August 28 - September 27 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. "Pink Previews", where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are August 28 - August 30 following the regular schedule. Opening night is Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with additional Saturday matinees, September 19 and 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets for "Pink Preview" performances are $19. Regular run performances tickets are $29 Thursdays and Fridays and $39 Saturdays and Sundays. Opening night tickets are $49 and include access to the post-show reception. All tickets are currently on sale at 773.404.7336 or AmericanBluesTheater.com.

N. Richard Nash's unabashedly optimistic play became a Broadway hit telling the story of plain and hardworking Lizzie Curry (Linsey Page Morton) as she finds herself falling in love, against her better judgment, with a traveler (Steve Key*) who promises to bring rain to her family's ever-dry Texas town. "After nearly half a century, The Rainmaker still makes a handsome case for miracles," said the Los Angeles Times.

Ed Blatchford, an American Blues Theater co-founding member, returns to American Blues to direct this production. "After 30 years, American Blues is still a vital part of the Chicago theater scene. I'm honored to return and represent the initial pulse - that first spark that Rick Cleveland, William Payne, Jim Leaming and I shared in 1985."

The Rainmaker also features guest artists Danny Goldring, Vince Teninty, Robert Brueler and Howie Johnson.

The production team includes Sarah E. Ross* (scenic), Sarah Hughey* (lights), Christopher Neville* (costumes), Joe Cerqua (sound), Jamie Karas (props), Kathryn Lochert* (stage manager), Karen Logelin (dialect coach) and Lauri Dahl* (dramaturg).

*connotes American Blues Ensemble member and Artistic Affiliates.

American Blues Theater's TOWN HALLS

American Blues Theater offers a free opportunity for audiences and fans of the theater to learn more about the current presentation. All Town Halls are held immediately following that Sunday's 2:30 p.m. performance, August 30 - September 20. The schedule for Town Halls is

August 30 - Meet Director Ed Blatchford and cast of The Rainmaker

September 6 - Girl Scout Troop #40964 discusses "Being a Girl in 2015"

Sept 13 - Dr. Michele Kerulis, psychologist, leads a discussion about female image

Sept 20 - Meet the cast of The Rainmaker.

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