Photo Flash: First Look at THE RAINMAKER at American Blues Theater

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, presents THE RAINMAKER by N. Richard Nash, directed by American Blues Theater Co-Founding Member Ed Blatchford, now through September 27 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

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.

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).

Opening night is tomorrow, 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. 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.

*connotes American Blues Ensemble member and Artistic Affiliates.