Redmoon Announces 2013 - 2014 "INDOORS" Series

Chicago’s Redmoon Theater staged a slew of spectacles in the great outdoors of this city’s parks throughout the summer, but now it is ready for its artists to come inside. The company has announced its 2013-14 series of indoor events and performances, “Redmoon INDOORS,” its first season of work to be staged inside its mammoth new warehouse headquarters in the Pilsen neighborhood, at 2120 S. Jefferson Street.

Under the direction of producing artistic director Frank Maugeri, with executive artistic director Jim Lasko and managing director Sophia Wong Boccio, the new “Redmoon INDOORS” events, which begin Nov. 1, will include what Maugeri describes as “family-friendly events geared toward children and their parents,” as well as “21-and-over happenings and the professional spectacle productions” that have been key to Redmoon’s reputation.

Redmoon’s new home is a massive, multi-purpose performance space with an open access build shop that has been designed to serve as “Chicago’s new hub for the production and presentation of spectacle art and interactive, imagistic and immersive experiences,” according to Maugeri. The “Redmoon INDOORS” series will feature six large-scale, ticketed events and productions, with the revenue earned used to directly fund the company’s core civic mission: “To present powerful summer Night Out in the Parks, community celebrations throughout Chicago, all for free and all outdoors.”

Here are the productions slated for the indoor Spectacle Series:

± “Boneshaker” (Friday, Nov. 1 from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.: This kickoff event, on All Saints Day (a.k.a. the Day of the Dead), promises a night of costumed fun that combines interactive site-specific design and unique contraptions, with hours of unexpected entertainment. Among the many offerings will be large-scale projections, a chance to be in a live-feed movie, several mobile DJ contraptions, a Redmoon signature “wow” piece (“The Fire Organ”), and a performance by punk marching band Mucca Pazza. (Tickets are $75. and include food and drinks throughout the evening. For those 21 and over.)

± “Skelebration” (Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3 from 11 a.m.– 1 p.m, 2 p.m.–4 p.m., and 5 p.m.–7 p.m.: This new family-friendly event, designed for parents and children, will celebrate the fall season by way of the exploratory Spectacle playground of Redmoon’s transformed space. For two hours, families can perform in gigantic shadow shows, build masks, experience DJs on mobile contraptions and play in Redmoon’s indoor park of swings and roller-skating. (Tickets: Adults $20; kids $12; kids under 3 free. Includes 2-hour entrance, food and activities.)

± “The 15th Annual Winter Pageant”: Directed by John Musial with Frank Maugeri (Dec. 13-15 and 20-22): Along with two collaborators — the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts and the punk rock surf band, San Andreas Fault — this approximately 50-minute-long production will spin an original myth inspired by the poem “The Conference of the Birds” by Farid ud-Din Atta, telling the story of a flock of birds who journey to find their lost king. The production evokes themes of hope and community and will incorporate Redmoon’s intricate mechanics, inventive puppetry, expressive dance and unique style of visual wonder. On the Saturdays leading up to Winter Pageant (Nov. 9-Dec. 7) Redmoon will open its doors for Open Access Builds, where community members of all ages can help Redmoon artists create art and objects for the Winter Pageant production. (Tickets to the Pageant are: adults $25, kids $15, kids under 3 free.)

± “Revolution” (Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.): To ring in the New Year, Redmoon will presnt this new one-night-only event — “an evening of ritual and elegance that includes Redmoon’s daring and unexpected interpretation of all the classic elements of a typical New Year’s Eve celebration, though with a typical Redmoon twist, as attendees are invited to make not a ‘resolution’ but a ‘revolution.’ An indoor circus tent, local dessert artisans and the 8-piece brass R&B band The O’My’s will fuel a theme of “candlelight and bubbles and a spectacular midnight countdown.” (Tickets are $100 and include food and drinks throughout the evening. For 21 and over.)

± “Spectacle Lunatique” (Sat., March 15, 2014 from 6 p.m.–midnight): This annual gala promises “a decadent night of inspired performance, some of Chicago’s best food and drinks, and an exciting announcement about Redmoon’s upcoming summer events.” Call (312) 850-8440 x100 for ticket packages and rates.

± “Spring Spectacle”: Created by Jim Lasko and directed by Blake Montgomery (running weekends from April 4 – April 20, 2014): A family-friendly spectacle that will involve Redmoon’s trademark giant machines, larger-than-life visuals and original music. (Tickets: Adults $25; kids $15; kids under 3 free.)

All productions and events will be performed at Redmoon’s new home where there is ample free parking in both the adjacent parking lot and on the street. Tickets to the new “Redmoon INDOORS” events are available now by calling (312) 850-8440 x123, or visit www.redmoon.org.