The Red Shoes | Open Eye Theater - 2021  | Photos: Mark Van Cleave

THE RED SHOES takes its title from a classic Hans Christian Andersen story of a young girl and a pair of red shoes, and thrillingly re-imagines it as a film noir mystery-adventure for grown-ups.

Somewhere in the heart of the Big City, our heroine is hiding in a tiny apartment, fearful of venturing out, or of letting anyone (or anything) in. But she’s not alone. A pair of haunted red shoes is delivered to her doorstep, and they propel our her into a harrowing film noir adventure through the labyrinths and spiral staircases of her own mind, where she must face down her fears of what lurks in the subway tunnel, and discover what fate has in store for her up on the rooftop! 

Equally humorous and hair-raising, THE RED SHOES draws inspiration and influences from vintage detective novels, black and white film noir movies of the 1930s and ’40s, and case studies of amnesia and multiple personality. The inventive use of manipulated objects, dolls, and masks provide a dream-like quality to the unfolding adventure.

Reviews from the Production

"Richardson has a ball, posing like Dietrich, clowning like Chaplin and dancing like Shearer herself." - Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

"The Red Shoes is something so curious and unique, odd and chilling, inventive and charming, it's thoroughly captivating from start to finish." - Jill Schaefer, Cherry and Spoon

"Probably the best adjective to describe 'The Red Shoes' is 'intricate.' It’s a pleasing puzzlement with lots of moving parts, a story that constantly morphs in scale and a staging that keeps you guessing." - Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press

"The dark, quirky fun of this play is akin to the fun of playing with mechanical toys instead of digital/virtual ones. So visceral!" - Janet Preus, How Was the Show