From Redmoon to Newmoon Theater Announcing Alex Balestrieri on The Global Committee
From avant-garde contraptions to theatrical puppetry we are super excited Alex Balestrieri on the global committee bringing the artistic spectacle to life.
Alex Balestrieri is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in mediums of spectacle, special events, public arts and site-specific community place-making. His practice blends aspects of physical theater, avant-garde performance, opera, puppetry, installation art and sculpture. As a Director/Deviser, Alex trained at Redmoon Theater working as a directing/performance apprentice on various large-scale spectacle productions such as ‘Sink!, Sank!, Sunk!’ in Ping Tom Park, ‘Twilight Orchard’ in Washington Park and ‘Last of My Species: The Fearless Songs Of Laarna Cortaan’ at Belmont Harbor (for which he also wrote all lyrics).
He also appeared in various puppet chamber plays at Redmoon Theater, including ‘Boneyard Prayer’ and Laika’s Coffin: A Suitcase Opera’. In 2011, Alex went on to become a full-time staff creative staff member at Redmoon Theater, where he also began steering the Redmoon-For-Hire wing of the institution. There, between 2011 and 2015, he directed over 300 special events appearances, large and small, including programming collaborations with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (‘Swan Lake: A Shadow Symphony’), The Chicago Sinfonietta (‘Mozart’s Requiem: A Mask Opera), The Toledo Museum Of Art (‘The Performance Crane), and The Museum Of Contemporary Art, Chicago (10th Anniversary Performing Stages Celebration). Alex also co-directed several Spectacle Lunatique’s, outdoor guerilla Summer Spectacle interventions (‘The Momentary Opera’, ‘The Celebration Vehicle (DJ Fire)’, and ‘The Hawkman Procession/Drum Cart’). As a spectacle service contraption maker, The Mobile DJ Unit, The Champagne Chandelier, DJ Fire, The Kegway, and The Hot Air Balloon Servers are among his contributions to the medium.
In late 2016, Alex began NewMoon Chicago, an interdisciplinary artist collective working exclusively in the medium of special events. The company, located in Pilsen, is entering its 3rd full year of activity. Although based in Chicago, the organization had just over 52% of its engagements out of state last year, including appearances in Shanghai, London, Vancouver, Corfu, Venice, and Montenegro.
Clients include several national museums, NFPs, hospitals, trade organizations, and luxury brands. As an actor/singer, Alex has appeared in productions and workshops at Lookingglass Theater, Steppenwolf, The Hypocrites, The House Theater, Chicago Opera Vanguard, Redmoon Theater, Collaboraction, and The Side Project.
