The Raven Foundation

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists has announced its list of nominations for the best newspaper columns of 2011. Included in the list is Robert Koehler’s Sept. 7, 2011 column for Tribune Media, Captives to the Logic of Violence, where Raven Foundation Founder Suzanne Ross is quoted extensively. The launch of the Foundation’s project, Be a Hero for Peace, an effort to reclaim the meaning of 9/11, making it a day of reverence, connection and forgiveness, was also highlighted.

 

Robert Koehler is an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist and nationally syndicated writer. His new book, Courage Grows Strong at the Wound (Xenos Press) is now available. Contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit his website.

 

Suzanne Ross and her husband Keith founded The Raven Foundation in 2007 to increase awareness of mimetic theory. Her first book, The Wicked Truth: When Good People Do Bad Things, examines the lessons of myth, scapegoating and forgiveness in the hit Broadway musical Wicked. Her second book, The Wicked Truth About Love: The Tangles of Desire, explores patterns of romantic love and how to create a fulfilling relationship.

On September 12, 2011, Suzanne Ross participated in Marking the Day ten years later. A project of the Illinois Humanities Council, the Project on Civic Reflection, Fourth Presbyterian Church, and WBEZ, 30 civic leaders gathered to reflect and talk about the aftermath and meaning of 9/11. Listen to this thoughtful and provocative conversation recorded at WBEZ.

In the September 8 edition of the Huffington Post, peace journalist Bob Koehler uses Raven’s Be a Hero for Peace project as an example of how we can free ourselves from the logic of violence. He quotes Suzanne and applauds our call to action.

The Raven Foundation is supporting the development of RAW - a Dance Musical - developed by choreographer Josh Walden. Enjoy!

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Self-proclaimed peace journalist Robert C. Koehler quotes Raven Founder Suzanne Ross and Education Director Adam Ericksen in his Huffington Post article, Wanted Dead or Alive, that examines the emotional connection between the justice of the Wild West and the killing of Osama bin Laden. 

Suzanne's introduction to Raven Foundation Resources on Edith Wharton's novel Ethan Frome.

Lecture by Rosemary Erickson Johnsen at the Loyola University Museum of Art

The Raven Foundation sponsored a scholarly lecture on the Lookingglass Theatre's production of Ethan Frome in the Simpson Lecture Hall at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA), 820 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Lecturer Rosemary Erickson Johnsen, Associate Professor of English at Governors State University, is an author and educator, who earned her Ph.D. in English at Michigan State University. Her first book, Contemporary Feminist Historical Crime Fiction, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2006. Her published essays focus on crime fiction, twentieth-century British literature, Irish literature, and book history. A member of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion since 1995, she has presented at many of their annual meetings. Listen to Professor Johnsen's lecture. Enjoy the study guide that includes Professor Johnsen's lecture.

 

Steep yourself in the wintery atmosphere of the play by reading Professor Johnsen's article, Snowy Hell, written for the Lookingglass Theatre's study guide for Ethan Frome.

Suzanne Ross explores the relevancy of Ethan Frome to current times with adapter/director Laura Eason. Listen in.

 

 

 

 

  

 

This lecture was open to the public and  recorded for inclusion in the Chicago Amplified Audio Archives of WBEZ radio.

 

 Laura Eason and Suzanne Ross' photo courtesy of Brad Baskin Photography.

 

  

 

 

Performance of Ethan Frome 

Adapted from the novel by Edith Wharton
Written and directed by Laura Eason
Featuring company members Philip R Smith, Andy White,
Louise Lamson and Lisa Tejero with Erik Lochtefeld.

 

A shattered body...A frozen heart...A legendary sled ride down an unforgiving hill.  In the deep of winter, a strange mystery unfolds.  The whole town knows the story.  But does anyone know the truth? Warm yourself with a smoldering adaptation of Ethan Frome, a novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton.

 

Ensemble Member Laura Eason, recently hailed by the Chicago Tribune as Chicago’s next breakout playwright, directed her adaptation of this deeply poetic story about fervent desire, illicit passion, staggering regret and the irreversible choices that shape the life of a reticent farmer in Starkfield, Massachusetts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2011 Raven Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment was presented to Award winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for the blockbuster musical Wicked on March 1, 2011 at the Loyola University Museum of Art. The evening included a champagne reception and an interview of the honoree by Suzanne Ross.

 

Raven Founder Suzanne Ross, Raven Award Recipient Stephen Schwartz and Raven Founder Keith Ross.

Suzanne and Stephen enjoy a moment during their interview. Listen to their lively and engaging conversation. View a slide show of the event.

 

Celebrating Wicked

Entertainment Weekly declared Wicked to be the best musical of the decade, and we agree. Not only is it blockbuster entertainment, but like a powerful tornado, it upends what you thought you knew about how to be good and where wickedness is hiding. Join us in honoring the talented, profound, and award winning Stephen Schwartz, composer and lyricist for this original and provocative musical. It promises to be a Wicked celebration!

 

For an exploration of the themes and insights found in Wicked, see The Wicked Truth: When Good People Do Bad Things  by Suzanne Ross.

