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Community Film

Documentary Film starring local residents gets special screening at Raue Center

<Crystal Lake>, IL –May 17, 2023 – Raue Center is proud to announce the film screening of “Ball Was Life,” a documentary film about a group of middle-aged men who recruit their sons to maintain their dominance in the local men’s recreational basketball league on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 3 p.m.

 

Led by Kevin aka “Slim the Barber,” the team has played together for years, winning several championships. But with age catching up, they turn to their sons to keep their winning streak alive. The film follows their journey through the inaugural season, as they face new challenges and rivalries.

 

“I am super excited to show “Ball Was Life” at Raue Center,” explains Kevin Slimko. “Growing up in Algonquin, the Downtown Crystal Lake Showplace was THE theater to see a movie at. I was also in The Williams Street Rep’s improv group for several years. During that time, I gained a new appreciation for community theater and further cemented my belief of how important the Raue Center is to Crystal Lake in general but especially downtown.  I’ve owned Slim’s in downtown CL for almost 18 years and really feel like part of the community and could not be happier with a movie premiere location.”

 

Join us for this premiere screening as a part of Raue Center’s Summer Film Series. We promise an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration, laughter, and love for the game. Featuring: Kevin and Calvin Slimko, David Binion and David Binion Jr., Wallace, Julian and Anthony Lynch, Mike Clarke, Adam Pischke, and Sherick Simpson.

 

Admission is free with a $5 suggested donation. Proceeds benefit Raue Center For The Arts and film creator Kevin “Slim” Slimko. For more information or to see a complete list of our upcoming events visit rauecenter.org, call our Box Office at 815.356.9212 visit us in person at 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. 

 

Become a RaueNOW Member and get 30% Off Tickets and early access to upcoming shows. 

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

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Featured Festivals Music Pop Rock Tribute

Raue Center announces 3rd Annual Arts On The Gren Outdoor Summer Series

<Crystal Lake>, IL – May 24, 2023 – Raue Center For The Arts presents its third annual outdoor summer series ARTS ON THE GREEN at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church,  210 McHenry Ave in Crystal Lake! Space is limited at Arts on the Green so order tickets early and plan your visit to this charming venue. Patrons can bring blankets, chairs, and refreshments to enjoy while listening to great entertainment in the great outdoors! 

Blues, jazz, folk, and rock concerts on the green grass of St. Mary’s begin July 8 at 7 pm with Raue Center 2022-23 season acoustic artist Dave Sarkis & Friends. From the farm fields of northern Wisconsin to the beaches of the Gulf Coast: David Sarkis’ wide-ranging style of acoustic music has made a name for himself on and off the stage. From Thursday nights at Duke O’Brien’s to the Schubert Theater run of Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys to PBS sensation Under the Streetlamp: Sarkis has left a trail of smiles and fond memories across the country.  Joined by an array of lifelong friends and featuring special guest teen vocal sensation Katherine Hines from the gulf coast of Florida, this promises to be a night of music to remember!

Tina Naponelli returns in Tapestry Unraveled: The Music of Carole King on July 15 @ 7 pm. With her powerful voice and soulful dedication, Naponelli has captured the true essence of King in this unique and unforgettable tribute experience. Backed by a bold five-piece band, Naponelli pays homage to the iconic Queen of Pop with impressive renditions of “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Chains” and “You’ve Got a Friend” from King’s “Tapestry” album as well as other favorites.

Satisfy your love of all things Broadway with a tribute to Tony and Grammy Award Winner Stephen Sondheim on Saturday, July 22 @ 7 pm. Sondheim, a giant in American musical theatre, won 8 Tony Awards. On what would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 93rd birthday, an all-star cast of national touring artists are honoring him with a heartfelt evening of some of his most popular songs, including hits from “West Side Story,” “Company,” “Into the Woods,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and many more. 

