Mad River Theater Works to Bring the Story of Jackie Robinson to Raue Center

Raue Center For The Arts is excited to welcome Mad River Theater Works for a performance of "Everybody's Hero: The Jackie Robinson Story" at 10 a.m. on January 31, 2017. This original musical presented by Mad River Theater Works tells the inspirational story of the first African American to play Major League Baseball.

"Everybody's Hero" is set in the summer of 1947, when television was new, the sound barrier had never been broken and baseball was a white man's game. By the time the fall arrived, all that had changed. President Truman addressed the nation for the first time on TV, Chuck Yeager flew faster than any man ever had and Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in the major leagues.

It was no accident that Jackie Robinson was chosen as the first ballplayer to break the color barrier in the sport known as America's pastime. There were plenty of talented athletes in the Negro Leagues, some maybe even better than Jackie. But when Branch Rickey decided to add a black player to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he knew that individual had to be special.

He had to be strong enough to stand up to the teammates who would abuse him, the pitchers who would throw at him and the fans who would send him death threats. He had to be able to turn the other cheek to show that he was better than all that. He had to prove that he could be everybody's hero. This new musical by Mad River Theater Works shows the events that shaped Jackie Robinson's character, his struggle to gain acceptance and the tremendous obstacles he overcame on his way to change the face of our nation.

Tickets start at $20 ($6 for students) and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake.

Raue Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 15 years, they have provided quality programming - striving to make it pertinent, available and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor-Lucile Raue-Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic, downtown Crystal Lake, is a gathering place for our region's citizens and has become a true destination.