Raue Center for the Arts

William Street Repertory (WSR) is a theatre company dedicated to sustaining an artistic process of innovative and emotionally charged work, telling diverse stories with an ever growing company of well-respected local, regional and national artists.

In-residence at Raue Center For The Arts, the theatre company came to life this inaugural season with innovative adaptations of The Rocky Horror Show and Santaland Diaries. Now WSR shifts gears from the musical hilarity that was I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change into something you’ve never seen before: Run to the Capulets, Raise up the Montagues (RCRM).

Think William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet REMIXED.

Okay.  You’ve heard and seen all sorts of retellings. Maybe you read the story in high school, maybe you wore out your VHS tape of the movie remake with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. What makes WSR’s version so special?

We could give you a run down of the logistics. Instead let’s instead let Raue Center’s Producing Director and Director of RCRM, T. Paul Lowry, explain how you go about giving Shakespeare’s classic tale a modern facelift and how the story lends itself to all things social media.

(We apologize T. Paul looks like he’s joining the witness protection program. Technical difficulties ensued, will improve in the future!)

Find out all the deets on Williams Street Rep and RCRM at www.wsrep.org.

William Street Rep is holding open auditions for their 2012/13 Season. Auditions will be held at the Raue Center for the Arts, March 4 & 11 (12pm to 6pm) and March 5 & 12 (4pm to 9pm). Looking for Equity and Non-Equity actors 18 years of age or older. All types encouraged to audition. Please prepare a monologue and a song or two short contrasting monologues. No longer than five minutes in total. Accompanist will be provided. Reservations are strongly encouraged, walk-ins are allowed. To reserve an audition slot please contact the Raue Box Office, 815-356-9212.

The WSR 2012/13 Season is anticipated to include; THE FANTASTICKS music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones (show dates Aug 10 – 26, 2012), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW by Richard O’Brien (show dates: Oct 19 – 27, 2012), IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY by Joe Landry (show dates: Nov 23 – Dec 16, 2012), COMPANY book by George Furth with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (show dates: Feb 1 & 17, 2013), STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling (show dates: April 26 – May 12, 2013). Shows and dates are subject to change. Those auditioning will also be considered for other WSR projects, including GET LIT, a short story reading series, and two new works in development. Pay involved for all roles.

Callbacks will be held for each production and will be by invitation only. To reserve an audition slot please contact the Raue Box Office, 815-356-9212.

Williams Street Repertory adds another production to its belt today with the opening of Santaland Diaries, an anti-Christmas classic that celebrates the darker side of the holidays, tonight at 8:00 pm.

This theatrical production based on David Sedaris’ short story tells the story of Crumpet (our hero) as he takes a job as an elf during the holiday season. While donning a green elf hat and tights, Crumpet battles through crazy parents, weirdo Santas and yellow fake snow, with fantasies of making it big writing for One Life to Live. For this production, audience members will be seated on stage as to not miss a moment of this hilarious production.

The show runs through Saturday with showings tonight @ 8pm, Friday @ 8pm and Saturday @ 4pm and 8pm.

Limited tickets are still available by calling the Box Office at 815.356.9212. We hope you can come out and share the season with us and Williams Street Repertory!

Check out a quick clip of what’s in store tonight by watching a reading from last year’s Get Lit. See you tonight!

The stage is set for Raue Center’s first ever Comedy Weekend featuring some of the best comedians on the scene today. First up is Best of Lucy’s Comedy Cafe tonight at 9pm right after the Festival of Lights Parade hosted by the Downtown Crystal Lake Association. We have lined-up some top-notch local comedians for tonight’s Best of including Raue Center favorite Dwayne Kennedy! Also on the bill is Denise Ramsden and Rocky LaPorte with Pat McGann rounding out the group as host for tonight’s showcase. Head over to Raue tonight to laugh away some of the holiday stresses!

But the laughs don’t stop there… Saturday night Raue welcomes one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, Larry Miller, to the stage presenting his one-man show, Cocktails with Larry Miller. During his hysterical show Mr. Miller will give his insights on Little League, adultery and other bad ideas. Larry Miller has appeared in Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries,The Nutty Professor, Bee Movie and Ten Things I Hate About You. Larry is also a proud member of Christopher Guest’s ensemble cast in the films Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

Check out Larry Miller live on David Letterman!

The holiday season is upon us and what better way to celebrate the season than to give to those in need. Raue Center is proud to partner with Crystal Lake Community Harvest and McHenry Animal Control and Adoption Center to help make the holidays a little brighter for families across McHenry County.

Raue Center is an official drop-off site for food and pet need donations. Click above links for complete details.

Also check-out Raue Center’s Community Outreach Page for more upcoming community events.

Happy Holidays!

It is finally here. What we have all be waiting for. Our dress code at the office this week is fishnets and stilettoes (yeah, Richard,too). We suggest you join us. There are six chances to catch the show over the next two weeks, so no excuses. We will see you there!

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
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Creepy mansion, transsexual aliens, one crazy science experiment, and seduction at every turn … What have Brad and Janet gotten themselves into? Dig out your fishnet stockings, sharpen your stilettoes and head over to Raue Center and catch this musical theatre piece to find out!

Thanks to our awesome sponsors, Country Inn and Suites, McHenry County Living, Northwest Herald and RFP Photography, Inc., we were able to pay the actors and actually build a set. Thanks!