we have a mission
Red Theater honors all audiences by asking dangerous questions theatrically. Our #FreeTheater initiative and commitment to Accessibility in every production lowers the barrier for nontraditional audiences to see new works that challenge the status quo.
Who We Are

Aaron SAwyer
Aaron Sawyer is the Founder and Artistic Director of Red Theater, with collectives in Chicago, Lincoln, Omaha, Tucson, and Purchase, NY. As a playwright, top Chicago credits include RED HAMLET and the bilingual Deaf/Hearing production of R+J: THE VINEYARD, heralded as a Top Ten Chicago Play of 2016 (Chicago Theater Beat). Aaron’s directing credits include the Chicago premieres of Bertolt Brecht’s unfinished musical SCHWEYK IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR and TASTE by Benjamin Brand (Jeff Recommended). The Chicago Reader named Aaron and Red Theater runners up in their 2016 “Best of Chicago List” for Best Stage Director and Best New Theater Company respectively.

Marisa Lerman
Marisa serves as Red Theater’s Executive Director. She has previously served as the Red Theater’s Managing Director as well as the Assistant Executive Director for Oil Lamp Theater. She has worked on and off the stage for the past 10 years for companies such as The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, the Prince Music Theatre, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Chicago Folks Operetta, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has been in Chicago for the past 3 years, where she has been an active member of the North Shore community.
When she is not at the theater, you can find her teaching Jazzercise in Glenview, binge watching great sci-fi shows on Netflix, or singing karaoke with her friends!
Red Theater Staff
Artistic Director – Aaron Sawyer*^
Executive Director- Marisa Lerman
Literary Manager- Giulianna Marchese
Producer- Becca Holloway
Director of Accessibility- Bron Schlaefer
Marketing Manager- Anna Rachel Troy
Photography – Matthew Freer
Company Members
Jeremy Aluma
Charles Blunt
Sarah D. Espinoza
Aaron Sawyer
See also: Board of Directors