Karen Saari
Title of Play
Rain on Fire
Date and Place of Reading
May 9, 2022
Studio 353, New York City
Director
Lewis Magruder
Cast
Smith Alfieri–Stage Directions
Joey Auzenne–Caleb
Andrea Bianchi–Gloria
Heather Landry–Nan
Jillian Louis–Marie
Andy Prosky–Eino
Andrew Rein–Chuck
Journey of Play After Development at Broad Horizons
World Premiere: Flint Repertory Theatre, 2023
Press: Flintside, Broadway World, Flint Stages
About the Playwright
Karen Saari writes play with themes of redemption, hope and humor in the face of obstacles. Her work has been produced by Playhouse on the Square (Memphis), Flint Repertory Theatre (Mich.), Music Theatre of Madison (Wisc.), Magnetic Theatre Company (Asheville, NC) and more. Her titles include Bad in Bed (A Fairy Tale), In a Clearing, 'Rain on Fire, Tragedy Sound, Joyland and Ten Days in a Madhouse (book and co-lyrics). She is the winner of the 2025 Playhouse on the Square New Play Competition, 2025 Panowski Playwriting Competition,
three-time O’Neill semi-finalist, 2020 Talkback Theater Prize, 2024 Wilde Award (Best New Play), among other awards and accolades. Saari earned an MFA in playwriting from Augsburg University and is department chair of theater and speech at Madison College in Wisconsin.
About the Play
Marie comes home to plan her addicted mother Lorraine’s funeral. "Rain" left a surprising final wish for Marie and her sweet but troubled cousin Caleb to fulfill together. As she and Caleb work to set Rain's poem to music, Marie struggles with her anger and loss. Family secrets come out in this tense, and often funny, play that touches on the opiate crisis in Michigan's northwoods.