Redmoon Theater, the Chicago company known for dreamy, surrealistic pieces of "spectacle," hosted its aptly named "Spectacle Lunatique" at its Pilsen headquarters on March 9. At the wildly imaginative fund-raiser, guests wandered around with the facial expressions of folks in a delightful museum and met curiosities and surprises at every corner. Here's a look at eight ideas for unusual entertainment, like an acrobat pouring champagne and dancing rabbits.
A procession of masked rabbits and sparklers hinted at the event's theme: "Starting the Fire." The theme pays homage to the Great Chicago Fire Festival, which the theater is currently working with the city of Chicago to produce. The inaugural festival will take place in the fall of 2014 and will include a grand procession and "fire spectacle" on the main branch of the Chicago River.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
Dubbed the "champagne chandelier," a chandelier-like piece dripping with bottles and stemware hung 25 feet above the crowd. An aerialist descended from the center of the fixture on long swaths of silk and poured bubbly into guests' flutes below.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
A number of forest creatures roved the event this year, including costumed deer.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
The deer, whose costumes were sewn up with tiny bells, danced in billows of purple fog near the entrance.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
Other surreal, enchanted forest-like vignettes included masked rabbits perched on ivy-covered swings.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
Referred to as the "drum cart," a three-tiered, pedal-powered contraption held several percussion instruments. Drummers dressed in bird masks and feathery headdresses commandeered the instruments as they rode the cart through the warehouse space.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
The rabbits reappeared later to dance to beats from the bird-drummers.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
A trio of performers wearing illuminated swan headdresses floated through the room in a silent procession.
Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photography