Go back to your roots with Forever Simon And Garfunkel on Saturday, July 29 @ 8pm. This tribute celebrates the best-selling duo in rock’n’roll history with humor, soaring energy, charm, and harmony! Sean Altman & Jack Skuller lead the audience on a concert journey through Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s teenage roots, their early success as a groovy folk act, their global dominance as hit-makers, and even some of Paul Simon’s solo career. The Sound Of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mrs. Robinson, I Am A Rock, The Boxer, Homeward Bound, Cecilia, Hazy Shade Of Winter, Feeling Groovy, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Kodachrome, and many more!

On Saturday, August 26 at  7 pm, SoundTracks Of A Generation presents Ladies Of The Canyon: a Tribute to Linda Ronstadt and Joni Michell. Heather Wood and Julie Miller take us on a joyful, entertaining journey showcasing the best-loved songs by these groundbreaking artists who fearlessly challenged stylistic boundaries over their long careers creating timeless music.

Tickets start at $25 ($17.50 for RaueNOW Members)  and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. Raue Center’s Arts On The Green runs July – August on St. Mary’s Episcopal Church campus, 210 McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL l 60014. 

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

 

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Blues Jazz Music Soul

Famed Blues Guitarist Robert Cray brings his band to Raue Center

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – May 30, 2023 – The Robert Cray Band will be touring the US and UK for the first time since the 2020 release of his album, “That’s What I Heard.” and they’re coming to Raue Center September 8, 2023, @ 8 p.m.

“Funky, cool and bad,” is how Cray describes the Grammy-nominated album, produced by longtime collaborator, Steve Jordan, who adds, “I thought, if we could get this thing that Sam Cooke used to have, the kind of sound that early Sam Cooke records had, that we could pull this off.”

 

“Robert Cray is not only making music, he’s making history,” writes Guitar Player Magazine. Over the past four decades, Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots, blues, soul, and R&B, with five Grammy wins, 20 acclaimed studio, and live albums that punctuate the Blues Hall of Famer’s career. On That’s What I Heard, Robert celebrates the music of Curtis

   

Mayfield, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Sensational Nightingales, and more, alongside Cray’s own songs. Cray and Jordan go way back, having met during the making of the Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll, in 1987. They started working together in 1999, when Jordan produced the Grammy-winning Take Your Shoes Off, and the recent Grammy-nominated LP, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm. That’s What I Heard is their sixth album. “Once you start working with Steve, it’s kind of hard to get away from him,” said Robert.

 

“Robert is just a great person besides being extraordinary talent,” adds Jordan. “People gravitate to his guitar playing first, but I think he’s one of the best singers I’ve heard in my life. Not only because of his singing ability but his interpretations. He’s such an honest soul in my opinion.”

Robert’s band features Richard Cousins (bass), Dover Weinberg (keyboards), Terence F. Clark (drums), and Steve Jordan (drums, percussion).

Tickets for Robert Cray start at $50* ($35* for RaueNOW Members) Purchase tickets online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. Become a RaueNOW Member and get 30% Off Tickets and early access to upcoming shows. 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

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Music Rock

DAVE MATTHEWS TRIBUTE BAND RETURNS TO ROCK RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – May 22, 2023 – Raue Center For The Arts in historic Crystal Lake, IL wants audiences to relive their glory days with Dave Matthews Tribute Band, August 12, 2023 at 8 pm. 

 

Since 2004, The DMTB is the only nationally touring tribute to the Dave Matthews Band. This 5-piece ensemble strives to pay homage to their famous counterparts by matching the excitement, energy, intensity, and intimacy of a DMB live show. For nearly 20 years, the band has been performing sold-out shows around the world; playing over 1,500 dates in 46 states and 8 countries. 

 

While most fans never witnessed the real band before they became the platinum-selling artists they are today, The Dave Matthews Tribute Band prides itself on giving audiences this opportunity at intimate venues around the world. 

 

As Rick Grant of Entertaining U in Jacksonville, FL wrote, “The Dave Matthews Tribute Band…is exceptionally tight and produces a solid groove over which the players improvise with hot chops.”

