 OMG we're officially ten years old! Our very first show debuted in July 2007, and now we'd like to say thank you to all you wonderful artists and audience members for supporting the first ten years of this crazy, messy, beautiful experiment.  We're about this excited. Join us for a backyard BBQ style celebration this coming Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 6:00 PM. Birthday cake! Music! Fun! The party is free, but the location's a mystery... so you have to RSVP! Can't make it to our party, but want to give Savage Umbrella the best b-day gift ever? Head over to our GiveMN page to support the next ten years of exciting new work and conversation!  Go SAVAGE UMBRELLA...  It's your birthday....  We're gonna party like it's your birthday! Hey, hey! We're busy getting ready for our 10th Birthday Party (have you RSVP'd yet?!), but we're excited to make another announcement. These cuties are going to help us create Savage Umbrella's newest work, Velvet Swing! Inspired by the notorious tale of Evelyn Nesbit, the original 19th Century supermodel and leading lady of the “Crime of The Century,” Velvet Swing focuses on truth and testimony, choice and circumstance, and the origin of the American Woman. (We invite you to fall down a Wikipedia spiral here.) Drum roll please....
Not to mention the directing/writing dream(y) team:
WHAT IS A WORKSHOP PRESENTATION? Savage Umbrella believes the audience (that’s you!) is a vital part of the creation process. That’s why we invite you into the messy parts, the unfinished work. Together, we are so much more, and we can create art that reflects pieces of ourselves: our joys, our fears, our stories. After the work-in-progress showing, we invite you to lend your voice to the new play making process through our signature audience conversations. All audience members are invited to participate in the conversation, or just listen and write down thoughts on the surveys we provide! If post-show conversations aren't your thing... that's okay, too! We welcome feedback in whatever way is most comfortable to you. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW Tickets are sliding scale $5 - $20 in advance and at the door. You pick your own price! Make a night out of it with food and beverage available for purchase. Full menu in the theater! Velvet Swing Workshop Presentation August 28 & 29, 2017 7:30 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) at Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater 810 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Seating is limited, so reserve your ticket today. See you under the umbrella!
EX-GAYS: NOT A STR8 REMOUNT is coming . . . . . . . . . to PRIDE! We'll be hanging out all weekend at the Twin Cities PRIDE festival at a booth with our friends at Patrick's Cabaret and Mixed Precipitation. Stop by to learn the camp song, submit your burning queries for question corner, and learn more about these awesome queer-led arts makers and enablers.  VISIT OUR BOOTH Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 10 AM to 6 PM Twin Cities Pride Festival at Loring Park  We'll have some awesome CAMP CAMP CAMP shirts for sale at the booth, too, so you can be super stylin' while supporting hilarious and heart-y new work.  BONUS!Head over to the CAMP STR8-N-ARROW website to learn more about the camp staff!!!!1!!!11!! *Special Note: Camp Str8-N-Arrow is camp in the way that Richard Simmons is camp. See you under the umbrella this weekend, cuties!
