Mike Vandercook Joins Raue Center as Director of Production

"Raue Center is overjoyed to welcome Michael Vandercook! He's a hell of a great guy-a true gentlemen. He's one of the finest minds in the industry and he is anxious to start working with the team. We continue to build Raue Center into a regional powerhouse with nationally recognized artist as well as incredibly successful in house programs like Williams Street Repertory, The National Piano Conference and Lucy's Café."

Raue Center For The Arts welcomes Michael Vandercook to their staff as the Director of Production. Mike began his journey to theatre by earning an M.A. literary and rhetorical theory from the University of New Orleans. He has an MFA in Technical Design and Production from Yale School of Drama. He has served as the Director of Operations and Technical Director for the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, working with The National Theater Institute, National Puppetry Conference, National Music Theater Conference, National Playwright's Conference. He has been a Technical Director for the Dorset Playhouse, the Elm Shakespeare Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre.

He has been Production Coordinator for the MFA program at Towson University and Production Manager for Baltimore Theatre Project. Mike has been a technical consultant for many artists and institutions including Eliza Jane Scnieder, Lee Breuer, and the Raue Center for the Arts. Mike is the Executive Director of Generous Company and the Managing Director for WordBRIDGE Playwright's Laboratory. Mike is a founding member of Generous Company.

Mike first worked with Richard Kuranda, Raue Center's executive director, several years ago as an advisor planning Williams Street Repertory - the in-house theatre company. Before WSR kicked off their inaugural season they co-produced I am the Machine Gunner with Generous Company. The show played for two nights in 2010 and was lauded by Timeout Chicago.

WSR's 2013/2014 Season is set to include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (October 2013), It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (November-December 2013), The Vagina Monologues (January- February 2014), She Loves Me (February 2014) and Barefoot in the Park (May 2014).

The entire WSR creative team is excited to build on Mike's experience as they welcome new programs like the contemporary New Voices Workshops kicking off October 7 at 7:00pm with the play White People by J.T. Rogers. This piece will be directed by Chicago veteran Sandy Shinner. For more information please visit rauecenter.org.