Rainmaker
From Celebrities
“I am not surprised that Rainmaker has gone down so well in schools – the songs are both fun and accessible”.
SIR CAMERON MACKINTOSH
“Rainmaker is West-end bound!”
GUY FLETCHER OBE
From Headteachers and Music Teachers
L’Escola De Musica Frequencies performed ‘El Fabricant De Pluja’, with lyrics and play translated into Catalan by Xavier Balfegó and Eva Peribanez.
‘Rainmaker’ has been a big success. On Saturday, the staff and the pupils were more nervous, but on Sunday it all worked almost perfect. The comments of the public and of the pupils were very positive, about the interpretation as well as about the libretto and the songs. I think that everybody was quite a lot moved.
Xavier Balfegó. L’Escola de Musica Frequencies.
The production was a challenge for us. We translated the script and the words of the songs into Catalan, taught the work to a hundred pupils from 3 to 12 years of age, prepared the musical arrangements for a small live band of teenage pupils, whilst parents helped with scenery and costumes. Our biggest concern was that this play was essentially different to the comedies we usually perform. This is the first time time that we have prepared a musical with a spiritual message, full of transcendental and tragic elements. We need not have worried as in the end there was no problem about this. Everybody enjoyed working on Rainmaker a lot, and it was a great joy for us that everything came out well!
Mònica Planas and Xavier Balfegó. Escola de Música Freqüències, Vilanova i la Geltrú (Catalunya,Spain
"Your writing and your efforts have profoundly touched the lives of 54 sixth graders and their families. You gave us the vehicle to transport them to another time and place . We pushed them and they grew into more than we dreamed possible. It's now 11pm and I am so proud of the kids that I still can't think about sleeping, I'm on a high that I don't want to end. All day long kids from the other grades came up to our kids or myself and told us how awesome Rainmaker was. Our bear Mike was a true favourite. The power that they were singing with was something I had never experienced with a group before, it was like they were on turbo chargers! ‘
Wired for Sound’ had everyone clapping. The kids were way into it as well as the audience. At the end the audience gave them a standing ovation. It was one of those priceless moments. I was so proud I could have burst. The duet between mother and Chep was a heartbreaker and at the end every parent was grinning from ear to ear. Comments like 'Best Musical ever!' 'I loved it' 'What powerful lyrics!' You have had such an impact on our kids, your words really made us shine in so many ways...."
DAVID JOHNSON Marshall School, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
“Our community production of Rainmaker involved 80 children and an adult choir. The show gave a great opportunity and endless scope for a wide range of performing arts, through dance, drama and music, as well as creative arts through costume and scenery. Everyone loved the music at first hearing. It was instantly ‘catchy’ and, though challenging, the learning process resulted in a collection of rousing and emotional songs and was very worthwhile. Our audiences were very impressed, especially with regard to the subject matter of the play and the well-written script. Our adult bear was a huge success but the Oscar went to the frogs!
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, Mt Dandenong Primary School, Victoria, Australia
“It was lovely to meet you on my recent trip to England and to pick up our production pack of ‘Rainmaker’. Following the huge successes we had with ‘Wilbur’ and ‘The Selfish Giant’ in 2002, our expectations were high and you didn’t let us down! ‘Rainmaker’ is filled with magic and enchantment and the music is both powerful and melodic. Our production involved over 100 children, including 7 soloists, musicians, dancers, actors and singers. Four teachers shared the task of directing, choreographing and producing the show over a two term period. It really was wonderful to see how the kids loved it. They put heart and soul into the show. Please keep writing for us, we can’t wait for the next one!
MARGARET CRESSWELL, Mount Maunganui Primary School, New Zealand
- Lovely tunes, easy to learn
- Story funny and sad, appealed to children
- Very flexible – suits all sorts of schools
LORNA FIRTH, Music Co-ordinator, Leominster Junior School
“Excellent, stimulating music that the children loved and a thought-provoking script.”
SUE CALLAGHAN, St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
Year 6 has just performed Rainmaker as their end of year production! It all went very well and turned out to be an excellent choice for us. The children (including the ‘we don’t sing in Year 6 brigade’!) really enjoyed the songs and did sing. They particularly loved ‘Wired for sound’, ‘Loco for a coconut’ and ‘Creator’ and we had some good dancing too! We have now done 3 of your shows in the last 16 months! All have been very popular, so many thanks and please keep writing.
CAROLINE HANBURY, Sandy Lane Primary School, Bracknell, Berkshire
Just to say a huge thank you ….the children just love all the songs!
EMMA BRIGHT St Bernadette’s RC Primary School, Brighton
From Children in Various Productions
“‘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
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