Enjoy Exciting New Shows at Raue Center for the Arts This May!

Raue Center For The Arts is pleased to announce two exciting new shows coming to downtown Crystal Lake this May! Raue Center's spring season includes everything from a wild ride with an Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian to a provocative tragedy directed by an Academy Award winner.

Christopher Titus takes the audience on a wild ride when the Born With a Defect Tour comes to Raue Center at 8 p.m. on May 5, 2017. The stand-up comedian will leave the audience clutching their sides with laughter as he shares beloved and dysfunctional personal anecdotes in this new 90-minute comedy show.

Employing what he has labeled "hard funny," Titus has released six 90-minute albums and has five one-hour comedy specials currently running on Comedy Central. His sixth special, "Angry Pursuit of Happiness," is set to premiere on May 9, 2017. He is also known for the dark comedy "Titus," which earned him an Emmy nomination and a Writers Guild nomination.

A heart-warming tragedy hits the Raue Center stage with performances of "MUD" at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on May 6, 2017. A provocative play by Cuban-born playwright Maria Irene Fornés, "MUD" deals with the themes of illiteracy, poverty and hunger.

A captivating show revolving around three characters, "MUD" shows their codependency and their lives so intricately entwined, as they all strive to make the best of their situations. "MUD" was developed at by Studio Members at The Actors Studio, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of actors, playwrights and directors. This production of "MUD" is directed by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons.

"Fornés is one of the most well-known playwrights in both Hispanic-American and experimental theatre. She has won a total of nine Obie Awards, an amazing achievement," says Raue Center Executive Director Richard Kuranda. "We produced her extensively at Signature Theater and I am thrilled to be able to bring in the team from The Actors Studio to present this piece, which explores not only the power of a strong female character, but also the immense power of poverty. It's a remarkable piece of work and if you love theatre, you won't want to miss this incredibly unique experience."

Tickets for these shows are currently available to RaueNOW members and will be available to the public on March 7, 2017. Tickets 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 16 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, Ill., 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.