Meet the team behind VELVET SWING

Umbrella Collective's final show in their twelfth season, VELVET SWING, tells the true story of Evelyn Nesbit, the original 19th Century supermodel and leading lady of the "Crime of The Century!" Imagine: your favorite true crime podcast meets a wild vaudevillian circus with a pinch of postmodern narratives. Expect daring feats of self discovery, compelling choices in complex circumstances, delightful musical accompaniment, multiple narratives, and one very large snake named Baby. 

We're so thrilled to have a stellar cast of actors and creators working on VELVET SWING. Meet the team, and hear their thoughts on what's exciting them about the show!  

Cast: 

Antonia Perez (Performer) 
I’m excited about the ladies in this show. They all come to rehearsal full of ideas and ready to play. It made bonding and being five parts of one woman easy. We also make each other laugh so much. I hope it translates to the audience!

Mickaylee Shaughnessy (Performer)
This show is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet - we get to do a little bit of everything, so on that level, it’s just a lot of fun. But it is also a really profound examination of the way women were (and are) treated.​

Meredith Kind (Performer) 
I love telling historical stories. Things that really happened. And how much better to tell the real story for Evelyn. Working with women & telling this woman’s story is what it’s all about.

Natavia Lewis (Performer) 
​For me, the most exciting thing about this show is what each performer brings to their characters. It’s fun to see multiple people play one person, while simultaneously portraying different parts of who she was. I also love that we don’t rush over the hard parts of her story. They are just as important as the rest, no matter how difficult they are to hear.

Jessie Scarborough-Ghent (Performer) 
I’m excited for this show because I get to be funny!!

Michelle Hernick (Performer & Musician) 
​This production encapsulates what many women have felt: attempting to break out of roles society has created for us. Are we Madonna? Are we Whore? Why do we have to choose? Framing these questions under a guise of a vaudeville show allows us to present these ideas in a palpable context, where we can use humor as a vehicle to explore the molds women are forced into and how it can affect their lives.

Megan Clark (Story Designer) 
I am excited for people to see these amazing, brilliant and talented actresses tell an important and serious story in a really funny and charming way. My favorite part of working on this play was how much we could laugh during rehearsals and also honor the serious content.​

Alana Horton (Story Designer)
​I’m so excited to see this story come to life! VELVET SWING is something that I’ve been dreaming up since 2014 since I first heard the story of Evelyn Nesbit. It’s remarkable, sad, and frustrating to me that a 115 year old story still has such resonance in our current moment.

VELVET SWING's creative team also features the talents of: 
​Stage Manager . . . Jenny Moeller
Costume & Props Designer . . . Josie Everett
​Dramaturgy Support . . . Jo Holcomb
Producing Artistic Director  . . .  Hannah K. Holman

Come join us at VELVET SWING

Tickets are sliding scale $5 - $20 in advance and at the door. Get advance tickets here 

 April 5 - 27, 2019
at Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater
810 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55408​