Last month we celebrated the tenth anniversary of Red Jacket Optional being hosted at The Geraghty, a dynamic venue that has allowed the Kehoe Designs team to create new experiences for our guests and performers for a decade. Thanks to our generous supporters, we raised over $1.8 million to support our youth empowerment and music education programs. It was a truly unforgettable night, enhanced by the immersive decor and audiovisual environment provided by Kehoe Designs and BlackOak Technical Productions.
To commemorate a decade of such a beautiful and productive partnership, we spoke with Josephine Lee, Uniting Voices President, and Tom Kehoe, President and Founder of Kehoe Designs, about how it all started, some of their favorite shared memories and what makes the partnership so special.
We also spoke with members of the Kehoe Designs and BlackOak Technical Productions team to get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at all the hard work and forethought that goes into putting on Red Jacket Optional, and how every element of the design is meticulously planned to support both the theme of the event, “the future is now,” and the mission of Uniting Voices.
Uniting Voices Chicago: Tom and Josephine, could you speak a little bit about how the partnership between Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children's Choir) and Kehoe Designs/The Geraghty began?
Josephine Lee, Uniting Voices President: Tom and I met maybe 11 or 12 years ago. When we first connected, it was just magical. I went to Tom’s 50th birthday party at The Geraghty. When I walked in, I felt like I was transported to Paris in the 1920s, during the era of Ernest Hemingway and speakeasies. It was this very unique and immersive experience with many rooms and that’s what really drew me into his genius of how he was able to transform spaces and create a mood that was everlasting.
Tom Kehoe, President and Founder, Kehoe Designs: The Geraghty was a brand new venue, and the organization was looking for a place to hold their event. I think it was Rob Katz, who was a member of the Board of Directors at the time, who encouraged them to check us out. I got a call in my office saying, “I’m doing a tour for Chicago Children’s Choir, and this really cool lady named Josephine is here and asking to meet you. I think you’d love her!” So I go downstairs and meet this beautiful woman with flowing hair and rose colored glasses—literally!—and I completely fell in love with her aura and the energy of her coolness. And then as soon as she starts to open up and share her passion for what Uniting Voices is trying to do with their event—that is when I truly fell in love with her, the organization and their mission. She knows how to pull people into her world and fully see the vision of Uniting Voices and what they’re trying to achieve. The way they help these kids—and you just want to jump on that bandwagon and throw on as much coal as possible to make that train go as fast as possible. Ever since, it’s been a home run… our first event as partners started here at The Geraghty.
UVC: This is the tenth year of the partnership. Could you reflect on how it has grown and changed over the past decade? Any highlights from past Red Jacket Optionals you'd like to point out?
JL: Every year they knock it out of the park. If I share a theme, they always take it to the next level. One particular year that stands out was last year when I was the honoree. The entire room just glowed. The Geraghty is this blank canvas, but he makes it come alive with such energy.
In 2023 we had two stages. I asked for a circular stage right after we went back in person. That year we had artists like Natalie Bergman in addition to alumni like Jamila Woods, all performing alongside current singers. That space, after the performance, just turned into Studio 54.
No matter the theme, the production quality is so exquisite. That, married with the heartbeat and spirit of our organization, makes the event incredibly magical.
TK: It’s been amazing to see Chicago Children’s Choir develop and grow into Uniting Voices—the name change but also the outreach, the way their international presence has expanded…the ripple effect of their impact is so impressive. You just love to see that and be a part of it.
UVC: What makes the partnership special for you?
JL: Tom’s creativity, his brilliance, his vision for The Geraghty and all the events he produces… Tom is creatively exactly on the same frequency as me and it makes our collaborations extra special.
TK: Personally, Josephine and I started out as a really cool work friendship and over the years really developed into a true friendship. Eventually I was able to get her to drop the walls as business partners and let me into her world, and it was reciprocated by me, and we’ve been very close—she is a confidant, cheerleader, and someone who really gets me (she’s a fellow Scorpio, so we understand each other and our challenges!)—and that has made it really enjoyable to have that special type of friend and connection.
UVC: What aspects of Red Jacket Optional were you most excited about this year?
