RAIN CHILDREN INTERVIEW

What is a quick description of Rain Children?

SB: The story of a girl who is living in a small town *fights urge to break into song* where there has been a drought for five years, and a strange group of people come into town claiming they have the power to make it rain. Kate kinda gets caught up in kinda a romance with one of the rain children, while this big party is going on for her and her High School sweetheart (Baxter). Well she *makes thinking noises*... It’s basically her trying to figure out wants she wants from life.

What made you really want to direct this play?

SB: Well Adam and I started working on Rain Children about two and a half-ish years ago. Of course he’d been working on it longer, I've been with him from almost square one.Through all of the struggles to get character evolvement down and plot issues, I have just always been involved with these characters. So then the day came when he asked me, “Would you want to direct it for me?” I was just ecstatic. It was just so close to me at that point. I thought it could be a new way to expand my leadership capabilities and work with the theatre department because I love those people, and I love the Wintons and all the help they’ve provided us with.

I talked to your director Shelbi Barritt

AL: I don’t know who that is.

Well, What was it like to work with her on this for so long?

AL: This probably would not have happened without Shelbi Barritt. No that’s a lie. It definitely wouldn’t have happened without Shelbi Barritt. Not just putting on the show, but me finishing the show would not have happened without her. Because Shelbi had a genuine interest in the show before she had any personal investment in it. She asked me about the progress I was making. Whenever I told her that I didn’t want to finish it or felt like quitting, she’d just be like ‘okay why’ and it would always make me realize that whatever I was worrying about was being blown way out of proportion.

She’s put so much time into it. She’s been wonderful, and I love her so much. I love you Shelbi ,and you’ll probably be the only other person who reads this article!

What is it like to have a direct relationship with the person who wrote the play and have them there given feedback?

SB: It’s really really cool. Adam and I have been working on this together for years. He’s been working on it even longer than I have. It’s a really unique experience as a first time director to have that author there to give a more vivid view of what the scenes were meant to look like. I’ve really enjoyed it because Adam is just a friend of mine in general. It’s been neat to have our friendship grow and progress over the experience of the show.

What was your lowest and highest moment during the production of the show?

SB: Okay, the lowest moment was one night after rehearsal where Adam and I were both having a really hard time communicating to the actors and actresses exactly what we were wanting so it was just a very stressful situation- we both weren’t feeling well. The high point was directly after that, like the next day, where we focused less on the issue that was going on and explained to them the story of the characters. Who these people are, who Adam had written them to be, and what I wanted from them as far as facial expressions and emotions. Adam and I would act out scenes or do the choreography. It was a lot of fun to put myself and help put the actors in the shoes of the characters.

What was your favorite and least favorite part of producing Rain Children?

AL: Aww I can’t come up with a sarcastic way to answer this. I liked all of it. I thought it was all wonderful. If I had to pick a least favorite part I would pick scheduling, you don’t think about how hard it’s gonna be to balance a whole bunch of over achieving magnet schoolers' schedules for two months until they’re all handed to you, and they all have dentist and orthodontist and dermatologist…

Dermatologist?

AL: Oh yeah, everybody.

Alright…

AL: But scheduling was the one unforeseen conflict. It’s actually been really cool. Watching the characters come to life was awesome, especially after spending three years with them just on the page. And they had to listen to my music every single day!

Okay so I know that you are very involved in Theatre...

AL: Thank you.

You were most recently in Urinetown

AL: I’ve been in town for… 16 years now.

Well, would you rather be on stage as an actor or backstage as a director/writer/guy that won’t stop coming to rehearsals?

AL: I like that the second one has three parts to it. I love being on stage. Theatre has been a passion for a long time. This [directing,writing,and being the random guy at rehearsals] is a totally different ball park. First reason because it’s something that I’ve never done before and I had no idea what I was doing half the time, especially in the beginning. Sorry anyone in Rain Children. I think what was really scary and exciting about Rain Children was that it was something I’d never done before. I would like to keep doing thing that I’ve never done before. In that respect I’ve enjoyed this immensely. This is the dearest show to my heart that I’ve ever been a part of. As it probably should be. I’ve loved every second of it and I’d love to do it again. But I’d love to be back on stage. So ideally to answer your question I’d be writing parts for myself and cast myself as the lead and…*sings best of both worlds*

When can we go see Rain Children?

SB: January 14, 15, 16, & 18 at 7 o’clock in Mrs. Winton's room.

Alright final question. Is your mommy proud?