Rain Follows the Plow Workshop Cast Announced

We're knee-deep in rehearsals for The Ravagers right now at Savage Umbrella, but we've got more than one pot on the stove. Here we provide a first sneak-peek into our winter workshop of Rain Follows the Plow by company member Rachel Nelson.

A brief synopsis of what will be written:

We circulate between two times: the present day and the depths of the Dust Bowl.  Clarence is the host of an 1930s radio show that broadcasts to much of western Texas.  As times worsen and the dust thickens, he tries to rally his listeners around ideas of anti-immigration and manifest destiny.  His wife struggles to reconcile these ideas with her fractured understanding of her marriage, her country, and her sense of reality.  Meanwhile, a young woman named Clara who lost her family farm to a river being dammed in California decides to take back what she sees as hers, and blow up the dam.  She camps out on top of the dam overnight, waiting for a stranger who has promised to deliver her a bomb. Her suburban poet boyfriend is with her, waxing esoteric in all the wrong ways.  As the night wears on in the current moment and the dust obscures the past, all of these characters find themselves struggling with where they come from and who they are, and what it means to finally manifest their destinies.  

Clarence: An incredible idealist about America to the point of delusion. Deeply believes it is the chosen land and we are the chosen people. Struggles with something confusing with his feelings for his wife; maybe he should have been with another person from his past, maybe there is no bride that can stand up to Lady Liberty. We are excited to have Peter Middlecamp in this role for the workshop presentation.

Ingrid: A strong and intricate woman, Ingrid believes deeply in community. A caretaker. Her emotions/memories speak to her. Sometimes quite literally. She is a woman of great faith, but not necessarily in her country or in her husband. The beautiful and talented Eve Tugwell will develop this role for the workshop presentation.

Clara: A young woman looking for some sense of meaning in the loss of her family home.  Jack annoys her.  She’s fond of him.  She is restless and needs a purpose. Addie Phelps adds her powerful chops to this role for the workshop presentation.

Jack: Goofy and endearing, Jack believes deeply in experiencing everything to the the fullest.  He is a bit of a hedonist, and fresh from a strictly suburban upbringing, he’s thrilled at the opportunity to get a little outlawish. We're thrilled to welcome Seth Conover to play this role in the workshop presentation.

The Catalyst: We have lots of ideas of  where this character is headed, and Savage Umbrella's own Amber Davis will help us to develop this character - maybe with puppets!

Mark your calendars now to join us March 9 & 10, 2012 at The Playwrights' Center for the workshop presentation of Rain Follows the Plow!