Nyx and the Long Night runs for about
2 hours with an intermission
Great for ages 5 and up!
No photography or video recording is allowed during the show.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S NOTE:
Thank you so much for joining OFT as we reopen our doors for our first full season since 2020. Although I’ve only been at OFT for one short year, I have come to know this place as a community full of love, creativity, courage, and integrity. It is an honor to be part of this story.
In our 2022-2023 season, every play we produce is intended to bring us together around ideas and themes that spark conversation, build empathy, and help us to heal from the last two years: in The Secret Garden we are directly talking about healing, grief and community. In the shows coming up we’ll have dance parties, hero’s journeys, and critical analysis of equity in America.
You’ll also notice that every play centers young people in leading roles. The last two years have been difficult for people of all ages, but have had a profound impact on our youth. We need to uplift, center, and celebrate their resilience and talent – especially as we rebuild our communities.
In closing, I’ll ask you these questions: What is the world you want to see in the future? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do people treat one another? I believe that theater can play a critical role in helping us to visualize that world, and to share our ideas for transformation with one another. I hope the plays we’re sharing with you this season embody some of your hopes and dreams – and I can’t wait to sit next to you in the theater to share these stories.
BIG, big love,
Lily
CAST:
Adi Vannice, Nyx
Maija Sandberg, Mama Luna
Ione Mullins, Tullimora
KB Bailey, Axl
Razz Yoshioka, Preston
Alexander Grace, Wendle
Jesse Morrow, Tour Guide
Ensemble:
Kate Schmitz
Izumi Huff
Carly Melchers
Kai Johnson
Jesse Morrow
Tara Donohoe
Isla Morgan
CREATIVE CREW:
Co-created by Emily McHugh, Donald Palardy, & Lily Raabe
Puppetry Design by String & Shadow Puppet Theater (as part of their 2022-2023 Artist Residency).
Luz Gaxiola, Director
Vanessa Postil, Stage Manager & Light Board Operator
Jordanna Averett, Set Designer
Marlo Winter, Emily McHugh and Lily Raabe, Costume Designers
Kate Arvin, Lighting Designer
Ayana Eagans, Sound Designer
Bonnie Reese, Properties Designer
Jill Carter, Scenic Painter, Graphic Designer
David Nowitz, Scenic Engineer
Kefa Crow, Spotlight Operator & Production Electrician
Ariel Schmidtke, Backstage Support & Puppeteer
Special Thanks:
To all of our helpers, carpenters, painters, puppet crafters and folks who loaned us things!
Alexa Ryle
Angel Ramirez
Anna Bobcova
Ariana Wheeler
Ashlen Hodge
Ben Pagel
Christine Yorba
Girl Scout Daisy Troop 41001
Jamie Terry
Jennel
Jessica Wheeler
Jo Arlow
Joelle Montez
Jordan Richards
Keith Jewell
Kelsey Magnuson
Laurie O’Brien
Mike Taylor
Natalie Coblentz
Nicole Hoberecht
Noelle Turk
Nora Walsh
Olivia and Rob at Harlequin Productions
Paula McHugh
Rachel McCarthy
Raphael Vengas
Roger at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Sam Jarrett
Sara Hoberecht
Sara Richards
Sara St. Clair
Sarah Jewell
Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Shari Trnka
Tracy at Discovery Health
Travis McCarthy
Xander Wheeler
CAST BIO'S:
Nyx – Adi Vannice
Tullimora – Ione Mullins
Ione is a 17 year old human (we think) who contrary to popular belief, isn’t actually a giant puppet that plays piano… She plays the ukulele. She has both experience in digital art and animation. Since elementary school she’s been in plenty of plays, mostly playing either a faceless background character or a very disgruntled supporting character. This is her first time working with OFT.