 

Beyond mastering the DMB sound and the relentless touring, what separates The Dave Matthews Tribute Band from other cover bands is their passion, love, and respect for DMB and their music. That is what makes you come out of one of their shows saying, “Yeah, they really do sound like the real Dave Matthews Band.”

 

Tickets start at $30 ($21 for RaueNOW Members) and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. 

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

 

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Country Music

American country music singer/songwriter and Billboard chart-topper Phil Vassar comes to Raue Center!

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – MARCH 14, 2023 – Raue Center For The Arts proudly welcomes country music billboard chart-topper Phil Vassar on November 18, 2023 at 8 p.m.

 

Phil Vassar’s reign of signature songs includes 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits, including Carlene, Just Another Day in Paradise, Six-Pack Summer, When I Love You, and many more. Vassar was racking up hits on the radio long before he even began his own recording career that has seen the release of six albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist and sold-out shows across the country. 

 

Vassar’s songwriting career blossomed in the mid-’90s when he landed a publishing contract with EMI and penned hits for Collin Raye (Little Red Rodeo), Alan Jackson (Right on the Money), Tim McGraw (For a Little While), Jo Dee Messina (Bye Bye, Alright), and Blackhawk (Postmarked Birmingham). He signed a record deal of his own with Arista in 1998 and was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1999. 

 

Vassar continues to churn out incisive, soulful lyrics and infectious melodies that capture the heart and soul in the unique and special way that only he can.

 

Enter to win tickets to see Phil Vassar March 14th – 26th. One winner will receive TWO tickets to see Phil Vassar at Raue Center For The Arts on November 18th at 8 p.m. The winner will be chosen at random on or around March 28, 2023. Enter to win today! For more information, visit https://app.hive.co/l/3rv338

 

Tickets for Phil Vassar start at $55 ($38.50 for members) Purchase tickets online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. Become a RaueNOW Member and get 30% Off Tickets and early access to upcoming shows. 

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

 

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Comedy Sketch/Improv

COLIN MOCHRIE’S “HYPROV” (Improv under hypnosis) RETURNS TO RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS 

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – March 21, 2023  – Raue Center For The Arts is excited to welcome Colin Mochrie of “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” with “HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis” featuring master hypnotist Asad Mecci. Come together as two masters of their crafts unite for a totally unique comedy experience at 8 p.m. on October 7, 2023. 

From the brilliant minds of improv legend, Mochrie and master hypnotist Mecci comes a brand new, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, side-splitting show where 20 volunteers are hypnotized on stage, whittled down to five of the best who do improv scenes with Colin Mochrie WHILE THEY ARE STILL UNDER HYPNOSIS. What can possibly go wrong?  Come and see for yourself! 

The show begins with Mecci welcoming twenty volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. He whittles them down to four or five of the most susceptible and then brings Mochrie out to improvise with them–while they are under hypnosis. In the hands of two experts, and solely crafted from the audience’s uninhibited unconscious mind, each show is an entirely original and completely unforgettable theatrical experience.

“When we tried this for the first time on stage, I was absolutely petrified. Then I thought, ‘let’s just see where this takes us,’” said Mochrie. “Adding in the element of hypnosis to improv really allows people to let their guard down and have fun in a scene. They’re certainly the most interesting stage partners I’ve ever had!”

“I’ve been hypnotizing people for 20 years, but when I studied improv I had an epiphany: hypnosis could unlock the comedic genius in everyday people and turn them into pros,” said Hypnotist Mecci. “You never know which participants will go under hypnosis and for how long. But that’s part of the show and what adds to the laughs.”

