Mission & History

Mission and History

Mission

Raven Theatre's mission is to establish itself as an important voice in regional theatre focusing on American classics, as well as new and lesser-known projects that illuminate the "American Experience." Forays into world classics provide our audiences with a healthy perspective of our cultural differences and similarities. The company's mission is realized by uniting an ensemble of Chicago based theatre artists from diverse disciplines who work together with the goal of maintaining a high standard of artistic excellence with programming easily accessible to patrons of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds, and thereby enriching our community's cultural life.

History

Established in 1983, Raven Theatre is a professional, regional theatre company, serving the far north communities of Chicago, including Edgewater, Rogers Park and Andersonville. The company also receives a broad base of support from throughout the Chicagoland area. From 1985 to 2000 Raven Theatre was housed in an intimate 70-seat space in Rogers Park. This award-winning company closed its final season in its old home with five Joseph Jefferson Awards for Arthur Miller's classic drama A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, including outstanding production. In 2002, Raven moved in to its new state-of the art-facility on Clark and Granville. The first production in our new space was the award winning production of MARVIN’S ROOM.

Production History

1983- “Welcome to the USA” - The Pushcart Peddlers, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton

1984- The American Dream, Small Craft Warnings

1985- Talley’s Folly, I Never Sang for my Father

1986- The Last Meting of the Knights of the White Magnolia, Baba Goya

1987- Harvey, Getting Out, Everything in the Garden

1988-Seaviews, Thymus Vulgaris & Chocolate Cake, A Texas Trilogy

1989- Once in a Lifetime, The Two Character Play, American Notes

1990-All My Sons, Italian American Reconciliation, Beyond Therapy

1991- The Matchmaker, A Memory of Two Mondays, Vampires in Chicago, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it all for You

1992- The Artificial Jungle, The Crucible

1993- Cobb, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf,

1994- The Elvis, The Time of Your Life

1995- Hot L Baltimore, Death of a Salesman, Awake and Sing

1996- The Glass Menagerie, An Enemy of the People

1997- You Can’t Take it With You, The Road to Mecca

1998-Six Degrees of Separation

1999- Glengarry Glen Ross, Loyd Byron’s Love Letter & The Long Goodbye, A View From the Bridge

2002- Marvin’s Room

2003- Golden Boy, Social Security

2004- The Man Who Had all the Luck, A Streetcar Named Desire

2005- Dancing at Lughnasa, A Few Good Men

2006- Book of Days, The Exonerated, American Buffalo

2007- The Seagull, The Night of the Iguana

2008- columbinus, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train

2009- Misamerica, Hedda Gabler