Thursday, April 25, 2013

True Friendship Depicted At Raue Center For The Arts "Steel Magnolias"

Williams Street Repertory is proud to announce rehearsals are underway for the final production of their second season: "Steel Magnolias" The show opens Friday, April 26 at 8pm on stage at Raue Center For The Arts in Historic Downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois. Additional show dates are: April 27, May 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8:00 pm and May 11 at 3:00 pm.
Robert Harling wrote the heartfelt play that is based on the true story of his sister’s battle with diabetes. In its searing depiction of a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching — and, in the end, deeply revealing of what it truly means to be a friend when the chips are up or down.
WS Rep graciously welcomes Kimberly Berg Sanders on board as the show’s director. Sanders began as a dancer/performer with Judith Svalander and attended high school from Crystal Lake Central High School. She transitioned into directing while in college and upon graduating she became a member of the Chicago Center Theatre Ensemble for 5 years. Sanders, who went to school for education, has directed shows at both Prairie Ridge High School and New Trier High School, and now currently teaches English at Cary-Grove High School.
When asked to describe the show Sanders explained that Steel Magnolias, put simply, is about “needing a strong support group to lean into your fears.”
Bringing to life these iconic women are Amanda Flahive (Annelle), Hannah Dawe (Shelby), Kate Hein (Truvy), Kellee Stall (M’Lynn), Shannon Mayhall (Clairee), and Regina Belt (Ouiser).
Behind the scenes, the crew includes Richard Kuranda (Founding Artistic Director) and T. Paul Lowry (Producing Director) as well as Pat Henderson (Stage Manager), Rebecca Lowry (Set Designer), Dan Gallagher (Lighting Designer), Aaron Quick (Sound Designer), kClare Kemock (Costume Designer), Teri Jackson (Props Designer), Steven Spera (Light Board Op) and John Dwyer (Sound Board Op).
The theatre company also presented The Fantasticks, The Rocky Horror Show, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Company, and Short Stories and Tall Tales of the American Hero this season.
Over the past year Raue Center has attracted regional and national attention from media powerhouses like the Huffington Post, Playbill.com and BroadwayWorld.com.
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.”
Steel Magnolias  tickets start at $29. Group pricing is available! Tickets 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. The second week of shows is also sponsored by Countryside Flower Shop and Garden Center. Thank you to the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
About Williams Street Repertory
Williams Street Repertory (WS Rep) is a 501(c)3 non-profit production company in-house at Raue Center For The Arts.  WS Rep 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.  The inaugural season included The Rocky Horror Show, Santaland Diaries, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Run to the Capulets, Raise up the Montagues. For additional information, visit wsrep.org, facebook.com/wsrep and twitter.com/wsrep.

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