Since joining the Theatre Within Workshop as a young comedian in 1979, Joe Raiola has had a flourishing career as a solo performer, comedy writer, producer, director, teacher and speaker on first amendment issues.

His most recent one-man show, Almost Obscene, was the hit of the 2002 NYC International Fringe Festival ("…a ruefully amusing lament for the ineradicable hypocrisy of humanity.”  -- New York Times) and Joe continues to perform an updated version of it at regional theaters around the country. Meanwhile, he remains a favorite on the lecture circuit with The Joy of Censorship, his long-running and nationally acclaimed program on the first amendment.

Along with Theatre Within founder, Alec Rubin, Joe created the Annual Lennon Tribute, which he has produced and appeared in every year since 1981. Each year the Tribute brings together a talented and diverse group of actors, dancers and musicians to celebrate John Lennon for the benefit of a worthy charity. Upon hearing of the show in 2004, Yoko Ono invited Joe to contribute to her book, Memories of John Lennon.

Named Associate Director of Theatre Within in 1990, Joe took over as Artistic Director following Alec’s death in 2005. The following year he registered Theatre Within as a not-for-profit (501(c) 3) organization.

As a comedy writer, Joe began his career in 1984 when he teamed up with National Lampoon alumni for a series of classic magazine spoofs, including Cosmoparody and Like A Rolling Stone. The following year he joined the legendary "Usual Gang Of Idiots" at MAD Magazine, quickly becoming one of their most prized contributors. He is currently MAD Senior Editor, a title which he insists "means nothing since I work at the only place in America where if you mature, you get fired."

Continuing in the tradition forged by Alec Rubin, Joe continues to lead workshops in deep creative process and project development. Honored that the torch was passed to him, he is committed to fostering Theatre Within’s growth as a vibrant and creative healing force.