JL: Wow, what a way to celebrate a decade! The theme of “the future is now” was brought to life 10/10 from the moment you stepped into the space. Nature juxtaposed with technology, they just delivered. And it’s not just about walking into the space and having the decor, but about the heart and the people who put the work into it. Tom and I have a friendship and a deep respect and admiration for one another’s artistry and creativity. But most of all I think it’s about our shared vision for the world. They always say Tom goes the extra mile with the lightest touch. It’s very familial. I think that’s what he brings to our events because he cares deeply about our mission to inspire and change lives. He creates the world and atmosphere so we can share our mission with our supporters and community.
TK: I always love the features/highlights of the truly gifted students via performances – the impact of over 100 singers is amazing but seeing small groups and individuals get to shine always blows me away.
Josephine’s presence and speaking ability is so impressive – I loved watching her rehearse, her effortless vocabulary and intelligence on full display. I also loved seeing her in color! I loved her magenta dress because I’m always pushing her to wear more color and she looked PHENOMENAL in it. Josephine radiates color from her being and has such a strong spirit—that color fit her so well. She is a stronger force and is more impactful than I think she realizes, so that color exemplifies the power she has over the room.
UVC: What's one thing that distinguishes Red Jacket Optional from other galas and fundraising events that your team throws?
Austin Repasy, Kehoe Designs Producer: Undoubtedly, the annual Red Jacket Optional gala distinguishes itself apart from other fundraising events in that, far and away, it is in itself a “production” with a dynamic offering of immersive décor, cutting edge lighting and tech, exquisite cuisine, as well as a sensational performance by the choir at the heart of the organization. Even the moniker of “gala” does not do the evening justice, as it offers a program worthy of a televised, Hollywood production that dazzles and thrills attendees, year after year, evoking inspiration to benefit the nonprofit with fundraising efforts.
Gavin Dover, Kehoe Designs Producer: Red Jacket Optional is different because it’s not just a gala - it’s a movement in visual form. Every year, we take some of the organizational values of Uniting Voices (connection, growth, and the transformative power of music) and translate them into an immersive, multisensory experience. It’s less about decoration and more about storytelling through design. Guests don’t just see beauty, they feel the organization’s mission surrounding them from the moment they enter.
Meredith Oliver, BlackOak Technical Productions, Senior Producer: Red Jacket Optional is one of the galas that BlackOak produces every year that pushes the AV design. Each year we look to see how we can enhance the talent that these students are exuding and translate that into inspiring the guests to give to such an important program.
UVC: This year's Red Jacket Optional theme was "the future is now." How did you bring that to life through the design and production of the event?
AR: This year’s event tagline “the future is now,” was further explored and expanded upon with a literal interpretation of “man” and “machine” and their functional and dysfunctional coexistence in the future. Representing “man,” a use of exotic, textural greenery elements—alocasia leaves, anthurium blooms and hanging amaranthus tendrils. To evoke “machine,” industrial metallic and neon elements—silver wire mesh, alloyed trussing structures and vibrant fiber optic illumination. A focal decor moment, conceived by the brilliant Meredith Oliver of BlackOak Technical, beautifully exemplified both: two running lengths of suspended LED Tiles, with curated digital content above guest dining tables, intertwined with overgrown jungle greenery and silver industrial tubing to create an impressionable “wow” for guests as they entered the dining space.
GD: We interpreted “the future is now” as a dialogue between the organic and the industrial—between humanity and the technology we shape. The space became a living ecosystem where lush greenery collided with glowing LED and fiber-optic light. We layered natural materials (moss, vines and branches) against architectural steel, mirrored surfaces and linear lighting to symbolize progress rooted in nature. It felt like stepping into a world where growth and innovation coexist, reminding guests that the future depends on the balance we create between the two.
MO: We worked with Kehoe Designs to blend the hard lines of AV with the soft edges of nature to create a feeling of nature overtaking technology. Utilizing LED walls to show both robotic but also nature imagery. The opening of the event started out with a blue and teal color scheme that leaned cold and sterile symbolizing technology. After the main stage program concluded, we shifted the colors to bright and warm purples, magentas and ambers. A small and simple shift that changes the entire mood and feeling of the space.