We couldn't be more excited to announce our fabulous cast of artists working on EX-GAYS: NOT A STR8 REMOUNT! We start workshops later this month, and promise, promise to keep you posted on all the best camp stuff. Liiiiike, all these awesome celebs who are totally hawt for our tees! Order in time for Pride and CAMP CAMP CAMP all over the place. Buy a shirt, support SU and our September 2017 production of EX-GAYS! ** If you order by June 12, you can get your shirt before Twin Cities PRIDE! Hey there, lovers of new work... have we got a treat for you! The awesome artists involved in Night of New Works have been busy collaborating and experimenting over the past few weeks to get ready for the final presentations... and we're almost there! Join us next week to see what's been cooking, and lend your voice to the new work process! NIGHT OF NEW WORKS May 22*, 23, 24, 2017 at 7:30 PM at The Southern Theater (1420 S Washington Ave, Mpls) * Please join us for an opening reception on Monday, May 22 at 6:00 PM to celebrate the artists and their work! As we're head into the final crunch time, we asked the project leaders to give us a little glimpse into their processes. Here's what they had to say: A SQUID HAS THREE HEARTSA Squid Has Three Hearts explores environmental, personal, and political themes around the mystery of the Giant Squid, as well as the growth in squid populations that has occurred because of the rise of temperature in the oceans waters. Biology, mythology, and music act as connective tissue for a series of vignettes about the human experience. Created by Mark Sweeney, with Amber Davis, Keith Hovis, Elana Gravitz, Anna Pladson, Claire Morrison What are the main themes? Environmental anxiety; the ambivalence of cultural cross streams; the purpose of lore and mythology in a scientific world; lots of the knowns and unknowns about the giant squid; the moment a myth, thought, or theory becomes reality. What has the creation process been like? The process has been a series of broad strokes and snap shots. There have been attempts to bring the sensation of submersion onto the dry stage, and other attempts to dig into our personal connection to a crumbling world. The ensemble has carried the main themes to comedic and terrifying places. So, as the pieces are floating around, the monster has yet to be assembled. Oh, also, there's a bit of music. If A Squid Has Three Hearts was a cocktail or beverage, what would it be? Two shots of lemon grass, a splash of Coke, some sailor's rum. Garnish with squid tentacle. WE HAD A SECOND BATHROOMIn We Had A Second Bathroom, Lea returns to her childhood home for the first time in over a decade, where she finds the long forgotten second bathroom that her mother moved a cabinet in front of when she was six. Rediscovering the second bathroom leads Lea to think about the existence of the alternate reality she and her family had lived in for years— a reality in which they had only one bathroom. The unraveling of this reality leads Lea down a rabbit hole of memories that force her to confront the construction of not only her past, but her present reality. Created by Eva Adderley and Jordan Lee Thompson, with Joni Griffith, Kit Bix, Meagan Kedrowski, Nayely Becerra, Helena Mueller What are the main themes? Deception, anxiety, play, imagination, love and loss and nostalgia. All of the things we believed in as kids, and all of the things we believe in as grown-ups. What has the creation process been like? We've been reflecting a lot on our childhood memories—we taught each other imagination games we played as kids, and then invented our own improvised world of play. There was action and adventure, forces of darkness and moments of triumph, and even a procession. This is Jordan's first time directing live theater (he comes from directing film and dance) and Eva's first time writing a play through collaborative content-generation, so it's been a little meandering—but all the more fruitful. If We Had A Second Bathroom was a cocktail or beverage, what would it be? On your first sip, it's light and sweet and somehow nostalgic—maybe it reminds you of summers in your hometown, sucking the juice out of watermelon chunks and pulling dandelions out of the ground one by one. But by the time you find the last drop, you'll realize you're on the floor and the room is spinning around you. Oh, and it's garnished with a gargoyle named the Gorlox. DR. FALSTAFF AND THE WORKING WIVES OF LAKE COUNTYUsing Otto Nicolai’s 1849 opera--The Merry Wives of Windsor—as a springboard, Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County explores the closing of the Reserve Mining Corporation in Silver Bay, the landmark legal battles to stop the dumping of waste rock in Lake Superior, and the layoffs that reduced population of Silver Bay more than 70% in two decades. In the tradition of a Shakespeare wedding comedy, a series of mistaken identities leads to a happy ending wherein new seeds are planted to celebrate and renew a town on an economic precipice. Created by Scotty Reynolds, with Gary Ruschman, Maggie Lofboom, Jim Ahrens, Naomi Karstad, Patrick Webster, Nick Wolf, Laura Mason, Adrienne Kleinmann, Adam Baus What are the main themes? Work, community, small American towns, industry, environment, sex, romance, pranks, jealousy, crooked lecherous men, and scheming wives What has the creation process been like? We briefly looked the science of the industrial steal industry and the creation of taconite pellets. Our scene work examines the stakes for the people of a town facing transition and bleak possibilities. The character of Dr. Falstaff represents the crooked agenda of outsiders who monopolize on people in desperate situations, and have a misplaced sexual confidence. Our improvisations were rooted in the comedic and sexual antics of Shakespeare's play. Rehearsals also included the integration of music by Bruce Springsteen. This fits the late 70s working-class rock and roll vibe of the North Shore of Lake Superior and Otto Nicolai. We reset the German text in language the fits the characters and the Minnesota world of the play. If Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County was a cocktail or beverage, what would it be? Beer and a Bump (likely PBR and whiskey) and a bowl of pretzels. Don't forget to reserve those tickets... see you under the umbrella!
