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THE FANTASTICKS comes to Raue Center THIS WEEKEND!

The Fantasticks a timeless love story that will be re-imagined for Raue Center's small second stage by producing director, T. Paul Lowry.

Williams Street Repertory is pleased to announce they will embark on their second season with “The Fantasticks”!  The show opens at Raue Center For The Arts THIS Friday, August 10 at 8:00 pm and runs through August 26, 2012.

Along with claiming the title of the longest running musical in history, “The Fantasticks” is also an American classic. This timeless story of neighboring widowers plotting to romantically unite their son and daughter by pretending to feud and forbidding the two children to associate with each other, will be re-imagined for the small second stage by producing director, T. Paul Lowry. His inventive circus concept is sure to send tingles up your spine! The book and lyrics are written by Tom Jones with the music by Harvey Schmidt.

“T. Paul has put together an amazing vision for this show and we are thrilled that he continues his Directing work with us,” Richard Kuranda, Artistic Director. He spent 15 years working in New York City and Connecticut before coming to Raue Center. As the Creative Director of New Haven Theater Company he created unique and diverse programming ranging from Hispanic children’s theater to street performance art. Lowry also served as the Associate Producer at Long Wharf Theater producing and managing several shows. Lowry’s prior experience includes artistic, management and production experience at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theatre Company, and several New York commercial theater productions. Mr. Lowry is also the founder of the Hispanic Heritage Month at Raue Center.

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The cast includes new Williams Street Repertory company members Matthias Austin (El Gallo), Dana Parker (Luisa), Evan Johnson (Matt), John McNally (The Mute/Magician), as well as some the audience may be familiar with including Frank Gaughan (Hucklebee), Paul Anderson (Bellomy), Amanda Flahive (Henry/Mute’s Assistant) and Kate Hein (Mortimer/Mute’s Assistant). Cast members recently got into character on Raue Center and WS Rep’s Fantasticks-themed float for the Lakeside Festival 4th of July Parade (see picture attached).

 

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This professional theatre company right in your own back yard is excited to build on its outstanding opening season and provide quality entertainment all year long!  The 2012/2013 season will include the return of “The Rocky Horror Show” (opening October 19) as well as “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” (opening November 23), “Company” (opening February 1), “Short Stories and Tall Tales of the American Hero” (opening April 13) and “Steel Magnolias” (opening April 26).

 

Over the past year Raue Center has attracted regional and national attention as recently as a July article on their successful National Piano Conference with Huffington Post.

 

Steve Cochran of WIND Fox Radio praised WS Rep calling its work, “Challenging, provocative and, oh yeah… Fun.”

 

Rick Kogan of WGN also had rave reviews of Raue Center and WS Rep saying, “You must, must see this amazing work at this beautiful theater. Outstanding.”

 

Tickets to “The Fantasticks” are $30 general admission. They can be purchased online at WWW.WSREP.ORG, WWW.RAUECENTER.ORG or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. This show is sponsored by Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, BMO Harris Bank and RFP Photography, Inc.

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