BEST STAND-UP IN THE BURBS
2024-25 Season | @ RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS @ 8:30p
Best stand-up in the burbs! Raue Center brings the best stand-up comics in the Chicagoland area close to home with Lucy’s Comedy, Raue Center’s longest-running program! Curated by comic and radio personality, John DaCosse.
January 17, 2025
headliner Steven Haas, featuring Tory Ward, hosted by Mike Preston
February 14, 2025
headliner Maggie Hughes DePalo, featuring Tricia Babischkin and Catherine Strauss hosted by John DaCosse
March 7, 2025
headliner Brian Hicks, featuring Des Mulrooney, hosted by Brian Williams
May 23, 2025
headliner Vince Carone, featuring Joanna Clark and hosted by Mike Preston
MORE DATES COMING SOON!
This event is sponsored by
Friday, February 14, 2025
HEADLINER
Maggie Hughes DePalo
Maggie Hughes DePalo is a Chicago standup comedian, born and raised on the city’s south side. After getting married and having children, Maggie jumped into the comedy scene later in life when she realized it’s a lot more fun than ‘book club’. Her deadpan style and sarcastic storytelling has won over audiences of all ages. Maggie has performed at Zanies, Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, The Lincoln Lodge, CYSK Chicago, and several private and corporate events. She is also a co-founder and producer of ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, a comedy showcase founded on the southside of Chicago.
CO-FEATURE
Tricia Babischkin
Tricia is a longtime friend of the Raue and occasional bartender and an alum of RCSA’s stand-up comedy class with John DaCosse. Tricia has recently started her foray into comedy.
CO-FEATURE
Catherine Strauss
Catherine Strauss comes to you from the rough and tough streets of Barrington, Illinois. As raunchy as a mid-western mom can get (without waking the neighbors) and honing her craft from the school of hard knocks and unusual experiences, she gleefully holds her latte and talks about the good ol’ days of being single, raising children, and her current life as a menopausal empty nester.
HOST
JOHN DACOSSE
John is known as a WGN Radio personality and the curator of Raue Center’s Lucy’s Comedy series. During his 30-plus years in stand-up comedy, the brilliant DaCosse has developed a solid reputation nationwide. He has opened for big names like Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez, Craig Ferguson, and Billy Gardell and has appeared on NBC, Comedy Central and TBS. DaCosse has also served as an audience warm-up for Rosie O’Donnell and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Friday, March 7, 2025
HEADLINER
Brian Hicks
Brian Hicks is one of the country’s most sought-after stand-up comics. He currently tours the country as an opening act for Michael Carbonaro from “The Carbonaro Effect” Brian has taken the comedy world by storm with his insightful views on what people find funny. The laughs come fast and frequently, since he has spent the last 22 years honing his craft at clubs and theaters across the country. Brian specializes in giving every audience a hilarious and singular comedic experience. His unique talent consists of clever material and unparalleled audience interaction, which he combines seamlessly with his lightning quick wit. Brian has incredible instincts and an undeniable ability to make audiences laugh. Sounds great, right? Of course, it does, Brian wrote it!
Brian’s Comedy album “Dibs” is available on I-tunes and can be heard on Sirius XM radio. Drybar special released in Dec. 2021
FEATURE
Des Mulrooney
Des is a 24-year-old comedian and actor who has performed at theaters and clubs all over America. He recently starred in a new movie alongside Doug Stanhope called, “The Road Dog” which was directed by Greg Gliena (Meet The Parents). The Road Dog is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and on demand. The film received warm reviews from the likes of The Chicago Sun-Times, and won multiple awards including Best Picture at the Hollywood Independent Reel Film Festival. A Lot More Fun Comedy Club in Michigan called Des, “One of the top young comedians in the country”. Des is a regular feature for Andy Beningo (Dry Bar Comedy) and has also opened for Dustin Nickerson (Netflix), Marsha Warfield (Night Court), Jamie Lissow (Fox) and more.
