BEST STAND-UP IN THE BURBS
2025-26 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.

June 27, 2025
with headliner Calvin Evans, featuring DJ Ribsky. Hosted by Ted Willson.

August 29, 2025
with headliner Chelsea Hood, featuring Mike Preston. Hosted by Brian Williams.

September 26, 2025
with headliner Kevin Bozeman, featuring Nate Armbruster. Hosted by Samantha Chiappone.

October 24, 2025
with headliner Jim Flannigan, featuring Hari Rao. Hosted by Tricia Babischkin

November 14, 2025
with headliner Luca Ferro, featuring Ben Noble. Hosted by Brian Williams.

This event is sponsored by

Friday, June 27, 2025

HEADLINER

Calvin Evans

Chicago native Calvin Evans’ comedy career began during his time at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. While obtaining his degree in Sport Management, he fell in love with stand-up comedy and would put his business aspirations on hold. He took his talents back to Chicago and was quickly named Chicago’s Next Big Comic. Calvin attended the famed Second City Training Center. Upon completing their Improv Conservatory program.

His television credits include NBC’s Chicago PD, and Shameless on Showtime. He has also performed standup on the Kevin Hart Comedy Central series Hart of The City, Bring the Funny on NBC, and Conan on TBS. He can be seen reoccurring on the hit HBO Max show SouthSide. His half-hour Unprotected Sets special was released in 2020 on EPIX. calvinevanscomedy.com

FEATURE

DJ Rybski

DJ Rybski is a stand up comic from the southside of Chicago. He recorded a set for Nateland Live at Zanies Nashville and recently featured on the A-List showcase at the prestigious 312 Comedy Festival. His writing is quick, smart and truthful making him a favorite online where his comedy has been viewed millions of times. He’s headlined some of the best clubs in the country and performs regularly in Chicago at Zanies Chicago, Zanies Rosemont, Laugh Factory, and the Chicago Improv.

HOST

Ted Willson

Ted Willson, the comedic half of the wildly popular online show That Checks Out, is a Chicago area native. While entertaining at clubs throughout the Midwest, he regularly makes audiences laugh with his funny and familiar stories that you can’t imagine really happened to him. Ted brings those unbelievable true stories to life with a polished wit and an endearing charm.

Friday, August 29, 2025

HEADLINER

Chelsea Hood

Chelsea Hood is a Chicago-based comedian you may have seen on The CW Network, WGN, or the stages of SXSW, The Comedy Store, Caroline’s on Broadway, The House of Blues, The Improv, and Zanie’s, as well as a long list of prestigious bar basements across the country.  After getting her start in the Texas comedy scene, she moved to New York City to train with the best the world has to offer. Her comedy is a blend of Midwestern nice observational and pithy storytelling. She’s been selected as a featured performer for festivals coast to coast, including a slot in The Best of the Midwest at Gilda’s Laughfest and a Comic to Watch at Riot LA. She has opened for heavy hitters such as Bert Kreischer, Marc Maron, Sebastian Maniscalco, and many more.

FEATURE

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.

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, September 26, 2025

HEADLINER

Kevin Bozeman

Kevin’s Dry Bar Comedy videos have amassed over 30 million views. Seen on Comedy Central, CBS, and NBC’s Last Comic Standing. He has 2 comedy specials out, on Amazon Prime (Clean & Unfiltered) and YouTube (God’s Work). Kevin’s hilarious takes on parenting, relationships, and social issues make this a must-see show.

FEATURE

Nate Armbruster

Nate Armbruster is a stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster based in Chicago. Born in Detroit, he began performing comedy before he even had a driver’s license. His quick wit and laid-back, charismatic style have been a hit with audiences across the country, earning him spots at festivals like The Great American Comedy Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, and Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. Nate has opened for comedians such as Mark Normand, Nikki Glaser, Bert Kreischer, Ryan Hamilton, Tim Meadows, and TJ Miller.

In addition to his stand-up career, Nate shares humorous stories and commentary on his podcast, “Nate Knows Nothing,” and engages with fans through his social media platforms.

For more of Nate’s comedy, check out his comedy special, “Sorry to Bother You,” available on YouTube.

HOST

Samantha Chiappone

Samantha Chiappone is a stand-up comic and single mom who’s been making people laugh, sometimes on purpose, for the past two years. She’s performed at Zanies, the Raue Center, and anywhere else willing to hand her a mic. Her comedy is honest, fast, and just a little too relatable.

Friday, October 24, 2025

HEADLINER

Jim Flannigan

Jim Flannigan is a nationally touring stand-up comedian from Chicago. Known for his fast-paced, clever punchlines, Jim is a regular headliner at top comedy clubs including Zanies and The Improv, as well as being a regular performer at Chicago’s Laugh Factory and Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas, NV. Jim has opened for some of the biggest names in the world of comedy, including Sebastian Maniscalco and has made TV appearances on ABC, WGN, NBC Sports, and IFC Network. Flannigan is also the co-host of the hilarious All Over the Place, a weekly podcast that is just that, with Pat McGann. Jim’s debut album, About Time, was recorded at the legendary Zanies in Rosemont, IL for release in 2022.

FEATURE

Hari Rao

Hari Rao’s comedy draws upon 45 years of life experience to highlight the peculiarities of everyday living that we simply accept as given, as well as dissecting his own personal experiences that can best be described as “are you being serious?!”. His adventure in standup began in 2016 while his experience in entertainment spans two decades as a recording artist, a recurring theme in his comedy (his band’s song “Rewind” can be heard as the theme song to ABC’s The Goldbergs). Hari is a regularly featured performer at Zanies Comedy Clubs.

HOST

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.

Friday, November 14, 2025

HEADLINER

Luca Ferro

Luca Ferro is a New York City-based standup comedian from Chicago, IL. He has performed at top-tier comedy clubs all across the country and is frequently seen performing on the Las Vegas strip. He has been the opening act for nationally touring headliners such as Steve Byrne, Adam Ray, and Joe Gatto from ‘Impractical Jokers’. Luca was also hand-selected to be a featured comedian on Nate Bargatze’s ‘NateLand’ presents comedy YouTube series. Luca uses his loud demeanor and vast arsenal of voices and impersonations to express his discomfort with the world around him. Luca is an Italian-American comedian who comes from a blue-collar, south-side Chicago upbringing, and his comedy is reflected as such.

FEATURE

Ben Noble

“Ben is not a legally blind comedian, he’s a comedian that happens to be legally blind.” Known for his charm and dope microphone skills, Ben spins tales that’ll have you rolling on the floor laughing!

A Chicago native, Ben has been featured on many television networks including NBC, FOX32, HBO, and Comedy Central. He has performed at comedy clubs across the country including Zanies, Caroline’s on Broadway, and The Comedy Store, just to name a few. Ben has even worked with big-name comedians such as Lil Rel, Roy Wood Jr, and Michael Che. He was a finalist in NBC’s BreakOut Fest and headlined a comedy tour in Edmonton, Canada.

Also an edutainer, Ben’s voice is being heard! He has spoken at many corporate events such as BMO Harris, Uber, and Chicago Bears. He also had the privilege to be a guest on FOX 32’s “Good Day Chicago” morning show. Ben has a passion for bringing laughter with a sense of resilience to those in need and he won’t ever stop sharing his story!

Ben’s unique “point of view” on his experiences and observations makes for some hysterical stories that even you wouldn’t see coming!

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.

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. 

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