Redmoon's Youth Spectacle 2011 Will Take Place 5/18-20

Audiences of all ages from diverse Chicago neighborhoods will gather to witness a major cultural event designed, authored, built and performed by the young people of Chicago May 18-20 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Produced by Chicago's acclaimed large-scale spectacle theater company, Redmoon, the first-ever 'Youth Spectacle' will give Chicagoans a fantastical glimpse into the way local youth experience and interpret the natural world every day.

Through Redmoon's internationally-known Neighborhood Arts Program, over 750 school-age youth from diverse Chicago neighborhoods have come together to build a creative "live exhibition" that will be performed over three nights. The youth will use shadow animation, sound installation, surreal visual art and performance to transform the Nature Museum's South Gallery and Terrace into a complex celebration of the everyday wonders of Chicago's urban ecosystem - as seen from their unique perspectives.

Institutions involved in the production includeAudubon Elementary School in Roscoe Village; St. Patrick's High School in Portage Park; Franklin Fine Arts Center in Old Town; Cook County Juvenile Detention Center; and Family Focus Lawndale Center, which includes Penn Elementary School, Melody Elementary School and Hefferan Elementary School.

The Redmoon Youth Spectacle was conceived by Artistic DirectorsFrank Maugeri and Jim Lasko and led by co-creators Angela Tillges and Tria Smith. As the urban gateway to nature and science, the Nature Museum is honored to host this experience.

WHAT: Redmoon "Youth Spectacle" 2011

WHEN: May 18 - 20
Redmoon Youth Spectacle admission is available at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and includes full access to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from 5:45 - 9 p.m.

WHERE:Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 2430 North Cannon Drive, just off Lake Shore Drive at Fullerton in Lincoln Park

ADMISSION: Individual tickets: $10 for adults, $3 for ages 18 and under, and free for children under age 3. Family Package: $25 for a family (includes: two adults and 3 children. $3 per additional child) Tickets go on sale in April, and can be purchased by visiting www.redmoon.org or by calling 312.850.8440 x111.

About Redmoon Theater
Redmoon was founded in 1990 to promote a unique brand of public art committed to the highest quality artistic product and to civic well-being. Pulling with conviction from contemporary art forms and ancient theatrical approaches, Redmoon has created a performance style that is equal parts pageantry, gadgetry, acrobatics, and ephemera. Over the past decade, Redmoon has garnered international attention for its unique productions, site-specific performances, and events which have been seen across Chicago from the Jackson Park Lagoon, the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art to Belmont Harbor and performance venues as diverse as Steppenwolf to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Over recent years, Redmoon has developed projects in Holland, Ireland, France, Australia and Brazil.A recent crowning achievement for Redmoon's team was an invitation by the White House for a Halloween spectacle performance on the front lawn for 2,500 trick-or-treating local school children, followed by a private party throughout the East Wing residence for 250 US combat veterans and their families. Redmoon creates unexpected theater events in unexpected locations. For more information, visit www.redmoon.org.

About the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum The Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum serves as an urban gateway to nature and science. Located in an eco-friendly building amidst abundant wildlife and nature in Lincoln Park, hands-on exhibitions allow visitors of all ages to connect with regional wildlife and public programs that inspire green living and sustainability. With a history that spans more than 150 years, the Academy's conservation efforts study, explore and protect urban wildlife and the unique natural history of the Great Lakes region. Today, collaborative conservation programs include citizen science initiatives, native habitat restoration and one of the region's largest environmental education programs. For more information, visit www.naturemuseum.org or call 773-755-5100.

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