Photos by Hannah K. Holman We're so proud to announce the participants of our annual Night of New Works project development series:
You can read more about each of their projects here! Through the Night of New Works series, we will offer support to artists interested in creating new work for the stage and experimenting with collaborative processes. These three projects will receive artistic and production support from Savage Umbrella company members and collaborators. The public is invited to view the final presentations of the participants' work, as well as offer feedback through our signature audience conversations! *** Mark your calendars: May 22, 23, 24, 2017 at 7:30 PM at The Southern Theater *** “We're trying to create an environment where makers feel supported at every turn--to dream, to take risks, to try something for the first time," says Managing Director Hannah K. Holman. "We're excited to help these awesome artists add to their artistic/collaborative toolboxes, while providing some of the nuts-and-bolts producing that goes into a work-in-progress. Each of these projects reflect our values of conversation, and sensitivity to social, environmental, and historical context. We can't wait to get rolling!" Drumroll, please...
See you under the umbrella!
 The ensemble emerges. // Photo: Dan Norman "Director/adaptor Laura Leffler-McCabe has assembled a cast here that knows how to do a slow burn on Edna’s simmering emotions, with Dussault of course, leading the pack" - Single White Fringe Geek "With a large cast utilizing physical theater techniques, live music performed by an onstage three-person band, and beautiful production design, The Awakening is a truly lovely and moving story of a woman's struggles to find her place in a world that doesn't accept her." - Cherry And Spoon "It’s an unflinching look that avoids demonizing these characters — all have cards to play, but the deck is stacked… Dussault, a busy and consistently impressive actor, has never been better than she is here, sweeping us along on her character’s tragic journey of self-realization." - City Pages  The young lovers (Lauren Diesch, Aaron Henry) inhabit Edna's mind. // Photo: Dan Norman "It's the perfect story to tell because it is so emotional and, with the waves of feminism we ride like waves on the sea, it once again feels very present and very live in our current culture. Though it deals with Victorian women and their yearnings, it contains a force that is still very much alive in the lives and minds of modern women." - The Room Where It Happens "I always know the value of a performance the next day. I can't stop thinking about the show! It was wonderfully nuanced and performed. The visuals and soundscape added immensely to the story and immersive feel of the show. And of course, the themes although originally put to paper by this author over a hundred years ago, still ring clear for us today." - Megan Hadley, Audience Member Three shows remain for THE AWAKENING: Friday, March 17 at 7:30 PM Saturday, March 18 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
And for you, loyal blog reader, a special treat! Enter the code AWAKE15 to unlock $15 tickets!
