By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Lizzie (played by Sally Hamer) tells brothers Jim (Ethan Sundeen) and Noah (Gregory O’Neill) about her trip. Contributed Photo
The Richmond Hill Players continue their 2026 season with the romantic comedy-drama “The Rainmaker,” by N. Richard Nash.
The show is presented Thursdays through Sundays, June 4-14 at the Barn Theatre at Richmond Hill Park in Geneseo.
Joe DePauw, Geneseo, directs the play.
ABOUT THE SHOW
During a paralyzing drought in the American West, a lonely young woman’s father and two brothers are as worried about her becoming an old maid as they are about their dying cattle. For, in truth, she is plain. The men try every possible scheme to marry her off, but without success, nor is there any sign of relief from the dry heat.
Suddenly, from out of the blue, a picaresque character arrives, with a mellifluous tongue and the most grandiose notions a man could imagine. He is a rainmaker, and he promises to bring rain for $100.
It’s a whacky idea, but the rainmaker is so refreshing and ingratiating that the family finally consents. They bang on big bass drums to rattle the sky, while the rainmaker turns his magic on the girl, persuading her that she has a very real beauty of her own. And she believes it, just as her father believes the fellow can actually bring rain. But will the rain come, and will love?
The cast features Sally Hamer and Ethan Sundeen, Geneseo; Alex Claus, Colona; Gregory O’Neill, Rock Island; Gary Talsky, Spring Valley; Jacob Lund, Davenport; and Perin Royalty, Bettendorf.
The staff includes stage manager Sarah Carrington, Galesburg; light/sound/operator Jennifer Kingry, costumer Suzanne Rakestraw, set builder Mike Skiles, crew person Evan Sundeen, all of Geneseo; and set builder Jim Skiles, Colona.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Richmond Hill box office at 309-944-2244 or by visiting the website at rhplayers.com.
Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started.
Admission to all performances is $12.
An audio description performance will be held Friday, June 5. Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time reservations are made.
ABOUT: RICHMOND HILL PLAYERS - a non-profit community theater group presenting plays in the converted top floor of an old dairy barn in Geneseo since 1968. Approximately 100 active members are involved on and off-stage each year, with actors, directors, backstage personnel, support staffs, and audience drawn from a 75–100-mile radius that includes cities in both Illinois and Iowa.
