Mission Statement

At Red Ink Ensemble, our mission is to amplify queer voices and challenge conventional narratives through daring, transformative theatre. Inspired by the power of red ink to correct and redefine, we create work that demands stories be rewritten and understood on a deeper level. We are committed to bringing overlooked voices to the forefront, crafting productions that spark dialogue, inspire change, and celebrate the beauty and complexity of the LGBTQ+ experience.

Meet Our Founders

Red Ink Ensemble was born in January 2025 from a spark of rebellion and hope—the belief that if the stories artists crave aren’t being told, they can be created.

Founded by queer artists frustrated with limited roles and narrow narratives, Red Ink Ensemble is dedicated to crafting work that reflects the full spectrum of human experience. From reimagined classics to original pieces, the company creates theatre that is daring, transformative, and deeply human.


  • Nicole Ledoux (she/her) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Red Ink Ensemble.

    Originally from Massachusetts, she discovered the power of theatre at age 13 during a trip to New York, where seeing Wicked left her spellbound. Watching Elphaba soar during “Defying Gravity” ignited a lifelong love for storytelling and the stage.

    As a shy kid, Nicole found confidence through her high school theatre program, where performing gave her not only a voice—but the thrilling realization that people were listening.

    She went on to earn her BFA in Acting from Emerson College, where she fell in love with Shakespeare’s work: the bold characters, the vulnerability woven into the verse, and the sense of legacy—a dialogue across time that speaks to enduring human truths. For Nicole, Shakespeare isn’t an academic relic but a living art form, open to radical reinterpretation and connection.

    Nicole is also an artist fueled by frustration—at injustice, underrepresentation, and the notion that classical spaces like Shakespeare weren’t built for people like her. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, she’s determined to reclaim those spaces and prove that Shakespeare belongs to everyone.

    Co-founding Red Ink Ensemble with her wife, Lucia Ledoux, has been the most fulfilling chapter of her career. She believes theatre can challenge conventions, amplify unheard voices, and bring communities together. And whether staging a reimagined classic or a daring new story, Nicole is committed to ensuring that audiences leave a Red Ink show both entertained—and transformed.

  • Lucia Ledoux (she/her) is the co-founder and executive producer of Red Ink Ensemble.

    Originally from the Bay Area, she discovered theatre almost by accident when her parents signed her up for a local production of Annie to keep her busy one summer. Landing the lead role sparked a lifelong love of performance and storytelling. As a shy kid who often felt like an outsider, theatre quickly became the place where she felt valued and seen—a passion that carried her through performing in multiple productions each year until college.

    After graduating from the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts (PCPA), she moved to Los Angeles, where she’s built a career as a writer, producer, and actor. Lucia’s projects include the award-winning pilot Beards and The Gayborhood, a semifinalist in the Screencraft Animation Competition. She has produced both film and theatre, including Red Ink Ensemble’s sold-out Romeo and Juliet.

    Despite working in entertainment, she never found true fulfillment until she began creating her own work. Founding Red Ink Ensemble has been the most meaningful chapter of her career: a chance to make theatre that’s alive, fearless, and deeply connected to the community. She’s driven by moments when actors say, “I needed this,” or when audiences discover Shakespeare in a new light. For her, Red Ink Ensemble is not just about art—it’s a way to resist gatekeeping and erasure, and to ensure people see themselves reflected in unexpected places and stories.