Redmoon Adds New Chefs to Spectacle Lunatique

Redmoon, Chicago's theater company known for epic-scale spectacle theater, has announced a new year-round partnership with local brewery Lagunitas to be the official beer of Redmoon. Redmoon will exclusively serve Lagunitas at its events throughout 2014, including Redmoon's next event, Spectacle Lunatique, one of Chicago's most anticipated galas, a decadent night of culinary delights and inspired performance set for Saturday, March 15 in Redmoon's elegantly industrial warehouse headquarters at 2120 N. Jefferson Street in Pilsen.

"Lagunitas is taking Chicago by storm. Redmoon has proudly served it at all of our social events this season, including our Boneshaker event last Halloween, our raging New Year's Eve: Revolution and our upcoming Spectacle Lunatique, and our audiences have loved it. The IPA, in particular, is a big hit," noted Alex Balestrieri, Redmoon Director of Events. "This partnership is a meaningful commitment between our two organizations, both committed to community celebration and wild event experience, so we couldn't be more thrilled."

From points distant and beyond, the creators of Lagunitas Brewing Co. converged on Petaluma in 1993 and '94 with an unenunciated desire to be more than they were before. The core of Lagunitas came from Chicago, St Louis, Memphis, Walker Creek and the highlands of Quincy. The Chicago contingent initiated the brewing and the gravitational effect of its suchness did the rest. The Lagunitas Brewing Co. was not so much an act of ordinary "foundling" as it was willed into being by the unspoken desire of supportive beer-lovers in Northern California and Chicago, after which they continued to nurture their creation and fulfill the unifying needs of the beer-loving diaspora from coast to coast and beyond.

In other Spectacle Lunatique news, Redmoon has added Jared Wentworth of Dusek's, Michael Carlson of Schwa and Luca Corazzina of 312Chicago to its lineup of star Chicago chefs who will present tastings during the March 15 VIP Tasting Experience from 6:30 to 8 pm. The full lineup of chefs now includes: Carlson of Schwa, Corazzina of 312Chicago, Thai Dang of Embeya, Jerl Griffin of Flemming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Mark Mendez of Vera, Jason Vincent of Nightwood, Wentworth of Dusek's, as well as chefs from Tuesday Night Dinner and 90 Miles Cuban Café. Many of the chef tasting stations will be accompanied by a craft cocktail from one of seven different leading mixologists, including Steve Carrow from Nana, Eric Mersch from Wirtz Beverage Group, Chris Neustadt from Cask & Courtesy, Israel Fernandez from Frontier, Craig Jiljus from Jimmy and Punch House, and Paul Sauter from Double A. Amplifying the imaginative splendor, Aerial Dance Chicago and Redmoon aerial artists perform overhead and aid the chefs in presenting their creations from the sky to the mouth.

At 8 pm, the Spectacle Lunatique chef stations give way to passed tastings representing the culinary offerings of Butcher & Larder, Hing Kee, Jellyfish, Shaw's Crab House and Sunda. Three specialty cocktails from star mixologists will be available along with an open bar.

At 10 pm, doors open for late night ticket holders to enjoy drinks, late night bites, music and dancing. Redmoon's full cadre of imaginative food and beverage devices will provide whimsical and surprising food delivery, including: a remote-controlled Dessert Drone, the Whiskey Bottle Libation Server, the Kegway beer service device, the BBQ Cyclone Grill (a new creation premiering at Lunatique), Hot Air Balloon Servers, the Champagne Chandelier as well as Floating Trays, Table Ladies and Stilted Servers.

In addition to palate-pleasing hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, Redmoon will transform its event space into a wild and surreal dreamscape of spectacle with dozens of costumed performers and musicians.

The Luna Lodge, a special "hotel" area of the event offering the best views of the party, will be available for exclusive VIP seating, in addition to massages, straight-razor shaves, haircuts and other grooming/spa stations to pamper and rejuvenate guests.

A 30-drummer percussion performance will quicken pulses and Redmoon's signature Sonic Boom DJ tower and other wild DJ devices will host three DJs for over six hours of non-stop music.

A Silent Auction will run throughout the evening of Lunatique until 9:45 pm, top items from which include: an all-inclusive viewing package for the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort; a private hosted event at Mars Gallery with wine and a trio of Redmoon food and beverage devices; and a VIP dining experience at Michelin star-rated restaurant Moto for 10 people.

For every $25 donation to Redmoon in the month of March, donors will be entered in a Raffle to win one of three "Celebratory Spectacle Experiences," including a private viewing of Redmoon's Spring Spectacle for up to 70 people, a private viewing of the Winter Pageant 2014 for up to 100 people, or 12 VIP tickets to Redmoon's New Year's Eve: Revolution 2014 party.

Spectacle Lunatique ticket packages for the VIP Tasting Experience from 6:30-8 pm begin at $5,000. Individual and group tickets, which include entrance beginning at 8 pm, are $450 or available for a group of 8 at $3,500. Late night admission tickets are $100. Tickets are available by calling the Redmoon Box Office at 312-850-8440 x123 or online at www.redmoon.org. Spectacle Lunatique is for patrons 21 years and older.

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