WSRep Kicks Off The Summer With The Music Of Johnny Cash

Williams Street Repertory, McHenry County's growing professional theater company, is bringing a show pulled straight from the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash to the stage in downtown Crystal Lake! "Ring of Fire" opens on July 6 at Raue Center For The Arts and runs select dates through August 12, 2018.

"We have taken on a brand-new challenge as we journey into Johnny Cash's music through 'Ring of Fire.' Diving head first into the limitless depth of these thirty-some songs, this challenge has truly proven to be one of a kind," says Music Director Evan Swanson (WSRep, Northwestern University, Awkward Pause Theatre, Theatre Nebula, The Slotted Spoon Initiative).

"I cannot throw enough praise at Evan Swanson! He has brought such beautiful music to life," says Founding Artistic Director Richard Kuranda (Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Signature Theatre, Actors Studio, Circle in the Square), who is also directing WSRep's production of "Ring of Fire." "This show has it all, from rock-n-roll and folk to blues, rockabilly and gospel. Evan's passion and attention to detail help elevate the show."

From the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption and home and family. More than two dozen classic hits - including "I Walk The Line," "A Boy Named Sue," "Folsom Prison Blues" and the title tune - performed by a multi-talented cast, paint a musical portrait of The Man in Black that promises to be a foot-stompin', crowd-pleasin' salute to a unique musical legend!

"Armed with a talented cast, a malleable score and a plethora of Johnny Cash records, we seek to mount a production that is contemporary to our voices and reverent to the landmark recordings of The Man in Black himself," says Swanson, whose previous credits with WSRep include "Little Shop of Horrors," "It's a Wonderful Life," "First Date," "[title of show]" and "Tenderly," as well as Raue Center's "Home for the Holidays."

WSRep's production of "Ring of Fire" opens July 6, 2018 and runs select dates through August 12, 2018 at Raue Center. For more information, visit wsrep.org.