We're proud and excited to announce the participants of our Night of New Works project development series:

• Jex Arzayus, Sabrina Crews & Steven Michael Hall: FOILED
• Suzanne Victoria Cross & Ricardo Beaird: SPOOK
• Beth Ann Powers: FRIGID

More about the projects will be posted soon. In the meantime, get to the know artists:

Jex Arzayus made their debut playing brother Einhart in “Pope Joan the First Transgender Pope,” and is proud to be back at the Fringe working with Womyn's Mysteries this year. Jex was most recently seen as Damis in “Tart” by The BAND Group at Bryant Lake Bowl and will be playing the judge in “American Terror The Trials of Jeffrey Dahmer” this fall at the Crane Theater. Born and raised in New Jersey, Jex has called Minneapolis home for the past 11 years. Jex is a middle school/high school art teacher in Maple Grove and recently opened a bike powered vegan food cart. Jex takes improv classes at Huge Theater, is a martial artist and a new crossfitter. Jex found their passion for acting less than a year ago and is hooked.

Sabrina Crews grew up on the Twin Cities stage, performing in a range of venues from Children’s Theatre Company to the Southern Theater to Hennepin Center for the Arts. At ages nine and ten, she toured 11 states and Canada as a full-time actor with Troupe America, which ignited her love for travel and marathon road trips. Now she’s a full-time content writer for the Center for Victims of Torture, an international nonprofit headquartered in Minnesota that provides mental health care to refugees and asylum seekers. She’s ecstatic about fusing her theatrical experience and writing background for Savage Umbrella’s Night of New Works! 

Steven Michael Hall is a St. Paul-based writer who has dedicated his personal and professional life to advancing the missions of nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities by fostering lasting partnerships, deepening community connections, and generating sustainable funding. Steven previously worked at the International Education Center and the Center for Victims of Torture, both serving the Minnesota immigrant and refugee community. Today, Steven manages corporate and foundation relations and seeks funding in support of exhibitions and programs at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. You will not remember Steven from his bit parts in dozens of suburban community theater productions in the mid-late 1990s. Savage Umbrella’s Night of New Works marks Steven’s triumphant return to the world of theater.

Suzanne Victoria Cross was born and raised in North Minneapolis, graduated from St. Cloud State University with a BA in Theater and Community Psychology. Suzanne is a local actor and teaching artist in the St. Paul and Minneapolis area. She has worked with many local theater companies including touring with CLIMB Theatre as an Actor-Educator, Penumbra Theatre Company’s Education and Outreach Program, Lyric Arts Academy, Southern Theater, and Teatro del Pueblo. Suzanne is currently the Local Coordinator and Resident Stage Manager for Pangea World Theater.

Ricardo Beaird is an actor, director, playwright, and teaching artist. He relocated to the Twin Cities from Nashville, TN to work as an Actor-Educator with CLIMB Theatre. He is a company member of GTC Dramatic Dialogues, an interactive workshop collective that facilitates conversations around Date Rape, Diversity, and Substance Abuse on college campuses. Ricardo has performed and taught with several theatre companies around town including Pangea World Theater, Theater Latte Da, Penumbra Theatre, Park Square Theater, Red Eye Theater, and Yellow Tree Theater.

Beth Ann Powers is a Playwright, Performer, and Theater Artist based in the Twin Cities. Beth Ann received a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota in 2017. She co-founded Slap Happy Studios, a local production company for which she has served as the artistic director since 2015. Beth Ann’s work as a playwright has been presented by the University of Minnesota, The Playwrights Center, Phoenix Theater, Theater Unbound, Raw Sugar, and Little Life Boats. She has also worked around the Twin Cities as a performer with such companies as The Band Group, 20% Theater Company, Wildwood Theater, and Classical Actors Ensemble. As an artist Beth Ann considers her work to be largely collaborative and focuses on social justice, equity, representation, and inclusion.

Summertime is here! Time for sunshine, cold drinks, and kicking back. Or that's what we've been told. We're a little busy over here because we're planning A Surprise Birthday Party. Save that date, you're not going to want to miss it - did you read about the free drink, and the cake? Don't worry, there will be surprises too and also plenty of... surprises. You're invited!

And after you've penned that into your digital calendar, check out these other projects the company is involved in this summer. What better way to escape the heat and humidity than to see a show, or binge a new podcast or take a class or two. Here's the roundup of radical summertime events that the company is cooking up around town:

Happy June, cuties! Guess what?... it’s Pride month!

If you’re a research nerd like many of us, you might be interested in some of the history behind all things “Pride”. One of the sparks for the gay liberation movement, as well as the modern fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in America, can be traced to the Stonewall Riots on June 28,  1969.

The events broke out when the Stonewall Inn — a NYC bar that was a welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community — was raided violently by police in the middle of the night. Raids like this were not uncommon — and you may remember us talking about them during our 2016 production of JUNE; however, this time patrons of the bar, including incredible transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, said enough is enough. They risked their lives, just as many others have done throughout history, to stand up against injustice.

The first Pride march occurred the year after the riots in 1970, and the parades and festivities that continue today celebrate how far we’ve come and remind us how far we still have to go to ensure safety and fundamental rights for all. People participate in Pride month in many different ways, so get out there to celebrate with radical joy, protest for safety, support the community, and be kind to one another.

Speaking of radical joy, we invite you to join us under the umbrella for some exciting events this summer:

Save the date for our Surprise Birthday Party on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Okay, okay, we know that it's happening... but it will be full of other surprises just for you! Official season announcements, delicious treats and bevs, super special news, and all kinds of goodies and fun. Seriously, you don't want to miss this.

There will be cake and a full bar... your first round is on us!​

Saturday, July 21, 2018  |  8:00 PM - 11:30 PM (or when your party heart desires)
​Nomad World Pub (501 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454; 21+ Event)

You'll need to reserve your ticket to get the secret password for entry to the super-secret-surprise party location! Pick your own price!

Hurry! Only a few days left to get those applications in for Night of New Works. Do you have an idea that needs a little collaborative push and support? Three projects will be chosen to engage in an exploratory and collaborative rehearsal process culminating in a public final presentation of works-in-progress at Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater in Uptown Minneapolis, MN (September 10-12).

Application deadline is 11:59 PM on Friday, June 8, 2018
More information available at http://www.savageumbrella.org/nnw-application
Email hello@savageumbrella.org with any questions.

Happy PRIDE, everyone! We’re kicking off our month by taking over the Phoenix Theater stage with What’s Next Productions for their monthly sex ed comedy improv show:

Sex is fun! Sex ed should be, too. How many of us sat through an awkward health class that everyone giggled through or didn't even get the birds and the bees talk? Probably most of us, right? We're teaming up with What’s Next Productions to put those giggles to good use for their sex ed comedy show (18+ event). Join us for Sex Ed: a sexprov PRIDE edition:

Friday, June 8, 2018  | 10:30 PM
at Phoenix Theater (2605 Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis)

Tickets are only $10! Save your spot today.

BONUS: Phoenix Theater will be hosting a happy hour before the show. Purchase a ticket online or at the door and receive $1 OFF drinks from 9:00 - 10:00 PM at the theater bar.


See you under the umbrella!

xoxo