HYPROV (pronounced hip-rawv) is coming to you straight from a 70-show run Off-Broadway in New York City!!  HYPROV is “hilarious and fascinating” (says Time Out New York) and is “catnip for those who relish spontaneity and informality,” (The Wall Street Journal). The New Yorker says, “say yes to HYPROV,”! The 100-minute live show combines hypnosis and improv – two art forms that have mystified and entertained fans, skeptics and everyone in between worldwide – for a totally unique comedy experience that The Times of London declared “a celebration of the human imagination.”

Tickets start at $50 ($35 for RaueNOW Members) and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. For more information, visit rauecenter.org. 

For additional information, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

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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Comedy Featured Stand-up

A quartet of Comedy favorites return to Raue Center with a new show just in time for Father’s Day!

<Crystal Lake>, IL – May 1, 2023– Veteran comedians Steve Cochran, John Da Cosse, Tim Benker and Mike Toomey team up for The FourFathers comedy show on June 16 @ 8 p.m.  With over 160 years of combined experience and over 50,000 shows in front of more than 10 million people, they’re four Dads ready to give their take on marriage, kids, and growing older.

The show features longtime Chicago radio personality Steve Cochran host of The Steve Cochran Morning Show on WLS 890-AM with John DaCosse and Mike Toomey and Tim Benker.

A radio personality for over 30 years, Cochran has hosted his own show from the coast, settling in Chicago in the late ‘90s. Cochran has also worked as an actor, appearing in films such as “Grumpy Old Men,” and as a writer for “Saturday Night Live.” Throughout the years, Cochran has also performed stand-up comedy with many of the greats in the business. He enjoys getting out and doing live performances about four times a year, including his annual New Year’s Eve show, now in its 17th year! Cochran is perhaps best known for hosting his own show, The Cochran Show, on WLS and previously on WGN Radio, following in the “mic-checks” of legends such as Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, and Spike O’Dell.

DaCosse is known as a WLS 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.” He, along with his well-known character voices, can regularly be heard on Steve Cochran’s morning show on WLS.

A regular performer on WGN Morning News, Toomey has appeared in concert with such names as George Carlin, Wayne Newton, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Reba McEntire. He has performed on numerous TV programs including HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, MTV’s “Half Hour Comedy Hour” and A&E’s “Comedy on the Road.” 

With his sharp delivery, quick wit, and unique style, Toomey has been a favorite at comedy clubs and special events since 1982. He is also the creator and star of the hilarious one-person show “TV and Me,” which enjoyed a highly successful run at Chicago’s Apollo Theater. The Chicago Tribune calls Toomey “one of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in Chicago.” Performing comedy that won’t make your grandmother blush, Toomey’s dead-on impersonations and PG-rated style are for anyone and everyone who could use a really good, hearty, pure, and deep-rooted laugh. 

Tim Benker is a veteran of Chicago comedy and has opened for many well-known acts such as Jay Leno, Rosie O Donnell, Steven Wright, Richard Lewis, and Walt Willey. Benker has also made himself useful in daylight hours by hosting morning radio in Las Vegas and Houston and also produced a variety show around his alter ego “The Very Famous Lance Vegas.”

Tickets start at $25 for the general public and $17.50 for RaueNOW Members and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. 

For additional information, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

 

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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Featured Jazz Music Swing

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY SWINGS INTO RAUE CENTER CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF CHART-TOPPING MUSIC. 

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – MAY 29, 2023 – Raue Center For The Arts is excited to announce the return of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to downtown Crystal Lake. Join Big Bad Voodoo Daddy for a swinging good time at 8 p.m. on July 1, 2023 @ 8 p.m!

 

Since its formation in the early ‘90s in Ventura, California, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has toured virtually non-stop, performing an average of over 150 shows per year. It has also produced a sizable catalog of recorded music, with sales of over 2 million albums to date.

 

Early on, during its legendary residency at the Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy reminded the world, in the midst of the grunge era no less, that it was still cool to swing. The band, co-founded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, was at the forefront of the swing revival of that time, blending a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and Dixieland with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture.

 

Together for 30 years, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – famously named after an autograph from blues legend Albert Collins – has appeared in concert venues across the world, sold millions of records, and had its music appear in hundreds of movies and television shows.

