Before Rainbow Productions brings its programs to you, there is a great deal of work behind the scenes. Over 30 performing and visual artists participate in the process of developing and presenting our shows.

It all starts with an idea.  "Noah's Floating Zoo" was a program Rainbow founder David Messick wanted to present all the way back in 1979! At that time, he was co-directing Tony Award winning actor Frankie Michaels in a dinner theater production of "Apple Tree." Frankie was recording the voice of God for a scene in the play. He was so convincing, David asked Frankie to record the voice of God for a future production of the Noah’s Ark story. Well, eighteen years later, that recording is finally being used on stage. In fact, four of the cast members weren’t even born when the idea for the show began.

"Noah's Floating Zoo" features a gospel, early rhythm and blues type score which is a first for Messick. He received inspiration for the music by visiting Sun Record Studios in Memphis — where Elvis and Johnny Cash recorded their first hits. The scripts for "Noah" and "Chessie" were written during that trip to Nashville and Memphis.

"The Really Big Dinosaur Show" required lots of reading, visits to museums, and lectures.  We're lucky that puppeteer Craig T. Adams and his wife are dinosaur fanatics -- they helped with research, suggestions, and LOTS OF HELP on pronunciations!!

To the left, that's world reknowned paleontologist Dr. John Horner speaking briefly with David Messick about the upcoming program.  Dr. Horner was the technical advisor on "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World."  After Dr. Horner's lecture on the T-Rex, David had to make several changes in the script to make it reflect current thinking about the lifestyle of the giant T-Rex.

Once the script is finished, the music score is recorded. The cast then rehearses and records the performance tape. "Noah" "Dino" and "Chessie" feature a fine group of performers ranging from Frank Mailander, a veteran with over thirty-five years of theater experience, to six year old Tyler Ryan making his performing debut as the Raven in Noah’s Ark. Husband and wife team Don and Chris Bartlett play Noah and his wife. Through multi-track recording, Kenny D’Auria performs all four voices that make up the Four Raindrops!

Sneak previews of the shows allow the tapes to be "audience tested." Then recording engineers Tabb Warwick and Steve Scheffler fine tune the tapes to eliminate material that doesn’t work well and to allow room for laughs and applause.

As the tapes are being produced, puppets are being constructed. The giant marine animals in Chessie were created by Frank Lakus of Tampa, Florida. His work was first spotted by Messick on a trip to the Frog Prince Puppet Arts Center in Tarpon Springs, Florida. A grant from the Cornelia C. Gooch Charitable Trust allowed for the program and puppets to be produced.

Then came the hard part, finding a shipper who could safely move the large but light-weight puppets to Virginia. After several false starts, the puppets made their way here.

In addition to Frank’s puppets, numerous other puppet makers contributed their talents. Fuzz and Stuffing Puppet’s Craig Adams created Crabis and Annika the Blue Crabs. Teacher Cambrai Hayes created the Moon Jellies which pulse just like real moon jellies and glow in the dark. Puppet Arts Center of Virginia founder Helen Spaetzel created the school of Lookdown fish as well as all of the sets for Noah. PACOV president Chris Frank made Noah and Seemore. Rainbow puppeteer Kathie Davis created the Raindrops, Seahorses, Sea Stars, and Clam puppets. Puppeteer Laura Huff created the lion, beavers, elephants, anchovy, and crowd favorite Bub in Chessie. When the UPS strike made ordering a last minute Dalmatian puppet out of the question, clown/magician/puppeteer Dottie Holtz fashioned a perfect puppet for the Noah show.

For "Chessie," the puppeteers visited the Virginia Marine Science Museum to meet with staff members, receive study materials, and observe and video tape the marine animals.

Puppet rehearsals take place at the Academy of Dance on Mercury Boulevard in Hampton. Large mirrors, running the length of studio allow the puppeteers to hone their skills.