Three Generations of Patterson Productions

Who We Are

Red Barn Productions and the Patterson family have redefined the concept of environmental theatre and innovated the performance technique of Theatrical Living History. Our evolving process began in 1961 when founders Ron and Phyllis Patterson, an art director and high school English teacher, began to see improvisational theatre as a new way to experience the “aliveness” of history and the arts. The development of our founder’s vision has resulted in decades of highly participatory, historically themed events, where artists, performers, and audience members improvise and engage as characters from other time periods. The lines between past and present, audience and performer, blur giving way to surprising, delightful, and even transformative experiences!

Named after the Red Barn Theatre at the Blackpoint Forest Renaissance Pleasure Faire site in Novato, California, Red Barn Productions continues the traditions of Theatrical Living History at all of it’s Fairs and events. We are proud of the rich legacy created by our family and the thousands of talented and dedicated individuals who have “joined the dance.”