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Out and abOut This summer, Redmoon Theater takes it to the streets. "All the world's a stage" is more than just an expression for Redmoon Theater; it's a mission. Acclaimed for its multimedia spectacles presented in unconventional venues, the Pilsen-based outfit is really letting loose this summer as it brings its boundary-breaking, audience-embracing aesthetic to the great outdoors with Summer Celebrations 2014. Exercising its cultural chops in the cause of civic responsibility and committed to serving the underserved, Redmoon engages with communities throughout the city by teaming with neighborhood organizations to enliven churches, parks, and schoolyards with music, dance, and art-making activities. (Last summer's event brought together local rappers, drummers, DJs, and more than 5,000 community members.) Wild and wonderful contraptions are a Redmoon hallmark, and this summer's inventions include the Cyclone Grill, a pedal-powered carousel of nine Weber grills that turns cooking into performance art. Entertaining and empowering, Redmoon spices up the summer like nothing else. Various locations, May 31–September 7; redmoon.org Redmoon Theater's Cyclone Grill. phoTography by Charles osgood (Faith healer); al Zayed (redmoon) S wimming, sailing, and sipping a perfectly chilled Chardonnay may be the order of the day in Michigan's Harbor Country, but this summer destination isn't without its cultural plea- sures. Take the Three Oaks Theater Festival. Founded by Tim Evans, Northlight Theatre's executive director; John Stoops, a former vice president at the ad agency Leo Burnett; and Marc Grapey, an actor and cofounder of Famous Door Theatre, the enterprise brings first-rate produc- tions from Chicago to the village of Three Oaks, including the town's charming Acorn Theater. "Marc and I are homeowners, and Tim has spent summers in the area for many years," says Stoops. "While it's particularly well developed in the visual arts and music, there was not a great deal of professional theater. But we knew there was an audience that was ready to support smart, engaging, professional theater." Last summer, the Three Oaks lineup included the Mary- Arrchie Theatre Co.'s production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, TurnAround Theatre's staging of Faith Healer by Br ia n Fr iel, a nd Complicated, a world- prem iere musica l f rom t he Ch icago ba nd Poi Dog Pondering. This season Stoops and his crew are importing Timeline Theatre's production of Larry K ramer's land- mark AIDS drama The Normal Heart, Northlight Theater's Jeff Award – winning production of the Woody Guthrie musical bio Woody Sez, and Blair Thomas & Company's A Piano with Three Tales, a kid-friendly puppet show with music by Mussorgsky and Chopin. "Though some might equate summer theater with lighthearted comedies and beloved musicals, we cast a wider net to also include challenging work that runs the gamut," says Stoops. "Our audience is very sophisticated, and we know what they want and expect: engaging theater in all of its forms." Three Oaks Theater Festival runs July 5–August 9 at the Acorn Theater and other venues. 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks, MI, 269-756-3879; threeoaksfestival.com Theater by the lake A trio of ChiCAgoAns bring A dose of drAmA to hArbor Country. by ThomAS ConnoRS John Stoops, Tim Evans, and marc Grapey A scene from Faith Healer in 2013. 78 miChiganavemag.Com SUMMER STAGES