The Red Fern Theatre Company (RFTC), founded by Emilie E. Miller and Melanie Moyer Williams in March 2006, strives to provoke social awareness and change through theatrical productions and outreach. Each play produced by the Red Fern Theatre Company addresses social issues that range in scope from local to global, and each production is paired with a philanthropy whose work relates to the social themes of the play.  A portion of the proceeds from each play produced is donated to the designated philanthropy.  We also provide our audiences with information on the philanthropy both by introducing their mission at each performance and including information about them in the play’s program.  By associating each production with a philanthropic organization, we are able to respond directly to the people actually affected by the issues addressed in the play. 

Over the past three seasons, RFTC has produced a diverse range of programming, including ten full length plays as well as workshops and staged readings of one new work which premiered at the New York Fringe Festival in August 2008.  Our 2009-2010 Season is dedicated to new plays and will open with the New York Premiere of Shirley Lauro’s ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.

The RFTC believes in an individual's responsibility to his/her community. Theatre can educate; it can also comfort. It can remind the audience that suffering and joy are feelings felt by all. The Red Fern Theatre Company would like each of its productions to create a lasting impression that fosters a community among those on and off the stage

New York is home to thousands of theatre companies; many of them are committed to socially conscious plays. The Red Fern Theatre Company distinguishes itself by bridging the gap between the theatre we produce and the change it seeks to create. In its partnerships with philanthropies, the RFTC provides the vehicle for which our audiences can give back to their community.

Why the name "Red Fern"?

Tthe catalyst for beginning the RFTC came when Melanie found Tennessee Williams' first show "Candles to the Sun." She had many friends including Emilie read it, and Emilie immediately felt the same connection to the play's message as Melanie had. They set out to produce the show but could not obtain rights. In preparing for this production, Melanie and Emilie discovered that they both had similar objectives in theatre, and they decided to choose another play to produce. Although they had to postpone their production of "Candles to the Sun," Emilie and Melanie decided to pay homage to two of Williams' progressive characters from this play by naming their theatre company after them. The character of Birmingham Red rallied coal miners to fight for a union with better working conditions and wages. One of Williams' strong female characters, Fern is a mother who saved every penny she could often sacrificing food and clothing for herself to send her son to the university. Fern knew that an education would mean her son would not be forced to work in the coal mines like every generation before him. Tennessee Williams chose her name because the fern is a plant that thrives in dark places, but is always reaching for the light. The Red Fern Theatre Company's goal is to make their audiences aware of social injustices as Birmingham Red did, while at the same time to provide their audiences with an opportunity to be involved with a philanthropy which will bring light to those adversely affected just as the character Fern was able to accomplish.