"It is a rare privilege as an artist to have one's work explored in such a profound way. The Wicked Truth is a fascinating and valuable study of the ways we all wrestle with the wickedness within and without us and how we can combat it." Stephen Schwartz, Composer/Lyricist, Wicked

 

The Wicked Truth is the thinking person's guide to the wildly successful Broadway musical Wicked. Using political, social, and historical examples, it explores the ways in which modern society is not so different than the mythical land of Oz. The Wicked Truth challenges the very framework of our culture, our understanding of Good and Evil, as well as our sense of right and wrong. Whether you've seen the show or not, discovering The Wicked Truth's broad application, to everything from personal relationships to how our society is governed, will leave you spellbound.

 

Award Recipient

 Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version, as well.
Photo: Joan Lauren

 

In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won several awards, including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein for Bernstein’s MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN, and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously.

 

He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER’S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel’s WORKING, to which he contributed four songs and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS “American Playhouse” series. Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, CAPTAIN LOUIE, and a children’s book, THE PERFECT PEACH. He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, PERSONALS, lyrics to Charles Strouse’s music for RAGS, and music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN.

 

He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. He also provided songs for DreamWorks’ first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song “When You Believe.” He most recently collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s ENCHANTED.

 

Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney and recently adapted for the stage as MY SON PINOCCHIO. He has released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

 

Mr. Schwartz’s most recent musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the United States and the world. In 2008, WICKED reached its 1900th performance on Broadway, making Mr. Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1900 performances.

 

His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, will be presented by the New York City Opera in April 2011.

 

Mr. Schwartz has recently been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has recently been released by Applause Books.

 

Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also currently President of the Dramatists’ Guild. For further information, please visit http://www.stephenschwartz.com.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Lecture and Matinee Performance of Peter Pan

 

Lookingglass Theatre launched their 2010-2011 season by igniting childhood imaginations with the timeless story of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Amanda Dehnert, a nationally-acclaimed director with singular vision, directed her original adaptation of Peter Pan, based on the books by J.M. Barrie. Bombastic, playful, and darkly comic, Dehnert's adaptation brought innovative theatricality, aerial arts, and a soulful understanding of yearning and regret to this legendary adventure of pirates, fairies and fantasy.

 

Listen to the Preshow Lecture

Held in the Simpson Lecture Hall at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA), 820 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, the Raven Foundation lecture, The Persistence of Peter Pan, explored the themes of J.M Barrie's Peter Pan expressed in the Lookingglass production. Rosemary Erickson Johnsen, Associate Professor of English at Governors State University, was the lecturer. An author and educator, Rosemary earned her Ph.D. in English at Michigan State University. Her first book, Contemporary Feminist Historical Crime Fiction, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2006. Her published essays focus on crime fiction, twentieth-century British literature, Irish literature, and book history. A member of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion since 1995, she has presented at many of their annual meetings.

 

  Enjoy Rosemary Johnsen's enlightening essay, The Persistence of Peter Pan, written for the Lookingglass Theatre's Peter Pan study guide.

 

Raven Foundation Founder Suzanne Ross interviews Amanda Dehnert, adapter and director of Peter Pan. Listen to their exploration of Barrie's story, the Lookingglass production and the nature of childhood memories.

 

On Saturday, March 21, 48 friends of the Raven Foundation flocked to Lookingglass Theatre’s production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. The theatre is an intimate space with those in the first row so close they are often illuminated by the stage lighting. Ensemble members Laura Eason and David Schwimmer, who have been friends since college, played the young lovers Emily Webb and George Gibbs. As the audience followed their lives and the lives of their family and friends, laughter turned to tears in the third act with Eason’s moving attempt to return to life and Schwimmer’s grief at her graveside. Following the performance, Lookingglass Producing Artistic Director, Philip R. Smith (who played Ivan in the 2008 production of The Brothers Karamazov) joined Raven Foundation friend, Dr. Rosemary Johnsen from Governor’s State University, for a discussion of the themes of the play. Dr. Johnsen highlighted the way George tries to live up to Emily’s expectations of him. She tells him to be perfect as her father and his father are in her eyes. George accepts the challenge, and strives to become the man she wants him to be. Dr. Johnsen explained that this demonstrates the way we are all formed in imitation of our models. Mr. Smith explained the setting and costume decisions as well as the concept behind the direction by Anna Shapiro and Jessica Thebus. The actors were told that they were not to approach their roles as actors becoming the characters, but that they were to be themselves playing the role. For example, the character is not Emily Webb, but “Laura Eason as Emily Webb” or “David Schwimmer as George Gibbs”. This was done to broaden the themes to include us all – this is not just the story of Emily and George, but of Laura and David as well and all of us in the audience. Dr. Johnsen's article for Lookingglass Theatre's study guide to Our Town is available for download here. REJ_Lookingglass_OUR_TOWN_Article.pdf

Tio Hardiman of the acclaimed anti-gang-violence organization, CeaseFire, will lead a break-out session at the workshop. Mr. Hardiman has long worked to help change the lives of people caught in the cycle of poverty and crime. In May 2006, he signed on to start helping dogs as well—and now leads outreach efforts for The HSUS's End Dogfighting in Chicago campaign. His article for the Huffington Post is titled Searching for Peace Summit. Join Tio at this engaging workshop. Register online.