The Redhouse Arts Center began when a small group of local artists decided to search for a home. In August of 2001, they found it. Though old and neglected, the three-story brick building had character and potential. It needed major renovations and in September of 2002 a capital campaign was launched to raise the $1.4 million required to transform a former boarding house into a home for the arts. In July 2004, Red House first opened its doors to the public.
Programs
Education
Community
Support
PAINT THE TOWN RED: A Benefit for the Arts
We are officially SOLD OUT! Thank you all so much for the support! If you would still like to make a monetary donation to the benefit, please call the Box Office at 315.362.2785.
DIAVOLO presented by SU Arts Engage at The Landmark
The high-energy and visually-stunning Diavolo Dance Theater, presented by Syracuse University Arts Engage, will return to Syracuse to perform its new work, “Fluid Identities,” co-commissioned by SU Arts Engage, on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Theater in downtown Syracuse.
This event is presented by SU Arts Engage and will be performed at the Landmark Theatre downtown
Audition
CASTING 2014-2015 SEASON
Auditions will take place on March 23rd and 24th, 2014 in the rehearsal studio next door to The Redhouse Theatre, 201 S. West St. Syracuse, NY 13202 from 5-10pm.
To schedule an audition, email casting@theredhouse.org. In the email subject line please include your name (LAST, FIRST) and SYRACUSE APPT.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!
Actors should prepare one comedic monologue and 16 bars of a song of their choice. A pianist will be provided, please bring your sheet music. Non-singers are welcome to audition with the comedic monologue only. The Redhouse practices color-blind casting. All ethnicities and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to attend. All Equity and Non-Equity actors of ALL AGES are welcome for various roles in the following Summer and MainStage Season productions of: AS YOU LIKE IT, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, TARZAN, GODSPELL, SPELLING BEE, PENGUIN TANGO, THE COLOR PURPLE, THE MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, GROSS INDECENCY, BROADWAY BOUND, CAROUSEL.
Character Breakdown Coming Soon!
NYC Auditions NYC Auditions will be held by appointment only on March 13th and March 14th @ Ripley Grier Studios (520 8th Avenue)
Prepare 16 bars and one-minute comedic monologue. For consideration, email picture and resume ASAP to casting@theredhouse.org. Please indicate your name (LAST, FIRST) and the show(s) you are submitting for in the email subject line. If unable to make an appointment, video submissions are accepted.
As part of the summer season, Redhouse offers two audition-only summer theatre institutes that perform with Tarzan and Godspell.
Theatrical Institute: Level One Redhouse Theatrical Institute is a month-long intensive drama and music camp where students are completely immersed in the exciting work of theatre and the building blocks of performance. Throughout the process, students will not only spend time in class focusing on the fundamentals of performance, but will tour all over the Adirondacks with professional actors, performing the full-length theatrical production of Tarzan! Students will then return to Syracuse to give encore performances for local audiences on The Redhouses main stage.
About Camp: June 30 – July 25 Adirondack Tour: July 17 - 24 Cost: $1000/$900 members
Advanced Theatrical Institute: Level Two Redhouse Theatrical Institute’s Level 2 camp is a month-long intensive drama and music camp where students experience . Students will be cast alongside professionals in order to put on a production of Godspell that is part of Redhouse’s regular summer season tour!
About Camp: July 14 – August 15 Cost: $800/$700 members
*email casting@theredhouse.org for more information on institute registration, auditions, and potential scholarship opportunities.
Audition Masterclass
Instructors: Stephen Svoboda (Drama Coach) and Abel Searor (Music Coach)
This class is designed to prepare individuals for a successful audition. Stephen Svoboda and Abel Searor will coach participants through the entire audition process from writing/revising your resume to the final performance.
*Please bring your resume, memorized monologue and 16 bars to classes.
March 21st, 6:00pm-10:00pm (work music)
March 22nd, 2:00p-4:00pm (work monologues)
March 23rd and 24th: Redhouse Season Auditions
*email casting@theredhouse.org to secure your audition time slot.
$100/$80 members
Executive Artistic Director
[Stephen Svoboda]
Stephen is currently the Artistic Director for the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and the Executive Artistic Director of Red House Arts Center. Previously, he served as a professor in the Theatre Arts Department at the University of Miami where he was head of the B.F.A. program in Directing and Playwriting and the Artistic Director of Miami’s Fresco Productions. He is also the director of the University of Miami Summer Theater Academy, an eight-week summer intensive theater program for children in kindergarten through eleventh grade. His play, Odysseus Died From AIDS, was developed in Miami and received it’s world premiere at the New York International Fringe Festival, where the production was awarded “Best Ensemble.” Odysseus Died From AIDS was published in the anthology Plays and Playwrights 2005, by the New York Theatre Experience, and received it’s international premier in 2007 in Athens, Greece with a subsequent production in Seoul, South Korea in 2008. His second play, The Penguin Tango, premiered at the 2006 New York International Fringe Festival in the Actor’s Playhouse.
