The Rainmakers’ fund was initiated last March with a modest investment of TT$20,000.00 (US$3,200.00), supplemented by an unprecedented outburst of creative energy and goodwill. The draft budget of TT$1.2 million grew by more than fifty percent to almost two million dollars in July. This did not dampen our spirits, but strengthened our resolve. This month, we wish to acknowledge the generous financial contribution of The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

An expanding catalogue of merchandise is generating income and defraying expenses. Items now available include limited edition prints, assorted knitwear, the Sapodilla CD, and a commemorative magazine. We are feverishly working to add umbrellas and polo shirts. The feature double CD will be launched at PASIC in November.

Between October 2008 and March 2009, The Rainmakers will be very busy. An event entitled Rain on D Greens, will be held on the savannah of the Gordon Street Offices of The Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), UWI St. Augustine on Sunday October 12, from 4 p.m. It has been conceptualised and produced by DCFA students who are also members of The Rainmakers. Tickets cost TT$50.00.

We will host a merchandising booth at the UN International Food Festival on World Food Day, October 16 at the JFK quadrangle on the main St. Augustine campus. Excerpts from The Rainmakers’ symphonic suite, composed by Dr. Jeannine Remy for Steel Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble, will be performed for the UN Human Rights concert carded for October 25. The venue will be Tsunami night club in Chaguaramas.

Finally, The Rainmakers will enact two full-length concerts of the musical drama at Naparima Bowl and Queen’s Hall on March 08, and 22, 2009, respectively. Tickets for these two performances will go on sale as early as January 02. The second event will be filmed in 5.1 channel, surround sound format, for commercial exploitation.

Through all our sustained efforts, we are finally beginning to realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is not necessarily that of an oncoming train. According to our financial projections, The Rainmakers should have attained a break-even position by the time the contingent returns from Texas on November 10.

Simeon L. Sandiford
Executive Producer of The Rainmakers