Raven Theatre Sets 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' Cast, Creative Team

Michael Menendian, co-Artistic Director of Raven Theatre and co-author (with John Weagly) of the script, has announced Rachel Edwards Harvith will direct Raven's dramatization with music of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's only Sherlock Holmes mystery set around the holidays. The play, based on Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle", follows Holmes' investigation into the disappearance of a precious gem owned by a countess and its reappearance in the cooked holiday goose of an ordinary Londoner.

Harvith directed the acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassinsfor Kokandy Productions in 2014. Leading her Sherlock cast as the famous detective will be Jeff Meyer who played The Proprietor in that production and has also appeared in LES MISERABLES at Paramount Theatre and Flight by Kokandy Productions. Holmes' friend and compatriot Dr. Watson will be played by Darren Hill, who took the role in Raven's 2013 production of the mystery and was recently seen in TUTA's Music Hall. Also in the cast are Neala Barron, Tommy Bullington, Conor Clark, Jazmin Corona, Lisa Herceg, Sophia Menendian, Daniel Toot and David Weiss.

Harvith brings some artists new to Raven for her production team. The new team includes Andrew Sickel (musical director), Mike Ford (choreographer), Alaina Moore (costume designer), Brandon Wardell (set and lighting designer), Johnny Buranosky (properties design and set dressing), Megan Gallagher (stage manager), Justin Castellano (master electrician) and Conor Clark (technical director).

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose, which Menendian and Weagly originally created as a staged radio play for the 2011 holiday season, has grown into one of the Chicago area's favorite holiday attractions. Performances will continue through New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and the first weekend of the New Year.

Tickets are $24.00 for the general public and $19.00 for students, seniors and active military. There is a $2.00 discount per ticket on tickets purchased online at www.raventheatre.com. Tickets may also be ordered by phone at 773-338-2177.

Raven Theatre is located at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. There are a limited number of free parking spaces available in the parking lot adjacent to the theatre, and free on-street parking is available nearby.