Design Duo FTW by Heidi

Obviously we love collaboration here at Savage Umbrella. Love it. We sing it to the roof tops. Pontificate on it. Talk about it with whomever will listen. Sometimes we even talk about it when people aren't listening...if we have ever been unclear hear us now: we believe collaboratively creating work makes the best work.

While it’s common for our company members and guest performers to collaborate and work with each other outside of SU projects. It’s fairly uncommon for designers to join us on a project with a rich history of collaborating together. Not true on THESE ARE THE MEN! Scenic Designer Brian Proball and Lighting Designer James Eischen have been working together since 2006.

Brian and Jim; Design Dream Team.

From Brian “This is Jim's and my first design together at the Duluth Playhouse in 2006 while I was the Production Director and Jim was a student at UMD.  I also went to UMD for lighting a decade earlier graduating in 1996. We did several shows together at the Duluth Playhouse until Jim then shipped out for the Iraq war. When I became the Production Director at Lyric Arts about 5 years later Jim walked in the door and I was excited to work together again.”

Noises Off 2006 Photo Courtesy of Duluth Playhouse

From Jim “Brian and I first worked together at the Duluth playhouse where he was the production manager and also designed sets for many of the productions. He first hired me as the master electrician and later that season gave me some opportunities to design. Now, more than 8 years later we have collaborated on several productions including Rent, Young Frankenstein and It's a Wonderful Life “

RENT 2014 at Lyric Arts in Anoka Photo Courtesy of James Eischen

We’ve had the pleasure of working with Jim on LEAVES and RAPTURE but this was Brian’s first go under the umbrella. From Brian “So the reason Jim and I keep working together is I do the hiring at all the places we work and quite frankly he brings out the best in my scenic designs. Savage Umbrella is the first time Jim has been the one to bring me to the project.”

And boy oh boy are we pleased as punch Jim connected us with Brian. And we're super glad Brian wanted to work with us.  And we’re SUPER glad they like to work together.

Because this.

THESE ARE THE MEN 2015 at The Southern Theatre Photo by Carl Atiya Swanson

Want to feast your eyes IRL on the gorgeous fruits of Brian and Jim’s collaborative labor? We’re back at The Southern March 26.

Get under the umbrella...’cause it’s real pretty here.