The Midnight Society presents
FORK TENDER
by Caitlin Nolan
Produced by Mishelle Apalategui, Julia Box, Sara Fay Goldman, Sam Harris, Heath Hyun Houghton, Caitlin Nolan, Chris O’Toole, and Kelsea Vierra Ashenbrenner
Cast (in order of appearance)
Kelsea Vierra Ashenbrenner: The Cook/Luigina
Mishelle Apalategui: Nonna/Tulia
Heath Hyun Houghton: Nicola
Julia Box (Sara Fay Goldman, 10/7/23): The Creature
Sam Harris: Matteo
Crew
Sara Fay Goldman: Director, Production Manager
Jenn Lindell: Stage Manager
Chris O’Toole: Sound Designer
Caitlin Nolan: Production Assistant
Mishelle Apalategui (she/they) is a playwright, actor and producer whose specialty is making something out of nothing. She also wrote and stars in Hellscape, which is also playing this year at Stage Fright, and is very excited for everyone to see it in action.
Julia Box (she/her) is an avid dancer specializing in vintage jazz styles. She is excited to be involved in her first theatre production in many years. You can find her at Portland Blues and Jazz dance events. More info at pdxblues.com.
Sara Fay Goldman (they/them/she/huh) is a theatre and wellness artist and educator. Spinning plates in both theatre and circus has led them increasingly towards dance, choreography, and original, movement-based performance art. Most recently, she completed her second 30-hour intensive in the DanceAbility method and is teaching two monthly classes in the method (at Dance with Joy Studios and the Tango Berretin) she calls Every Body Moves.
Sara Fay is incredibly grateful for the support from Chris, family, and extended community in going back to school to study her other love, the natural sciences, including human anatomy and kinesiology. Meanwhile, they also owe much thanks to Caitlin, both the Fork Tender and Stage Fright teams, and you for joining in this precious time, live and in person, with actors, original designs, and you, our audience.
Favorite directing credits include original concepts and adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Somnambulism (and Helena; Fuse Theatre Ensemble), The Taming And The Shrew, a kind of history (Experience Theatre Project), and As You Like It (Portland Actors Ensemble)
Favorite performing credits: Tether: ADHDBDSM (Drammy winner for Outstanding Solo Performance and nominee for Best Original Script; Sound Design also by Chris O’Toole; with Fuse), Rachel (Appropriate; dir Jerry Ruiz, Profile Theatre), Hamlet (dir Asae Dean; Salt and Sage), Fr Kost (Cabaret; dir Rusty Tennant; Fuse)
Sam Harris (he/him/they/them) is a thought-form we created after failing to find a suitable human actor to play Matteo. Summoning him required a massive application of our collective psychic energy, but we’re all very satisfied with the result.
Heath Hyun Houghton (he/him) is a Korean American adoptee who grew up in rural Michigan and is currently based in Portland, OR. He is an actor, writer and director. He holds a MFA in Creative Writing with a focus in playwriting from Goddard College and a BA in Theatre with a focus in performance from Humboldt State University. He also studied Korean dance and performance styles in Jinju, South Korea with USD Modern Dance. He studies intimacy direction with Theatrical Intimacy Education and Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Inc. Portland credits include appearances with Lakewood Theatre, Profile Theatre, Portland Shakespeare Project, Broadway Rose, Northwest Children’s Theatre, Imago Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, CoHo Theatre, and more.
Jenn Lindell (she/her) works as a paralegal at an immigration law office by day and is a freelance stage and production manager on nights and weekends. Since graduating from Reed College in 2014, Jenn has been happily immersed in Portland theatre, working with several companies around town. Favorite credits include Playhouse Creatures (Coho), Cabaret (Fuse Theatre Ensemble), King Lear (Portland Actors Ensemble), Hamlet/Romeo and Juliet (Salt and Sage), and Andalusian Night (The Portland Revels). Jenn has a passion for theatre education and loves making weird stuff with friends.
Caitlin Nolan (she/her) is a playwright, actor, and the founder and producing creative director of The Midnight Society. She was most recently seen onstage as Jenna in Downward Facing as part of Fuse Theatre Ensemble’s Atelier Festival. New written works in development include Channel 3, an analog horror play, and an adaptation of Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow. She extends her sincerest gratitude to the cast and crew for infusing this piece with life, to Jeff and Amica for curating such a wonderful event, and most especially to Sara Fay Goldman for guiding Fork Tender so adroitly to opening night. Follow @themidnightsocietypdx for updates.
Chris O’Toole (she/her) is a composer and sound designer who loves her some horror. Check out previous work at www.ctotoole.com.
Kelsea Vierra Ashenbrenner (she/her) is a performer, director, and producer based in Portland, Or. She has a degree in Theatre from Oregon State University. She is an alumni of Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble’s Institute for Contemporary Performance and Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training. When she’s not on stage she’s most likely chasing her toddler around a park. She’s excited to be a part of Stage Fright for the first time and feels lucky to work with so many friends on this project! Next she’s performing in THE THEATRE COMPANY’s production of California at ADX October 18-21st. Follow her on Instagram @kelsearose15 or on TikTok @theactormama.
The Midnight Society gratefully acknowledges that this production was made possible only by the generosity of the cast and crew, who collectively went above and beyond the call of duty in volunteering their time, skills, labor, and resources. This was an ensemble-produced endeavor that could not have succeeded without the above-named artists and their many behind-the-scenes contributions.
Special thanks to:
Bobby Bermea
Ariel DeWeese
Galen Gledhill
Kenichi Hillis
Jasmine Nothing
Michael Smith
Henoch Tereza
Robert Umali Evans and Ragtime PDX Cleaning Services
Weeble Mountain Casting