Theatre at the Center Hosts Grand Giveaway Raffle Through 12/19

In celebration of this historical 2010 20th Anniversary Season, Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, is thrilled to announce that they will be raffling off a 2011 Chevy Malibu, generously donated to the theater by Milford P. Christenson of Christenson Chevrolet in Highland, Indiana.

The raffle is currently running through December 19, 2010 for the 2011 Chevy Malibu. Tickets are $20 each or six for $100, cash or checks only. Proceeds will benefit all Theatre at the Center Main Stage productions, Theatre for Young Audiences program, Education through Theatre program and Special Events & Concerts. Tickets will be sold at the Theatre at the Center Box Office, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, through December 19, 2010. The winner will be drawn at intermission of the final performance of IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, December 19, 2010. The winner does not need to be present to win. For more information about the raffle or purchasing tickets, call 219.836.3255.

Mr. Christenson, owner of Christenson Chevrolet, was born, raised and has lived on the same street in Griffith for his whole life and is very proud of that fact! He has always been very active in the communities he lives and works in beginning by being a volunteer fireman in his younger days. He also served on the Griffith School Board for 15 years and is now on the Griffith Public School Educational Foundation Board. Mr. Christenson has served on advisory boards at both Purdue Calumet and Indiana University Northwest for many years as well as the Varsity Club Board of Directors at Indiana University. He is also a board member of the Hammond YMCA and in 2001 was nominated by Indiana new car dealers to represent the State of Indiana in the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Program. He served many years on the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra board, is a perfect attendance member of the Griffith Rotary Club and belongs to the American Legion and VFW, having just recently received the Bronze Medal for service in WWII. Mr. Christenson, at 87 years old, sets the example of a person dedicated to his family, business and community. Theatre at the Center is grateful for his generosity and continuous support of the arts!

Join Theatre at the Center in celebrating their 2010 20th Anniversary Season by attending their current production, the Regional Premiere of the Tony Award winning Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The show is based on the popular 1988 MGM film, and centers on two con men living on the French Riviera - the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money; and a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, who, more humbly, swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health. After meeting on a train, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. So they make a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress, triumphs and the other must leave town. What follows are a series of schemes, masquerades and double-crosses in which nothing may ever be exactly what it seems. This Tony Award winning musical is currently running through October 10.

Kris Kringle takes on the cynics among us and brings us into the holidays in It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, a musical adaptation of the popular holiday favorite "Miracle on 34th Street". In his inimitable style, Meredith Willson, the author of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, tells the classic story of a white-bearded gentleman claiming to be the real Santa Claus as he brings about a genuine Miracle on 34th Street. Spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, this man inspires the city, fostering camaraderie between Macy's and Gimbel's Department Stores and convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas runs November 11 through December 12, with the press performance on November 18.

Join the fun in the traditional holiday tale about a young girl, Marie, and her very favorite Christmas present, The Story of the Nutcracker, running November 29th through December 13th at Theatre at the Center's Theatre for Young Audiences. In this classic play, introducing kids to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky, Marie falls asleep, and when she awakes, she finds the Nutcracker has come to life, along with a toy Soldier and a doll named Clara. Unfortunately, other toys have come to life as well, including the Mouse King. Marie, the Nutcracker, and the other toys embark on a journey to reach the Sugar Plum Fairy. They venture through the beautiful Land of Snow, and finally arrive in the delicious Land of Sweets. This dream-like production is perfect for all ages and celebrates friendship and the beauty of the holiday spirit. A special lunch package will also be available on November 29, 30, December 6, 7, 10 and 13 for an additional $4 per person. The lunch will include an all-beef hot dog, potato chips, fruit roll up, cookies and an orange drink.

Celebrating it's 20th Anniversary, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago and has free parking.

Performances for the 2010 20th Anniversary season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 7:30, and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. Raffle tickets are only $20 each or 6 for $100. To purchase individual tickets, call the box office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552. For groups of 20 or more or for more information about Theatre for Young Audiences group tickets, call 219.836.3258. Gift certificates, perfect for all special occasions, and for Theatre at the Center's 2010, 20th anniversary Season Subscriptions are available by calling the Theatre at the Center box office at 219.836.3255. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com For more information, to purchase gift certificates, and/or individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219.836.3255, Tickets.com at 800.511.1552 or visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.