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Raue Center & William Street Rep. Staff
- Richard Kuranda, executive director/founding artistic director (CEO)
- Justin Wellington, managing director
- Meredith Schaefer, director of marketing & institutional advancement
- Rob Scharlow, director of education
- Michele V. Knight, marketing manager
- James Knight, economic development manager
- Maribeth Ling, front-of-house manager
- Jenna Klaproth, operations manager
- Chris Tumblin, production director
- Lisa Giebler, technical director
- Ryan Meadow, production manager
- Robin Hughes, executive producer/production manager
- James Mablin, resident music director
Richard Kuranda
Executive Director, Founding Artistic Director
Richard Kuranda
RICHARD KURANDA (Executive Director, Founding Artistic Director)
Richard got his start at the age of 12 in Northeastern Pa. acting for Pulitzer Prize winner Jason Miller in a production of That Championship Season. He attended WVU as a scholarship student and then went on to NYC’s burgeoning independent film scene in the 1990s where he worked with Bill Plympton, Avram Ludwig, Sydney Lumet, and Eduardo Machado. He then attended the New School for Social Research/Actors Studio Drama School where he earned two Masters degrees under Arthur Penn and Romulus Linney. As a graduate student, he was mentored by Norman Mailer and had three of his plays produced at Circle in the Square.
After school, he served as the Head of Operations at NY’s Signature Theater Company under James Houghton for 3 years where he managed two Theaters on 42nd St. before accepting a senior director post at The New School/ASDS with James Lipton. During a 5-year period, he worked towards the expansion of the Repertory season, international television show as well as the expansion of the campus to include the Westbeth Theater Complex. Kuranda co-founded Epic Repertory Theater in NYC and in a three-year span produced nearly 24 Off-Broadway plays including premieres by David Auburn, JT Rogers, Melody Cooper Romulus Linney, and Lee Blessing. He went on to become the Associate Artistic Director, Interim Artistic Director and then Producing Director for the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theatre Center. While at the O’Neill, Kuranda was credited by the New York Times as restoring confidence to its national programs with the addition of Michael Bush, Wendy C. Goldberg, and Oz Scott. Projects developed under his tenure at the O’Neill included In The Heights and {title of show} amongst others which have debuted at nearly every major regional theater in the US.Kuranda has lectured at Yale, Harvard, NYU and various others.
He is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio (early work at the Actors Studio included a 6-month development of Oedipus Rex with Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Estelle Parsons). His film work with Bill Plympton is a permanent part of the MOMA Collection; he’s a former advocate for the United Nations, Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona 2004. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and The Stage Directors and Choreographers. Kuranda served as a Mentor for the Kennedy Center, Arts In Crisis program. Cumulative Box Office for projects developed under his leadership; 2.9 billion US.
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Justin Wellington
Managing Director
Justin Wellington
JUSTIN WELLINGTON (Managing Director)
Named Managing Director in 2022, Justin has been on staff in the accounting department at Raue Center since 2010. He is graduate of Northern Illinois University He has called McHenry County home for most of his life and is thrilled to represent our local nonprofit theater, providing arts for all!
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Meredith Schaefer
Director of Marketing & Institutional Advancement
Meredith Schaefer
MEREDITH SCHAEFER (Director of Marketing & Institutional Advancement) has lived in McHenry County for most of her life, having grown up in Cary where she returned in 2011 to raise her two sons. She is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Raue Center For The Arts and holds a B.A. in English from Loras College. Previously, she worked for Shaw Media for 17 years most recently serving as Group Director of Marketing, Events and Promotions. She is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Greater McHenry County and has had the opportunity to serve on the boards for The Break, Assisi Animal Foundation, Elderwerks, McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce and Veterans Path to Hope.
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Michele Vazquez
Marketing Manager/Graphic Design
Michele Vazquez
MICHELE VAZQUEZ (Marketing Manager/Graphic Design) is an actor, director, and teaching artist who relocated with her family from NYC to Crystal Lake in 2014. Michele has appeared on stage, television, and film and has appeared on Raue Center’s stage many times as a member of Williams Street Repertory, Raue Center’s in-house professional theatre company. As a director, her focus has been on new play development. She is the program director for WSRep’s new play Reading Series and has directed multiple productions for the company. Michele earned her MFA at Old Globe Theatre and her BFA from UNC-Chapel Hill. Michele is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. www.michelevazquez.com
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James Knight
Development Manager
James Knight
JAMES KNIGHT (Development Manager) brings a wide range of entertainment, educational, and administrative experiences to his role of Economic Development Manager, a position he has held since 2014. As part of the core fundraising team at Raue Center, James helped launch and maintains the RaueNOW Membership program and can often be found at the theater attending to the needs of members and guests. James is also a proud member of Williams Street Rep, has appeared a number of times on stage and was part of the core group that started WSRep’s Lab Series (now called the “Reading Series”). He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG-AFTRA and graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in Theater Performance and from the University of Missouri/Kansas City with a MFA in Acting and Directing.
