Church of Great Rain Is On Retreat

After several visioning meetings this summer, Church of Great Rain is now on retreat to consider the future of the show. Unlike the past 4 years, there will not be a season premiere this September. This will provide our cast and crew the space needed for personal renewal and to work out logistical issues.

Each performance of Church of Great Rain represents thousands of mostly volunteer hours by more than 60 incredibly talented Islanders. This monumental effort has taken a toll on our ability to remain a sustainable production so we are taking a hiatus to relax and explore possible directions for Church of Great Rain to reappear.

Many audience members at our May Revival show took the time to fill out a brief survey and offer skit ideas along with creative suggestions and encouragement. Most importantly, there was an overwhelming consensus that Church of Great Rain’s greatest contribution is a shared spirit of community enjoyed by cast, crew and congregation alike. It is this spirit of community that inspires the ensemble to continue creating one of the most popular performing arts events in Vashon Island history.

Church of Great Rain evolved over time, from spirited jam sessions with Greg Parrott and Frank Hein’s folk-rock band Great Rain, to polished two-hour productions attended by as many as 600 people at a single performance. Since September 2008 when the first show was staged before a handful of friends at the Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi, at least 230 individuals and organizations have helped produce 28 Church of Great Rain performances at the Red Bike and Open Space for Arts & Community. Vashon’s own music, comedy, variety show has truly achieved show creator Greg Parrott’s original goal to become the Northwest answer to A Prairie Home Companion with a Monty Python twist.

It’s been a great run but, in order to again deliver the level of quality performances our Vashon neighbors have grown to expect from us, Church of Great Rain must step back to be able to leap forward. After numerous meetings and heartfelt discussions, we have decided to go on retreat with a profound appreciation and gratitude to our lovely and generous community for the support you have given us. Thank you and remember to . . . ...Pray for Rain!