In the middle of a bone-dry Depression-era town, a smooth-talking stranger shows up with a wild promise: he can make it rain.
“The Rainmaker” isn’t just about drought and desperate hope—it’s about Lizzie, an independent woman who’s searching for something more than what her small town expects from her. When Bill Starbuck, the mysterious rainmaker, rolls in, everything changes. Suddenly, it’s not just the weather that might turn around, but Lizzie’s whole life.
N. Richard Nash’s “The Rainmaker” first hit Broadway in 1954 and quickly became a crowd favorite, running for 125 performances. Over the years, people have fallen in love with its big-hearted story, so much so that it became a hit movie in 1956 starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn, a TV movie in 1982, and even a Broadway musical called “110 in the Shade.” Revivals keep popping up, both here and around the world, and for good reason: this play is all about believing in miracles, holding on to hope, and letting love in, even when it seems impossible.
“The Rainmaker”
By N. Richard Nash
Jan 16 – Feb 8, 2026
Presented by Venice Theatre at the Raymond Center, Venice FL
Catch Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets and info: venicetheatre.org
Prices: $15–$36
E-mail: BoxOffice@VeniceTheatre.net
Phone: 941.488.1115
Getting There
Raymond Center
140 Tampa Ave W.
Venice, FL 34285
The Raymond Center sits at the north end of the rear parking lot, just follow the signs. You’ll find parking both in front of the building and under the bridge.
