INTRODUCING RAVEN THEATRE
Raven Theatre is a not-for-profit, theatre arts organization consisting of an ensemble of directors, actors, writers and other theater artists dedicated to presenting American classics and other works that illuminate the American experience. We are proud of our new facility, which is now in its fifth year of operation and consists of a 150-seat East Stage, a 60-seat West Stage, state of the art technical support areas, a comfortable lobby and on-site parking. Founded in 1983, Raven's home for 15 years was a 70-seat store front theatre located one mile north of our new location.

Over the years Raven Theatre has enjoyed critical acclaim and extended runs of such shows as: Talley's Folly (1985), A Texas Trilogy (1988), Beyond Therapy (1990), Italian American Reconciliation (1990), A Memory of Two Mondays (1991), The Crucible (1992), Cobb (1993), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1993), The Time of Your Life (1994), Death of a Salesman (1995), The Glass Menagerie (1996), An Enemy of the People (1996), You Can't Take it With You (1997), Six Degrees of Separation (1998), Glengarry Glen Ross (1999), A View from the Bridge (2000), Marvin's Room (2002), Golden Boy (2003), A Streetcar Named Desire (2004), Dancing at Lughnasa (2005) and American Buffalo (2006). The company has received multiple Joseph Jefferson awards (including Outstanding Production for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE) and After Dark awards.

Along with its critically acclaimed program of great works of the American Stage, Raven also produces a Workshop Series dedicated to the development of new works (see CURRENT SHOWS AND PROGRAMS). Another major component of Raven Theatre is its youth program. In its commitment to providing a quality theatre arts education for young students we established our educational outreach program in 2000. Since then we have grown to partnering with four local elementary public schools (Hayt, Stone Scholastic Academy, Armstrong School of International Studies and Peirce) and an after school program for children from homeless backgrounds in conjunction with the Chicago Public Schools (Cornerstone). The program consists of performing arts classes and presentations that are incorporated into the school's regular educational curriculum, throughout each school year.

The company also gives presentations of two original children's theatre productions -AESOP'S FABLES and THE DUCK, THE BIRD, AND THE PEA! - throughout the year at the Raven facilities (see YOUTH PROGRAMS).

Raven Theatre Company is committed to serving everyone in our community. The Raven Theatre Opportunity Program makes up to 5% of the seating capacity of all Raven Theatre productions available at reduced or free admission for participants that do not have the ability to pay. Please contact us at 773-338-2177, for information on this program.

BACK TO TOP

OUR 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-know projects that illuminate the "American Experience", while occasionally exploring world classics. Our 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. Vigorously fresh revivals of masterpieces by great playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and David Mamet, introduce new audiences to established classics, while original and lesser-known works give voice to the next generation of playwrights.


BACK TO TOP

OUR FACILITIES
In 2000 Raven Theatre purchased and began the conversion of the old Granville Certified Supermarket into what is now a comfortable two-theatre complex (East Stage, 150 seats and West Stage, 60 seats), with a large lobby, a 22-car adjacent parking lot and state-of-the-art support and technical areas. Throughout the year Raven licenses out its West Stage, as well as, from time-to-time, its East Stage, to itinerant theatre and dance companies for their productions.

We also provide our facilities to not-for-profit organizations for unique fundraisers. Hold your next special event or corporate outing in our beautiful facility. If you are a non-profit organization looking for a different type of fundraising event, consider holding it at Raven, where you can see a Raven Theatre performance in our intimate 150 seat East Theatre, and hold your reception before or after the show in our spacious lobby, for a very affordable fee. For any types of meetings, seminars and other corporate events during the week, we offer either of our theatre spaces as well as our lobby for continental breakfasts, lunches and gatherings.

Lobby	West Stage
Exterior facing northbound on Clark St.	East Stage

For further information and rates call us at 773.338.2177.