Artistic Director
Jim Lasko
Jim Lasko has created numerous original spectacles and theatrical works ranging from massive public celebrations in site-specific locations to stage shows in traditional theater venues
Jim Lasko has served as Redmoon’s Artistic Director since 1992, and has created numerous original theater and spectacle events ranging from massive public celebrations to formal indoor shows. Originally co-artistic director with founder Blair Thomas, Jim became sole artistic director in 1998 and has been a principal voice in over 30 productions in this capacity. Most recently, Jim created The Princess Club, an exploration of gender, fantasy, and beauty. He also created Redmoon’s latest large scale spectacle, Twilight Orchard, in Columbus Park on Chicago’s West Side, attracting 7,500 audience members over seven evenings. Jim’s other productions include The Golden Truffle, a dessert musical, and Galway’s Shadow, which converted the façade of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art into a giant shadow screen. The All Hallow’s Eve Ritual Celebration, which he conceived and directed, attracted tens of thousands of people to Logan Square for an evening of community spectacle from 1998 to 2002. He also collaborated on a large scale, site-specific spectacle with an international team in Tasmania, Australia entitled Dream Masons, which opened in March 2007. Currently, Jim is designing the Family Center at the Spertus Institute in Chicago. Jim’s work has been commissioned by Chicago’s Field Museum, the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, the Pritzker family, and the Zell family. Jim is a recipient of the Meier Award for Excellence in the Arts, numerous Jeff citations, an Award for Excellence in Puppetry Arts from the International Puppetry Guild, and he was named an “artist to watch for the next decade” by The Chicago Tribune. Jim completed his course work for a PhD in Theatre and Drama at Northwestern University, but dodged his dissertation and took a Master’s degree instead.
Executive Director
Christopher Schram
Chris will create, implement, and manage a long-term business plan through collaborative engagement with Redmoon’s artistic vision
Chris is new to Redmoon after ten years with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts in Miami, Florida, where he served as Vice President for the past three years. NFAA and its youngARTS program annually honors the nation’s most talented high school seniors in the performing, visual, and literary arts and serves as the exclusive nominating organization to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the Presidential Scholars in the Arts awards. At NFAA, he managed the Development, Programs, Communications, Events, and Volunteer departments; created the youngARTS Educators Conference; significantly expanded the foundation’s partnerships with educational organizations; and tripled the NFAA’s government grant income. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of City Theatre in Miami as well as the Florida Alliance for Arts Education. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Washington and Lee University.
During this pivotal time of growth in management and organizational capacity, Chris will create, implement, and manage a long-term business plan through collaborative engagement with Redmoon’s artistic vision. He will oversee all administrative operations and work in partnership with Artistic Director Jim Lasko to guide Redmoon into the future.
Associate Artistic Director
Frank Maugeri
Frank has been integral to the creation of all the theater’s major spectacles … he is also a recent recipient of the prestigious NEA/TCG Career Development Award for Directors
Frank Maugeri is the Associate Artistic Director of Redmoon where he has served as a director, designer, and performer for over 10 years; in addition, he helps shape the aesthetic of Redmoon’s marketing materials, leads the staff in community vision work, and manages much of Redmoon’s large community of freelance artists and interns.
Frank most recently conceived and directed Redmoon’s Jeff- and After Dark-awarded Once Upon A Time, which has been invited to the L.A. Music Center in June 2008, and the critically acclaimed The Cabinet; co-directed the Jeff-awarded The Golden Truffle and Sink. Sank. Sunk…; created and co-directed the Jeff-awarded Salao: the worst kind of unlucky; and directed the shadow show in Galway’s Shadow, performed at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. He has been integral to the creation of all Redmoon’s major spectacles, including the All Hallow’s Ritual Celebrations and ten Winter Pageants (two of which he created and directed), and all the theater’s celebrations and groundbreakings. He has also performed in many popular Redmoon productions, as the Bossman in Sink. Sank. Sunk…, Sorin in Seagull, and a puppeteer in Rachel’s Love, Frankenstein, and the 2000 production of Hunchback.
Among Frank’s recent small works, Laika’s Coffin and Potatoes won Best Director and Best Production at Collaboraction’s Sketchbook 2006 and 2004, respectively; and Jane and the End of Time won Best Production and Best Actress at Sketchbook 2005. He is a recent recipient of the prestigious NEA/TCG Career Development Award for Directors, where he worked extensively with Dogtroepe and Groupe ZUR in Europe.
Frank has served as an instructor and guest artist to Gallery 37, Project LEAP, UIC, Northwestern University, The Jung Institute, Chicago Park District, and Department of Cultural Affairs; he makes his teaching home in the Film and Animation department of Columbia College. Frank was also a founding member of Theater DANK, a collaborative of puppet directors and designers who led the successful Chicago Puppet Festivals in 1998 and 1999, as well as many events and gatherings featuring DANK’s own work and the work of many national puppet theater makers.
Producing Director
Rebecca Hunter
Rebecca was the Cultural Manager for Creative Partnerships working to give children the opportunity to develop their creativity and imagination by partnering with creative and cultural organizations
Rebecca Hunter joined Redmoon as the Producing Director after serving as Spectacle Producer for Spectacle ‘05: Loves Me…Loves Me Not. Since then, she has produced numerous productions and events for Redmoon, most recently Hunchback. Rebecca, who relocated to America from London, England in 2004, has worked in the cultural and arts sectors for over ten years. Aside from her work with Redmoon, she has served as the Cultural Manager for Creative Partnerships, a national initiative in England which worked to give children the opportunity to develop their creativity and imagination through sustainable partnerships with creative and cultural organizations. Previous to this she served as Acting Artistic Director for Young at Art, an international arts festival for children and young people, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her experience also includes presenting a physical theater symposium program with international practitioners, producing site-specific theater, and acting as literature consultant for an international arts festival.
Artistic & Production Staff
Vanessa Stalling……………Artistic Associate
Caitlin Parrish………………Production Manager
Adam Fox……………………Special Events Production Manager
Mike O’Neill……………………Build Shop
Sam Polce……………………Intern Program Manager
Build Shop Interns:
Administrative & Education Staff
Elizabeth Stewart Finlayson…………Development Director
Michaela Murphy……………………………Marketing Director
Robby Zar………………………………………Grants Writer
Beth Kaskel……………………………………Administration Manager
Angela Tillges…………………………………Director of Community Arts Programs
Virginia Killian…………………………………Dramagirls Project Director
Helen Long……………………………………Dramagirls Administrative Associate
Allie Miller………………………………………NAP Intern
Jenna Deidel…………………………………Teaching Artist
Loren Erdrich…………………………………Teaching Artist
Jessica Hudson…………………………………Teaching Artist
Tracy Otwell…………………………………Teaching Artist
Alex Zoloto…………………………………Teaching Artist
All production photos by Sean Williams.
Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP: Auditors