Des has performed at the acclaimed 312 Chicago Comedy Festival, he headlined the Chicago area Comedy Shrine at age 19, and has headlined and featured at clubs like Zanies, Comedy Vault, Comedy Cabin, Kenosha Comedy Club, Laugh Factory and more.
HOST
Brian Williams
After studying improv for 4 years, Brian Williams has spent the last 5 years launching his stand up career. He has performed all over Chicagoland including Zanies and Lucy’s Comedy Cafe.
Friday, May 23, 2025
HEADLINER
Vince Carone
Vince Carone is fast-talking, frenetic, and frustrated. He has a quick-witted, fast-paced style that envelops you with an avalanche of punchlines that never stop. He is chaotic, cathartic, and a complainer. But the deeper he delves into his show the more you relate to him, root for him, and feel his pain just as he relives it, night after night. That’s Vince’s greatest gift, his ability to instantly connect with the everyman (and every woman). He sees the absurdities of the world and he rallies against them. Vince says the things on stage you would only dare to speak in a mumbling, hushed tone when no one else was within earshot.
Vince has been seen on TBS and heard on Chicago’s Mancow in the Morning radio show, and WGN Radio. He has released 5 hour-long comedy albums and he runs a podcast called “Peek Behind the Curtain”. This guy hits on all cylinders.
He was the winner of the 2019 “Best of the Midwest” Competition at Gilda’s Laughfest. Vince’s show is filled with genuine, heartfelt laughs. He’s fast, he’s furious and he is funny. It’s not just a wild ride. It’s a journey. It’s a whirlwind of ranting, raving, and refreshing material. No matter the price, Vince Carone is worth the admission.
FEATURE
JOANNA CLARK
Joanna is a comedian and writer based in Chicago. On stage, she takes America to task on pressing issues, such as the lack of transparency around which fish have teeth. Anxiety, self-doubt, and the experience of being a single 30-something are also common topics in her sets. When she’s not on stage, she’s writing funny essays on her Substack, impersonating “Real Housewives” on social media, and eating scones. She’s originally from Louisville, Ky., but left because she’s scared of horses. Follow her on Instagram at @joannaclark_
HOST
Mike Preston
Comic, Author, Talk Show Host. With his slightly damaged take on things, Mike Preston has worked comedy clubs and sordid one-nighters from coast to coast for over thirty years and made several TV appearances, including SHOWTIMES COMEDY CLUB, and NBCS FRIDAY NIGHT. Along the way, he produced and hosted a cable access talk show, as well as
self-publishing several books, including the landmark self-help parody – STOP TALKING NOW!
In addition to standup, Preston is currently working in the storytelling genre.
JOHN DACOSSE
John is known as a WGN Radio personality and the curator of Raue Center’s Lucy’s Comedy series. During his 30-plus years in stand-up comedy, the brilliant DaCosse has developed a solid reputation nationwide. He has opened for big names like Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez, Craig Ferguson, and Billy Gardell and has appeared on NBC, Comedy Central and TBS. DaCosse has also served as an audience warm-up for Rosie O’Donnell and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul
Board President
John Jacobsen
Vice President
Jerry Trachsler
Treasurer
Luanne Flavin
Secretary
John Green
Mike H. Johnson
Richard Kuranda
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
Regan Shepley
Chuck Stevens
Steven Szalaj
Stacey McInerney
Volunteer Liaison
RAUE CENTER STAFF
Richard Kuranda
Raue Center CEO & Founding Artistic Director of Williams Street Repertory
Justin Wellington
Managing Director
Jenna Klaproth
Operations Manager
Meredith Schaefer-Flowers
Director of Marketing &
Institutional Advancement
Michele V. Knight
Marketing Manager
James Knight
Economic Development Manager
Rob Scharlow
Raue Center School for the Arts
Director of Education
Maribeth Ling
Front of House Manager
Chris Tumblin
Raue Center Director of Production
Lisa Giebler
Technical Director
Ryan Meadow
Raue Center Production Manager
James Mablin
Resident Music Director
Box Office Associates
Naomi Unverzagt
Nick Eversman
About Raue Center For The Arts
Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.
For additional information follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit rauecenter.org.