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Maribeth Ling
Front-Of-House Manager
Maribeth Ling
MARIBETH LING (Front-Of-House Manager) is a Crystal Lake native who has been working with us since the summer of 2019. Her previous 10-year work experience includes the local Hallmark, Bath and Body Works, and Walt Disney World Resort. Stop by the Box Office to see her if you have any questions. She will be happy to assist.
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Jenna Klaproth
Operations Manager
Jenna Klaproth
JENNA KLAPROTH (Operations Manager) eagerly returns to the Raue Center, following her performances in Williams Street Rep’s Beehive, First Date, and other Lab Series Readings, as well as her own cabaret in the Raue Cafe! Previously, Jenna worked at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre as their Audience Services Supervisor. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and a proud Theatre graduate of Carthage College.
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Chris Tumbin
Production Director
Chris Tumblin
CHRIS TUMBLIN (Director of Production) is excited to be back at Raue Center since his tenure from 2002-2012. After gaining additional experience at other venues, he returned in October 2022. Chris brings with him over 20 years of experience.
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Ryan Meadow
Production Manager
Ryan Meadow
RYAN MEADOW (Production Manager) has over ten years of experience in the theater and corporate audio-visual industries with a background in Production Lighting and video. Ryan enjoys planning and executing different projects and helping to bring someone’s dream and imagination to life. He also enjoys working in the performing arts on all levels from people with a newfound interest in the arts all the way to experienced acts keeping their passion alive and helping to inspire the next generation of performers.
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Robin Hughes
Executive Producer / Production Manager
Robin Hughes
Robin M. Hughes (Executive Producer/Production Manager) is excited to have joined the Raue team! Previously at Williams Street Rep, she directed Emma! A Pop Musical, Love Letters, First Date, and Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical. Robin began her professional career as an actor at The Guthrie Theatre in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN, and later graduated with her MFA in Acting from IL State University. Robin moved to Chicago after winning the Steppenwolf Acting Fellowship. Since then, she has also enjoyed directing, casting, teaching, and is particularly passionate about producing new works. Currently, Robin is a professor at Dominican University and is a proud full member of the Stage Director and Choreographers Union.
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Rob Scharlow
RCSA Director of Education
Rob Scharlow
Rob Scharlow (Director of Education) is an award-winning director and has spent 35+ years working in the performing arts which has taken him across the country working as a director, actor, teacher and more. For the past 17 years, he worked for the internationally acclaimed performing arts training center, Stagedoor Manor in New York… a recipient of Broadway Theatre Museums Award for Excellence in Arts Education. During his time at Stagedoor, his journey began as a director/teacher, eventually transitioning into the role of Director of Education for 11 years and then most recently serving as Associate Artistic Director. Rob also oversaw the Dramafest program which helps to develop new and exciting 10-minute plays by young writers. A program that worked in conjunction with Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights.
Education in the arts has always played such a large part in his career and he couldn’t be more delighted to be helping develop and ignite the education program as he comes back to the Raue Center, where (what seems like a lifetime ago) he spent time working as a marketing intern, appeared in several productions including the role of Sweeney Todd in William Street Rep’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (BroadwayWorld.com Best Actor Nominee), Hands on a Hardbody and Barefoot in the Park. He also directed their production of Search for Signs of Intelligent Life and spent some time with SAGE Studios teaching an advanced acting class.
With 150+ directing credits under his belt, some of his most memorable productions include; Ride the Cyclone: High School Edition where he had the opportunity to direct and help workshop the first production designed specifically for high school-aged performers. Evil Dead: The Musical in which he helped in the creation of the High School Edition working closely with Dramatic Publishing and the creators of the show. Other favorite directing credits include Evita, High Fidelity, BARE, Spring Awakening, Carrie: The Musical, In the Heights, BKLYN the Musical, The Toxic Avenger, Big Fish, Rock of Ages, You Can’t Take It With You, and more. On the flip side of things, some favorite acting credits include; Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (BroadwayWorld Best Actor Nominee), Billy Flynn in Chicago, Lockstock in Urinetown, Phantom in Phantom, Jon in Tick, tick…BOOM!, El Gallo in The Fantasticks and others.
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James Mablin
Resident Music Director
James Mablin
James Mablin (Music Director) hails from London, England. He has musically directed and/or played Keyboards in over a hundred shows. Favorites include Joseph and the Amazing TechnicoloredÓ Dreamcoat (UK Tour), Whistle Down the Wind (UK Tour), High School Musical (World Premiere – Stagedoor Manor, NY), Caroline or Change (Cyrano’s Theatre Company, AK), Little Shop of Horrors (Thin Air Theatre Company, CO), The Toxic Avenger (Thin Air Theatre Company, CO) and Into the Woods (Slow Burn Theatre Company, FL).
As an educator, James ran the musical theatre program at a large college in London, was a professor & musical theatre specialist at The Yale School of Drama, and most recently on the Musical Theatre faculty at Auburn University as their resident Music Director. James is also the associate artistic director and head of the music department at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center, named one of the top summer theatre programs in the world.
James has written the vocal arrangements and musically directed opening and closing numbers for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade including the Emmy award-winning song “Join Our Parade”. In January of 2024, James is thrilled to be stepping into the role of Resident Music Director for the Raue Center for the Arts.
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