Photo Flash: First Folio Theatre's THE RAINMAKER, Opening Tomorrow

First Folio Theatre, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83, will begin its 2013-2014 season with the poignant, romantic drama THE RAINMAKER, opening Saturday, August 3 at 8:15 p.m. and running through September 1, 2013 on the outdoor stage. The production is directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre Co-Founder, Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's A Moon for the Misbegotten). Check out a first look below!

When a charming con man named Starbuck comes to a drought stricken Western town on a hot summer day, he sets a family's world on end, romancing their spinster daughter and promising to change everything. This profound Depression-era tale brings out the true power of hope and humor during difficult times. THE RAINMAKER, by N. Richard Nash, originally premiered in New York in 1954 and was made into a 1956 film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn. The play has been translated into over 40 languages and was also made into a Broadway musical, 110 in the Shade.

THE RAINMAKER stars Hayley L. Rice as "Lizzie Curry" ("Nerissa" in The Merchant of Venice and "Edith" in Blithe Spirit at First Folio Theatre), Joseph Wycoff as "Starbuck" ( "Henry Higgins" in Pygmalion, "Longaville" in Love's Labor's Lost at Michigan Shakespeare Festival and Jeff Award nominee for Private Lives at First Folio Theatre), Aaron Christensen as "File" (The Taming of the Shrew at First Folio Theatre), Matthew Keffer as "Noah Curry," David Rice as "H.C. Curry," Alex Weisman as "Jimmy Curry" (Jeff Award winner for The History Boys at Timeline Theatre); and René Ruelas as "Sheriff Thomas."

THE RAINMAKER runs from now through September 1. Tickets range from $30-37 and preview tickets are $22. The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:15 p.m. Season subscriptions and individual tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 630-986-8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org.

Photos by Melissa Carlson