McHenry County welcomes legendary comedian

Comedian Joan Rivers will perform at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake on Nov. 7. (Photo provided)

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Joan Rivers predicts an unpredictable show when she performs at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake on Nov. 7.

In a telephone interview, the comedian says she never knows what the show will feature.

“My routine changes day to day,” Rivers says. “It depends on what’s in the paper that day, what’s the most interesting story. It changes a lot based on very current events.”

She does caution the show’s 18-and-over warning is necessary because the topics might range from current events to “cougars,” the popular term for older women dating younger men, “I don’t want to look down and see a little kid in the theater — that’s just ridiculous!”

The veteran comedian, television star and fashion designer says she loves to travel and is looking forward to her trip to Crystal Lake.

“You have to love to travel,” she says. “You couldn’t be in this business if you didn’t. So many people know me and I love meeting people.”

Her travels inspired her latest effort, the TV Land show, “How’d You Get So Rich?”

“I travel so much and I’d be going through a little town and I’d look in the distance and say ‘Would you look at that house!,” she says.

The show has been renewed for a second season, she says.

Rivers also was the honoree of a recent Comedy Central “Roast,” which she says was the highest rated “Roast” in the history of the show. The show puts stars on the stage and submits them to a slew of ridicule from stand-up comedians, colleagues and friends. So how was it for someone who has made a living making fun of people to listen to people make fun of her?

“It was very rough,” she says. “I was so nervous wondering, ‘How I’m going to top all these people?’ I mean, you want them to be good because you invited them. You want them to do well, but you don’t want them to be better than you.”

She encourages audiences 18 and over to come to the Nov. 7 show at 8 p.m., saying “It’s gonna be fun, outrageous, sweet, soft, darling, a very wild show! I just love performing!”

Tickets are $68, $65 and $62 dollars. For information, visit www.rauecenter.org or call the box office at 815-356-9212.