The production was extended as part of the Fringe Encore Series in the Lion Theater at Theatre Row. His most recent production, Reconstructing Mama, a new musical written with N. David Williams, premiered Off-Broadway at the Theatre Row Studios in August 2006. In March 2011, the Redhouse production of Odysseus DOA had a limited engagement run at Theatre Row Studios in NYC. Stephen works internationally with the Harambe Project to help do HIV/AIDS education, prevention and orphan care throughout Africa.
Artistic Associate
[Laura Austin]
Laura is the founder and Artistic Director of Redhouse Arts Center located in Syracuse, NY. In 2003, she developed and implemented the Redhouse Capital Campaign, which raised 1.4 million and she managed the renovations of a three story historic building in Downtown Armory Square. Since that time under Austin’s artistic direction, this state of the art facility has hosted over 300 events in theatre, film, visual art and music. In the first year of operation, Austin secured 200 new Redhouse members and developed a widely successful individual donor base which she continues to be cultivated today.
Over the last 4 seasons, Laura has overseen the production of 16 plays at Redhouse in which her responsibilities have spanned selecting, casting commissioning, directing, acting, promoting and fundraising. She has served as a board member for numerous arts organizations both nationally and internationally. Locally, Laura served on the Cultural Resources Council, Syracuse School of Architecture, Skaneateles Festival, The Sarah G. Austin Foundation and the Allyn Foundation. Laura has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Acting in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.
She is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity. Her extended study includes work at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, The Hartford Conservatory, Nikolais Louis Dance Theatre, La Mama, Second City, Terry Shreiber, Stella Adler and Howard Fine Studios and Trinity College where she earned the President’s Fellowship Award Theatre and Dance. Austin’s performing career encompasses television and film work in Los Angeles and Off-Broadway and regional theatre work throughout the country and abroad. Laura focuses on program planning, booking, contracts, casting and development for The Redhouse.
Meet Our Team
Rachel Boucher [Marketing Director]
BA Vocal Performance, MS Arts Leadership Administration
Redhouse Story: Rachel joined us in Syracuse in 2013 from midtown Manhattan.
Surprise Me: She can sing one heck of an opera!
Contact Her: rachel@theredhouse.org 315.425.0405 x15
Jessie Dobrzynski [Graphic Designer, Photographer, Website & Social Media Manager]
BA Music Industry, BA Photographic Design
Her Redhouse Story: She joined Redhouse in 2012 and was a part of creating The District, and also joined the team remotely at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, where she serves the same positions. Since then, she has expanded to also being on stage, performing in Hairspray, Peter Pan, Cabaret & The Music Man.
Surprise Me: She was in The Terpsichorean Dance Company for 4 years and placed 3rd in her Archery league.
Contact Her: jessie@theredhouse.org 315.425.0405 x16
Danielle Melendez [Box Office Manager]
BA Directing, Playwriting, and Production
Her Redhouse Story: Danielle began as an Assistant Director at The Redhouse. She then expanded to Stage Management, Box Office Management, and then a Director for our LAB Series where she presented Dog Sees God this past winter.
Surprise Me: Danielle lives in the Adirondacks part of the year helping to run our sister-theatre, the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Contact her: danielle@theredhouse.org
Marguerite Mitchell [Education Director]
BS English Education, BA English Literature, MS Arts Administration
Redhouse Story: Marguerite joined Redhouse in 2011, and currently manages all educational programming and community outreach. She also performs in the theater’s productions and will be directing a show as part of the organization’s LAB Series.
Surprise Me: She studied English Literature and writing in Norwich, UK for seven months, where she read plays, wrote poems, and drank unhealthy amounts of amazing coffee.
Contact Her: marguerite@theredhouse.org 315.362.2788
Caitlyn Oenbrink [Assistant to the Executive Artistic Director]
Redhouse Story: Caitlyn originally came to The Redhouse to perform as Marian in The Music Man in 2013 and is very excited to be back working on staff!
Surprise Me: She is a great office tree-hugger!
Contact Her: caitlyn@theredhouse.org
Joshua Reid [Redhouse Production Manager & Asst. Technical Director, LAB Series Technical Director]
BA Music Industry with Audio Arts Concentration
His Redhouse Story: Joshua joined Redhouse in 2012 and gained the titles of mainstage Sound Designer and Redhouse Regulars Series lighting designer. He is now the Assistant Technical Director, and the Technical Director for our LAB Series productions.
Surprise Me: Anything involving RUSH, he is on board.
Contact Him: josh@theredhouse.org
Stephanie Leaf [Managing Director]
Her Redhouse Story: Stephanie is a woman of the theatre world! Before coming to The Redhouse, she has worked for numerous theatre companies and festivals in New York City, London and Germany.
