Art Making
Reviews/Praise
2020
2019
Review: Superman Becomes Lois Lane
Director Laura Leffler makes good use of a large, multilevel set (by Michael Hoover) with many steps leading in all directions and huge video screens that help set the scenes and the mood. She has Susan traipsing up and down the steps in demanding high heels (not something I would like to do), conveying a sense of the difficulty in navigating such a life-changing transition in the early 80s.- Renee Valois, Pioneer Press
Review: Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant
The show is really well staged in Park Square's intimate thrust stage in the basement of the Historic Hamm Building, with director Laura Leffler using all sides of the space and even sending actors into the audience. She's also somehow managed to balance the almost campy and definitely over-the-top tone of the show with moments that feel grounded in real emotion…I enjoyed Jefferson Township when I saw it at the Fringe two years ago, but I love it even more now.
- Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon
2018
2018
Actor Feedback: The Awakening
Laura gave me space to try different things and find my way organically through the script during initial rehearsals. But when we got into the meat of the scene work, it was some of the most exciting work I've done with a director. She helped us carve the scenes out beat by beat, offering up many ideas but never shutting an actor down when we had a different idea. It was truly a back and forth conversation. But the one thing she wouldn't let me dwell on was self-doubt. Her belief in me was apparent every day, and it helped me to make stronger choices and led me to a performance of which I am very proud.
- Emily Dussault, Twin Cities performer
Best Director. City Pages Best of the Cities 2018.
Savage Umbrella’s artistic director Laura Leffler takes actors and audiences out of their comfort zones, crafting productions that have a unique sense of emotional honesty…This year Leffler led remounts of The Awakening and Ex-Gays, with the latter gaining gut-wrenching new life in a production so intimate it felt like you were eavesdropping. Few local directors have such a consistent gift for pushing their actors and creative teams to new heights every time.
2016
Best of the Fringe. Penelope (director)
The troupe gives off the vibe of “Hair” as a band of actors flit about a city park and deconstruct Greek myth. Jealousy, drunken revelry, backstabbing and a break for hot dogs all play a part in a loose telling of Odysseus’ return to his wife Penny. [. . .] It feels Fringey, and the chance to get outside and stretch one’s legs is nice.
- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
2010
Review: The Awakening (director)
Most essentially, though, Leffler demonstrates a sure sense for what works - and, crucially, when… The Awakening is an amazing show: it had me on the edge of my seat, and on multiple occasions wanting to jump out of it with cheers.
- Jay Gabler, Twin Cities Daily Planet