Mission & 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