Surprise Me: Stephanie recently adopted a very loving husky sled dog. Her name is Gracie and she may be found visiting The Redhouse from time to time.
Contact Her: stephanie@theredhouse.org
Our BoardBoard Chair: Bill Hider
Board Members:
Russ Acevado
W. S. Allyn
Laila Kobrossy Audi
Peter Blanck
Wendy Blanck
Sean Branagan
Thomas Cary
Binaifer Dabu
Michael Featherstone
Thom Felicia
Linda Dickerson Hartsock
James Horan
Mary Lerner
John Liddy
Kirsten Marshall
Eileen Nealon
Maureen Harrington ONeill
Ty Palermo
Jeff Unaitis
John Valentino
GalleryThe Redhouse hosts two gallery spaces; a nonprofit art gallery located on the second floor of the Redhouse and their Café Gallery that is used to incorporate community art with our theatre production’s themes.
The Joan Lukas Rothenberg Gallery resides on the second floor. Its mission is to present and commission contemporary art that engages viewers in meaningful and important cultural, social and political issues. In keeping with Joan’s Vision, the Women Artists Series, specifically focuses on educating and empowering women through a series of emerging, mid-career and local student exhibitions, highlighting women artists.
Joan Lukas Rothenberg Gallery is free and open to the public by appointment Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm by calling 315-425-0405.
The Café Gallery is open to the public during all Redhouse events and Box Office hours (M-Sat 10am-4pm). The Café Gallery has hosted works of art from professional independent artists, to community partners, to our educational partners such as Arc of Onondaga and Elmcrest, to the Syracuse Poster Project and our own redED Art Academy students. This coming June, we will be displaying the winners of the 2014 Area Zoo Photography Contest!
I’m an Artist, how do I submit my work? The Red House Curatorial Advisory Board reviews submission on a rolling basis. If you are interested in submitting work, please send your bio, artist statement, work examples and press materials in a stamped envelope so we can return your materials.
Packages must be addressed to:
Laura Austin
Artistic Director
Red House Arts Center
201 S. West Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Questions? Contact our Gallery Curator:
Philippe Schwimmer
philippe@theredhouse.org
Artists Pictured Below: Scott Hutchinson, Marianne Dalton and The Molly Project
Currently Showing in our Gallery
Artist name: Julieve Jubin
Show title: Cuba
Exhibit dates: March 16th-April 25th 2014
Public reception, Thursday March 20th 5-7pm
Contact phone, 315-382-3072
Julieve Jubin received her MFA from Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, NY. She is a photo-based artist working with digital and experimental approaches to the image. She has exhibited her work in the US, Canada, and Europe and is the recipient of several awards and artist residencies. Her work is in the collection of the New York University Law School, Fototeca Cuba, and several private collections. She has taught at The Cooper Union School of Art, the International Center of Photography, Purdue University, and is currently an Associate Professor of Art at the State University of New York at Oswego. She resides in NYC and Oswego, NY.
Show description: Cuba 2014
Within the last few years, I’ve traveled to Cuba to photograph, as well as teach my course, Travel Photography: Cuba. During my first research trip in 2011, I immediately recognized that Cuba was different than any other place I had been. Certainly, I expected to see the old American cars, Spanish colonial architecture, and propaganda. What I didn’t expect was the richly textured character of the street life. While there, I spent most of my time in the densely populated Centro district of Havana interacting with and photographing the children who inhabit the streets. The streets are an extension of their homes, where doors are left open and children roam freely without the dangers familiar to our own cities. In fact, children of all ages would interact with me, a complete stranger, without trepidation or overly protective parents lurking. They were eager to engage and also enjoyed the attention of being photographed. The activities ranged from informal conversation and ball games, to organized sports and performance, such boxing and dance. Typically, within a short amount of time, they welcomed me into their circle to join in, photograph, or just to be with them. Siblings were often among the group, with the older ones coaching the younger ones along. The children experienced a sense of freedom at play, knowing they were safe among neighbors, friends, and family nearby. I find this sense of trust and freedom not only refreshing, but unexpected and paradoxical given the pervasive restrictions and controls imposed on Cuban society by the government. I also found it remarkable how vibrant and resilient the children are, even as many of their families struggle to provide the most basic of necessities. Within the last few years, largely due to the economic reforms and loosening of restrictions, streets and neighborhoods are transforming as new small businesses develop and homes are being restored. Fortunately, this shifting landscape hasn’t yet altered the daily rituals and spirited atmosphere of the street life I’ve been so privileged to know. But it’s clear Cuba is moving away from the time capsule it once inhabited towards a new, yet undetermined future.
Click HERE to view Redhouse’s first web series episode, “We Are The Music Man.”