UVC: How does the work of the design and production team support the mission of Uniting Voices: to inspire and change lives through music?
AR: Personally, and I am sure the same could be said for much of our team, the key to supporting the program, year after year, is the word “inspire”—and the responsibility that we take upon ourselves to ensure that guests are left feeling that emotion. That “stirring of the heart,” when the talent of the choir is perfectly accentuated by the production elements and surrounding environment, is really the magic that inspires those guests to donate to the cause, and in turn, benefit the organization’s mission statement.
GD: Music at its core is about harmony—different voices coming together to create something bigger. Our design approach mirrors that philosophy. We blend textures, materials and light to create spaces that sing visually, amplifying the emotional resonance of the performance itself. By crafting an environment that evokes both awe and connection, we help guests feel the same inspiration that fuels Uniting Voices, turning that emotion into action and support.
MO: Through the AV, we were able to literally amplify the voices and visages of the singers. Our technology allowed for a robust performance to be heard and seen from every table in the venue, which is the key to guests receiving the mission statements and messaging that Uniting Voices is trying to convey.
UVC: Talk to me about the photo feature. How did you select the elements that would go into it, knowing it could be the backdrop for the moment they share of their RJO experience?
AR: The photo backdrop is always a highlight of the event, and this year was no different, with designer Gavin Dover creating a “portal” of sorts with a rounded greenery arch, intermixed with fiber-optics and blue metallic mylar material as the backdrop. A plethora of elements were layered, in an almost maximalist effort, to create a statement piece that guests gravitated towards in the cocktail space, with a “meadow” of mirrors and forest moss.
GD: The photo feature was designed to be the visual embodiment of ”man versus nature”; a powerful juxtaposition of industrial framework, metallic mesh and cascading greenery illuminated by fiber optics. We wanted it to feel cinematic: part living wall, part futuristic sculpture. It represented the idea that when nature and technology intertwine, something extraordinary happens, just like the fusion of voices within Uniting Voices itself.
UVC: Walk me through the guest's experience entering Red Jacket Optional, from door to table. What elements do they experience that enriches their night and empowers them to support the cause?
AR: As guests entered the space, they were greeted by custom registration counters, with metal cage frames, embellished with fresh ferns and a custom “PETG” graphic insert with a jungle “leaf” imprint, to resemble a frosted glass piece with preserved foliage.
Above, a spectacular “entrance ring” ceiling installation, an 8’D metal ring decorated with undulating wire mesh and industrial tubing, with asymmetric exotic greenery and neon tubes cascading down—a perfect encapsulation of the evening’s theming.
Guests made their way into the venue following a curved drape line to the cocktail space, where a fabulous oversized custom bar and a mix of cocktail tables awaited attendees to socialize. The bar itself was split in half, with a performance stage in between and an elevated “truss stage,” where DJ Matt Roan delighted guests with booming sound offerings for both the cocktail hour and afterparty.
Beyond the drape line, the main dining area, with a sea of round tables, was decorated with towering centerpieces and above, an installation of the suspended LED tiles and exotic greenery. Beyond, the main performance stage, with an LED wall of its own—providing choice visuals that supplemented the program and performances.
GD: As guests entered, they stepped into a world that felt both raw and refined. The entryway was bathed in shifting LED light, washing over installations of vines, ferns and steel structures that framed the space. The contrast immediately told the story: humanity’s hand within nature’s world. Moving through the room, the lighting grew warmer, the greenery denser, and the energy more communal, culminating in the main dining area where each table glowed softly from within. By the time guests sat down, they weren’t just at a gala, they were inside the narrative of balance, progress, and hope that Uniting Voices stands for.
UVC: Any other design elements of the event you'd like to highlight?
GD: The stage design was a centerpiece of the story; a sculptural blend of living foliage, industrial framing, and dynamic LED choreography that responded to the performances. It symbolized growth emerging from structure, much like the way Uniting Voices nurtures creativity within discipline. We also paid attention to sensory cohesion of sound, light, and sight all working in rhythm. That synergy reflected the choir’s own artistry: individual parts merging to create something transcendent.
