Mar 28, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Scooter MacMillan, marketing director
Springer Opera House
706-256-0955
smacmillan@springeroperahouse.org
Columbus, GA: The world premiere of the stage adaptation of Karen Spears Zacharias’ award-winning novel “Mother of Rain” is coming to the Springer.
“Mother of Rain” is the story of MaizeeHurd, who is left homeless by tragedy. The young girl goes to a remote Appalachian village to live with relatives. Despite the strange language and superstitions of Christian Bend, Maizee finds a good life there and a community that loves her. But as the shock waves of World War II disturb the quiet life of the idyllic mountain town, even local healer Burdy Luttrell can’t silence “the voices” that plague Maizee and threaten the life of her child Rain.
Zacharias, who now lives in Oregon, grew up at Fort Benning and her work appears in the Ledger-Enquirer. Her work has been featured on CNN, National Public Radio and The Diane Rehm Show and in the New York Times and Washington Post.
She’s the author of several books including “Karly Sheehan: The True Crime Story Behind Karly’s Law,” “After the Flag Has Been Folded” and“Will Jesus Buy Me a Doublewide?: (’Cause I Need More Room for My Plasma TV).” “Burdy,” the sequel to “Mother of Rain,” was published this past fall.
“Mother of Rain” won the Weatherford Award for Best in Appalachian Fiction and was a finalist for the Crook’s Corner Book Prize, which honors the best debut novel set in the American South.It was published by Mercer University Press in 2013.
Paul R. Pierce, the Springer artistic director, wrote the adaptation of “Mother of Rain” He is the author of nine plays and “The Springer Ghost Book.”
“Mother of Rain” runs in the McClure Theatre, which is the Springer’s second theatre. It is right behind the Mainstage Theatre with access from 1st Avenue. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays (April 7-9 and April 14-16) and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17.
Zacharias will hold a book signing at the Springer 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, and it will be held in the Springer’s courtyard garden. This garden is at the north end of the Springer next to the McClure Theatre. This is a free event and will also be an opportunity to purchase copies of the book.
In addition to the performers in “Mother of Rain” Zacharias will attend the gala celebration of the opening of the play after the performance on Friday, April 8.
There will be a talkback after the Saturday, April 9, performance of “Mother of Rain” This will be an opportunity for audience members to stay after the show for a discussion of the play and to ask Zacharias and Pierce questions about the book and the stage adaptation.
The gala opening celebration and the talkback are only open to audience members at those shows.
For tickets or more information: 706-327-3688 or springeroperahouse.org.
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