December 2008


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The Rainmakers, tour of the Texas, USA, in November has been regarded as an overwhelming success by the University community. The 45-minute musical production integrating dance, drama and traditional Carnival characters, was performed by Golden Hands Steel Orchestra and The UWI Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) Percussion Ensemble.

At the 33rd Annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Austin Texas, the show got a tumultuous standing ovation from the audience. The Rainmakers was also staged for the eneral public on November 5th at the McCallum Fine Arts Theatre, Texas, and on November 6th the troupe again entertained students and children of the school. On November 8th the feature performance took place at the Austin Convention Centre for PASIC members, before an audience of two thousand.

Professor Gary Cook, President of the Percussive Arts Society, presented a commemorative plaque to cast, lauding the performance as: “… a highlight of our convention and my personal witnessing of this amazing production was both moving and inspiring”. The audience seemed to agree, some even showed their enthusiasm by taking part in the traditional Sailor Dance.

The Rainmakers also received praise from Jeff Hartsough, Director of Event Production and Marketing for PASIC, who noted: “Your performance was awesome; we’ve had several people say it was one of the best sessions at PASIC…”

Written and directed by Franka Hills-Headley, the founder of Golden Hands, it features nine original neo-classical compositions for Steelpan and Percussion Ensemble by Dr. Jeannine Remy, Lecturer at DCFA.

Currently, The Rainmakers committee is continuing its fund raising drive to meet the budget of TT$1.8 million for the tour. Approximately half of the budget was raised through sponsors including: Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited (CLICO), the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), Sanch Electronix Limited, Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company Limited (T&T Ent), and The University of the West Indies (UWI). The show’s Patron is His Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of Trinidad and Tobago.

Funds are currently being raised by selling of branded T-shirts, polo shirts, prints of artwork by Nigel Parris and a commemorative magazine. Other items include The Rainmakers double CD ith audio recordings and digital files, as well as the Golden Hands CD – “Under the Sapodilla Tree”. The magazine was a major part of the fund raising, generating over $100,000. in advertisements with sales of approximately $30,000.00.

The Rainmakers will also host two concerts for local audiences on March 8th and 22nd 2009 at Naparima Bowl and Queen’s Hall respectively. Tickets for these shows will be available from mid- December.