See you under the umbrella.  Edna Pontellier (played by Emily Dussault) goes for a swim. Photo credit: Dan Norman Our hearts are so full from an opening weekend full of excitement, beauty, and conversation. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us! We have the night off tonight, but THE AWAKENING will set sail again tomorrow night for our Pay-What-You-Want performance! In the meantime, here are some words from our fearless director's note in the program: "Every time I re-read THE AWAKENING, I think, 'Oh I should have included this! This part is brilliant! Oh, this line! This passage! This word!' And the truth is, the book is better than this play, as is always the case, the book is better. But this play is now, and needs to be now. What strikes me over and over upon re-reading the book, upon crafting and watching this production, is that Edna is such a complicated creature. She's such a bitch, a bad mom, an adulterer, a disappointing daughter, a lousy friend, and as Madame Lebrun says of her, she's capricious. But in reality - she's none of those things. Those attributes and judgments are what society teaches us to think about a woman who acts as she does: a woman who refuses to be told what to do, a woman who takes the time she needs to think big thoughts about her own identity, a woman who creates a space for herself, a woman who has desires and acts upon them, a woman who breaks the mold. Edna, gods bless Edna, for breaking through the rigid society and rules which were pressing so hard upon her, she could not breathe. And as she stands with the broken glass of the ceiling all around her, what then? For Edna, she makes the choice she has available to her. But what about us? If Edna broke the ceiling for us back in 1899 when this book was first published - 118 years ago! - what are we doing now? How do we honor the legacy of women like Edna, and push into what must surely be a brighter future for us all? Whither would you soar?" - Laura  THE AWAKENING Presented as part of the Southern Theater’s ARTshare. March 3 - 18, 2017 Written and directed by Laura Leffler-McCabe Music by Candy Emberley Created with Savage Umbrella and the ensembles Edna Pontellier has zero effs left to give. Nothing is really wrong, at all, except for the inconvenient fact that she's slowly dying inside. Here we have one woman's struggle to become her most authentic self, amidst a society unwilling to see her for who she is. Music, waves, and sexual tension thick as the humid New Orleans air. Adapted freely from Kate Chopin's landmark feminist novel. See you under the umbrella!
THE AWAKENING tells a complicated story about a strong woman and her realization that there is a world outside of the one that society has built for her. During a time such as this, seeing a woman take total control of her relationships, her words, and her body has been empowering. When speaking with women around me, I am constantly hearing fear or anger creep into our conversation when the topic turns to one of current events or social climate. This time needs Edna Pontellier.  Creating waves. Emily Dussault as "Edna Pontellier", flanked by the ensemble Photo credit: Alana Horton Through Edna’s relationship with Adele Ratignolle, the audience is shown what society expects of Edna. We’re given Adele: the perfect socialite and mother. But perfection is not possible, and that goal of perfection is one that Edna can never accomplish. Edna is discovering what she needs and what that means. She does not need the constant reminder that she should be more engaged with her children, more involved with women’s social events, more of who she is not.  Rehearsing a scene under The Southern Theater's arch. L-R: Nick Wolf as "Robert Lebrun", Emily Dussault as "Edna Pontellier", and Amber Davis as "Adele Ratignolle" Photo credit: Alana Horton Then there is Mademoiselle Reisz, a distant woman, but one who is willing to speak her mind. In this relationship, Edna is allowed to dislike things. She can say blatantly “I do not know if I like you”, without the fear that honesty will offend others and tarnish a seemingly necessary reputation. She does not hide her feelings for Robert when with Reisz and it is through Reisz’s music that she starts to understand this change happening inside her. She is not someone who can adhere to the world that Adele lives in; she needs to grow strong wings in order to soar above it.  A serious moment for Edna. L-R: Alexis Clarksean as "Mademoiselle Reisz", Nick Wolf as "Robert Lebrun", and Emily Dussault as "Edna Pontellier" Photo credit: Alana Horton As a young artist who stumbled into SPACE a month ago, I can say that this time has been one of growth for me. Being an intern, I have been able to work on this incredible performance and be inspired by it. Through Edna’s story of breaking free and her drive to be authentic, I have been challenged to be more authentic in my relationships. If I cannot feel complete freedom on a macro level, finding moments of honest, open conversation within my relationships and everyday interactions seems like a good place to start. Helena Mueller joins Savage Umbrella as a production intern for THE AWAKENING as part of our 10th anniversary season. Come see Helena's fantastic work next month at The Southern Theater!  THE AWAKENINGPresented as part of the Southern Theater’s ARTshare. March 3 - 18, 2017 Written and directed by Laura Leffler-McCabe Music by Candy Emberley Created with Savage Umbrella and the ensembles Edna Pontellier has zero effs left to give. Nothing is really wrong, at all, except for the inconvenient fact that she's slowly dying inside. Here we have one woman's struggle to become her most authentic self, amidst a society unwilling to see her for who she is. Music, waves, and sexual tension thick as the humid New Orleans air. Adapted freely from Kate Chopin's landmark feminist novel. See you under the umbrella!
 HELP US SAY GOODBYE (for now) TO SPACE IN STYLE!
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