@ RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
October 14, 2023 @ 7P
World’s #1 touring ABBA tribute.
From London’s West End to Las Vegas, MANIA the ABBA tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) remains the world’s No. 1 touring ABBA tribute show. Formed in 1999, this production has sold out theaters and concert halls across the globe, with over 3,000 live concerts in over 30 countries, bringing the music of the beloved Swedish supergroup to 3 million people.
In an exhilarating, two-hour recreation of one of ABBA’s most memorable concerts, MANIA brings to life the flamboyance of the ‘70s. This includes all of the uplifting, dance-inducing, and sometimes heart-breaking songs from the iconic Swedish band, with fantastic costumes, staging, lighting, and effects.
MANIA recently toured the United States for the 10th time with an impressive 37-date national tour, selling over 50,000 tickets and visiting 18 states.
For lifelong ABBA fans, as well as new generations who never had the opportunity to see the band live, MANIA provides the perfect excuse to party, relive memories and simply feel entertained with the best music ever.
So dig out those platforms, dust down those flares, and enjoy all your favorite hits, including “Mamma Mia,” “Voulez Vous,” “Dancing Queen,” “Winner Takes It All,” “Waterloo,” “Fernando,” “Super Trouper” and many more.
This event is sponsored by
Alison Ward (Agnetha)
Originally from Liverpool, England, Ward has performed as a vocalist throughout the United Kingdom, including at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. She went on to sing as lead vocalist in a show at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and she remains a Las Vegas resident to this day. Ward has also performed with every major cruise line worldwide.
Amy Edwards (Frida)
Amy hails from Sydney, Australia. She started touring nationwide with Australian boy band Human Nature in their Motown Arena Tour, before joining the cast of Disney’s The Lion King, performing around Australia and Shanghai. Amy then moved to London, where she was part of the original cast as Dance Captain / Diva in Priscilla Queen of The Desert on The West End. For the past 7 years, she has called the US home and now resides in Las Vegas, where she performs in shows such as Pin Up & Zombie Burlesque.
She continues to travel as a Guest Entertainer doing her own show on major cruise lines worldwide, is a member of LA’s The Red Hot Band, and tours both nationally and internationally with Vegas’ longest-running show Legends In Concert. Amy has never had as much fun onstage as she does singing the legendary anthems of Abba, and is thrilled to be back with the Abbamania cast, in her home away from home.
Jeff Pike (Benny)
As a vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist, Pike has performed many different musical styles in his three decades as an entertainer. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he just recorded two new albums scheduled for release in 2022 and 2023.
James Allen (Bjorn)
Raised in Sydney, Australia, Allen has performed in numerous leading theater productions, such as “Les Miserables,” “West Side Story” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He has served as a guest entertainer on numerous cruise lines, and also lived in Las Vegas for several years while performing in “Donn Arden’s Jubilee.”
The show is supported by their super talented and loyal live band…
Wayne Viar – Drums (MD)
Chris Blackwell – Lead guitar
Dexter Whitaker – Bass guitar
RAUE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul, board president
John Jacobsen, vice president
Chuck Stevens, treasurer
Luanne Flavin, secretary
John Green
Mike H. Johnson
Stacey McInerney
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
William Schmiel
Regan Shepley
Steven Szalaj
Jerry Trachsler
RAUE CENTER STAFF
Richard Kuranda, executive director/founding artistic
director (CEO)
Justin Wellington, managing director
Meredith Schaefer, director of marketing & institutional advancement
James Knight, economic development manager
Michele V. Knight, marketing manager
Chris Tumblin, technical director
Ryan Meadow, technical manager
Jenna Klaproth, operations manager
Maribeth Ling, front-of-house manager
Box Office Staff
Dan Cosgray
Naomi Unverzagt
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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