Redfield's first experience as a conductor was in recording sessions of the songs from
The Amazing Adele, a forgotten musical of the mid-1950s with
Tammy Grimes that never made it to Broadway. Later she studied conducting with Vladimir Brailowsky, who also encouraged her to continue her piano studies. Her work in regional theater eventually led to conducting jobs with two
off-Broadway musicals in 1960,
Miss Emily Adams and
Ernest in Love. Redfield's big break came when she was appointed orchestra director for
Music Man. She later recalled: "Women seemed more surprised and pleased than men. Female members of the audience would come up to me after the show and tell me how pleased they were that I was conducting." After
Music Man, Redfield was the conductor for Broadway shows
Sophie,
Good News, and
Charlie and Algernon, none of which lasted more than a few weeks. She worked through the 1980s with touring Broadway shows and pre-Broadway tryouts. ==Death==