Dear Friends of Redmoon,

November 1st Redmoon returned from Washington DC – where we had an enormously successful journey – in the offices of our congressmen, senators, the NEA, and on the front lawn of, and in, the White House, where we presented work that our artistic team has collaboratively developed over several years: our drum cart, wine bike, underwater lovers… We are eager to share the wonderful slide show of our experience at the next Redmoon Board meeting just a few days from now, and again, at “Franskgiving” to our community of artists, performers, and supporters. Sean Kaplan has developed an unforgettable and meaningful presentation of our unprecedented trip. You will not want to miss it.

Upon our return from DC we mounted a remarkable benefit for Intuit Gallery, where we turned an old steak house into a lavish realm of dream and nightmare. Meanwhile we planned a Holiday Momentary Opera for the Wicker Park community (coming soon), and Jim Lasko and I continued our artistic labor and work around our collaboration with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I can assure you it will be gigantic and beautiful.

And we worked tirelessly as a team – Vanessa Stalling, Jim, Rebecca Hunter, and myself – to generate this year’s 2009 Winter Pageant – which opens in just a few hours. Vanessa created the foundation of a humorous, wild, dreamlike journey in which I was able to shape objects, design, and whimsical performance material, and Jim graciously and powerfully supported the team in shaping, tightening, and unifying the show. Beth Kaskel has once again led several young administrative interns to accomplish much of the necessary labor around administrating a show, and Angie Tillges, Mike Oneill and Gabe Richardson have led several more emerging artists in supporting the art and space of the show. Together, as a team, we have created yet another dynamic Redmoon expedition into professional beauty and important play.

We open in just a few hours. We are very excited.

The team has done astounding work of the past several weeks – huge, massive work- committing themselves to the mission of the theater. I am proud to be a member of this team – and at the risk of being too earnest, I will nonetheless say – 2009 has been a year of artistic bravery, tireless commitment, and an undying devotion to a legacy that continues to have great local and national impact. Everyone deserves credit: the artistic team, our administrative team, our board.

Thank you to the team for your committed administrative and artistic work, and thank you to our board for all your confidence and support.

I hope I see all of you tonight at Redmoon Central for our lunatic holiday event.

Frank Maugeri
Artistic Director
Redmoon