 

With sold-out concerts from the Hollywood Bowl to the Lincoln Center, appearances with many of the country’s finest symphony orchestras, and television appearances ranging from “Dancing with the Stars” to Super Bowl XXXIII, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy continues its decades-long mission to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music – America’s original musical art form – and bring joy to audiences around the world.

 

“We love having Big Bad Voodoo Daddy back at Raue Center,” says Raue Center Board President, Tim Paul. “Their music speaks for itself and will leave the audience unable to sit still in their seats!” 

 

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s all-original core line-up includes Scotty Morris (lead vocals and guitar), Kurt Sodergren (drums), Dirk Shumaker (double bass and vocals), Andy Rowley (baritone saxophone and vocals), Glen “The Kid” Marhevka (trumpet), Karl Hunter (saxophone and clarinet) and Joshua Levy (piano and arranger). 

 

Tickets to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy start at $45* ($31.50* for RaueNOW Members) and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. 

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

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Uncategorized

McHenry Chamber Auditions for Murder Mystery March 27th!

We are excited to host our third McHenry Murder Mystery event on October 7.  This year’s event is Alice in Wonderland themed!  Right now, we are looking for Chamber member “actors” to play the roles of our suspects and witnesses.

  • If chosen as a suspect, you will dress in character for a quick headshot and record an interrogation room video that our participants will watch the day of the event.
  • If chosen as a witness, you will dress in character the day of the event at one of the business stops where the participants will interact with you to reveal a clue.

Auditions will take place during the week of March 27.  If you are interested in auditioning, please CLICK HERE to fill out the google form.

If you have any questions, please contact Molly at 815-385-4300 or molly@mchenrychamber.com.

Click here for more information on the event.

Classes Education Masterclass Music Theatre

Raue Center School For The Arts to Host ANNIE Actors and a Grammy Winner for two New Masterclasses!

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – February 24, 2023 – Raue Center School For The Arts continues its new Masterclass Series with two new selections to cap Raue Center’s 2022-23 Season. 

Taught by professional artists from across the country, RCSA masterclasses focus on a variety of disciplines and specialties throughout the year including group instruction, one-on-one coaching, Q&A’s in Auditioning, Acting, Dancing, and more! 

Get an up-close look at the professional musical audition experience on Monday, March 13 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm with “The ANNIE Audition Experience” featuring, guest artists Ellie Rose Pulsifer (Annie) and Harrison Drake (Drake, Daddy Warbucks understudy) from the current National Tour of ANNIE opening soon at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre. 

Guest artists will take participants through the same audition and casting process that the actors themselves went through to get hired for this lavish, exciting production of one of the most popular musicals of all time. Learn a dance combination from the show! Get taken through a professional audition step-by-step!  Find out from ANNIE herself how young artists live on tour! 

On Thursday, May 18th from 6:30-8:30 pm join two-time Grammy-winner Ernie Watts for “A Melodic Approach to Improvisation.” Considered one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players in music, Watts has been playing professionally for over 50 years. He has been featured on over 500 recordings and became “first call” for all the reed instruments for films, TV, and recordings with pop icons such as Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan, Carole King, Frank Zappa, all the Motown artists, and many others. Watts played for 20 years in Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show band, always exhibiting his unforgettable trademark sound.

This very special masterclass kicks off Raue Center’s Blues Weekend, May 18 – 20. Ernie Watts will discuss how to create musical freedom through discipline and shares stories from his life lived in music for over 60 years and followed by a Q&A. 

Tickets for both masterclasses are $20 ($15 for members) Purchase tickets online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. Learn more at rauecenter.org/education. Made possible by the generous support of the Johnny Carson Foundation and Advance McHenry County. Become a RaueNOW Member and get 30% Off Tickets and early access to upcoming shows. Become a RaueNOW Family Member and save 25% on classes and camps!

 

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, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

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