Children's Musicals by Jan Stroud for your school, choir or youth group

Rainmaker

“I am not surprised that 'Rainmaker' has gone down so well in schools as the songs are both fun and accessible"

SIR CAMERON MACINTOSH

This spectacular, colourful, highly acclaimed musical, inspired by a story from Central America has Latin American, American Indian and Afro Caribbean influences that children and audiences love. Guaranteed to have everyone singing and dancing, this musical is totally irresistible to 8-13 year olds and probably our best-loved musical. See Synopsis below.

"There are a lot of great scripts 'out there' but few have such quality music. It is the meaty, profound and modern I seek. Rainmaker is certainly one of my life's top 50 experiences!"

Derek Scotney Y6 Teacher Victoria Australia

8 Songs - Production Time 70-80 mins - Cast size 30–300!!!

Synopsis

A group of children in a drought-ridden country embark upon a journey to find the Lord of Rain. Learning secrets about ‘medicine’ and ‘power’ from animals of the Rainforest, Chep discovers his own ‘true colours’ as he helps the Rainmakers to overthrow the evil Kongan Hab, recover the Rain-capes and finally discover the biggest secret of all from the Rainmaker himself.

Rainmaker features a series of colourful pageants, beginning with the creation of the world and introduces exciting and eccentric characters in mountain and rainforest environments:- the thunder god, a benevolent ‘biker’, who loves to rock and roll with the frogs; Barolf, a bear, demented by lack of food and saved by partying; Salsa-dancing West Indian parrots; and Rainmakers, who wear different coloured capes to create rain.

'Rainmaker' is the perfect vehicle to enable children to think about natural disaster and our response to it. This musical, with its positive message and thought provoking script, will help children understand and express concern in a positive and creative way.

Children's Testimonials

“‘Rainmaker’ gave me goals and ideas, hopes and dreams. I don’t exactly like to be loud or to stand up in front of people and do stuff. It changed the way I looked at things and people. I enjoyed the songs and the flow of the musical. I’m glad we did your musical because it was so well done. Thank you.”

Sam (The Thunder god)

“All my life I have loved stories and to sing and be dramatic. I loved playing Chep because she sang some beautiful songs and had a lot of lines so it was a challenge. From the very first time we read the script I wanted that part. I think that Rainmaker is a fantastic musical. The best plays can be summed up in one word. Rainmaker’s word is ‘love’.

Julia Ardis (Chep)

“I learned helping people may come with sacrifices. In order to help someone you may have to give something up. I think that would make a good moral for this musical”

Tony Hansen (Shaman)

“It was an amazing experience seeing all the people there and the audience smiling during ‘Wired for Sound’ and the bear’s solo. At the end getting a standing ovation was the best feeling in the world.”

Sara Wilson (Chameleon)

“What I liked a lot in this play was if you didn’t have a big role there were still lots of great songs to sing”

Tom Overend (Rainmaker)

“We did a fantastic job on this musical and it’s all because we worked together.”

Sophie Lafond (Butterfly)

“In this musical I learned that you shouldn’t judge anything and anyone by their or its outside”

Nathaniel Walker (Chameleon)

“Of all the plays I’ve been in this is my favourite and the one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Bailey Sill (Ignacio)

“I didn’t like plays until I did Rainmaker. I played the bear. I think that is the best and funniest part. I liked this play because it was funny, serious and loving. I think that the play gave me better confidence in who I am”

Mike Seiler (Bear)

“This play and I quote from Mrs Flarghty “this is the best musical in the sixth grade I have ever seen.” And all of us thought the same.”

Jamie Witten (Parrot)

“I liked it because it was exciting and adventurous. Lovely costumes to wear- I loved the songs. I can’t get them out of my head. Some bits were very touching. All in all a very good show”

Bethany and Rosemary (a pair of parrots), aged 10