Axl – KB Bailey
KB (Kristen Bailey) is a recent transplant from the theater world of Philadelphia and is so excited to be in her second show with OFT! She has spent the last ten years on the east coast delighting in the creation and performance of original productions with Applied Mechanics Theater Company and Bearded Ladies Cabaret. This love of teamwork as well as a passion for sustainability and reconnection to the planet has brought her to the PNW with a dream of creating a place called “WilderHouse.” (Ask her about it!) A singer, a stilt walker, tree hugger and an amateur harpist, KB is ready to make some nature/art friends in Olympia and start telling some stories. Huzzah!
Preston – Razz Yoshioka
This is Razz’s first production with Olympia Family Theater, and they are berry happy to be here. A recent transplant to Olympia, they are excited to branch out and take root in the local art scene. The amazing cast has created so mushroom for them to grow as a performer.
Wendle – Alexander Grace
Alexander Grace (he/him) is a very goofy guy with a big gooey heart. In his day-to-day he is the antithesis of villainous, but he will happily play evil for your entertainment, especially when magic is involved. He is a clown-about-town who returned to the stage after a long hiatus earlier this year as Lord Farquaad in Punk Shrek. He dedicates every performance to his frog man Pollywog, and to the eternal unraveling mysteries of love.
Izumi Huff - Ensemble
Izumi (13) is currently in 8th grade at Washington Middle School. She started acting at age 4 and has performed in many after school and summer programs since. Her favorite role was Kirstie in Number the Stars at OFT. She loves performing in multi-generational shows and is excited to be back on Stage this season.
Kai Johnson - Ensemble
This is Kai’s first experience in play theatre. Her background in dance, circus arts, and early childhood education has been but a catalyst for her fondness of puppet theatre. She loves all things creative. Like the wind, Kai is easily inspired, curious, and loves to move!
Carly Melchers - Ensemble
A mover. A seeker. Carly is thrilled to re-emerge onstage in their first adult performance. They hope their love for dance and movement, and their affinity with the more-than-human world, will allow you to be so enchanted you forget there are humans on stage.
Isla Morgan - Ensemble
I’m Isla Morgan and I am in 7th grade at Jefferson Middle School. I have been doing theater since I was little, singing and acting are my most favorite things! I have been involved with various organizations (including my favorite, Apple Tree), and I have played many different roles such as, Mrs. Pugh in Annie, Goldilocks, Peggy May (The Eliza Doolittle figure in a Pygmalion adaptation) and Young Nala in The Lion King. This is my first play with OFT and I am very excited to be in it!
Jesse Morrow - Ensemble
Jesse Morrow is returning to OFT after a four-year hiatus. She was last seen on the OFT stage as stepsister Myrtle in Cinder Edna. Since then, she has been spending a lot of time in the Minnaert Center at SPSCC in productions such as Angels in America, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and [title of show]. She is grateful to be on this magical collaborative adventure, learning new ways to tell stories.
Kate Schmitz - Ensemble
Grrrrrrrrrrrr grrr grrr grr grrrrrrrrrr
CREWS BIO'S:
Luz Gaxiola - Director
Luz Gaxiola is a clown, puppeteer, musician, and theater artist. She has worked with String and Shadow Puppet Theater since 2020, and Nyx and the Long Night is her first experience directing a full-length production. Luz studied at the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, The San Francisco Clown Conservatory, and the Flying Actor Studio. She loves collaborating with other artists to create original comedic works in a bright cartoony style.
Emily McHugh - Puppet & Costume Designer
Emily McHugh is a puppet-maker, paper-cutter, and performer who grew up in Olympia. She began making giant puppets as a studio artist with Paperhand Puppet Intervention in North Carolina, and in 2017, she co-founded String and Shadow Puppet Theater with Donald Palardy. There have been scraps of cardboard and hot glue in her hair ever since.
Donald Palardy III - Puppet Designer
A street performer with a B.S. in Computer Science, Donald Palardy has been fusing art and technology for live performances in Olympia, WA since 2016 – developing immersive light and sound experiences for puppet shows, variety acts, burlesque and experimental theater. He has used his passion for programming and hobby electronics to build fully automated puppet worlds out of 3D printed gears, microcontrollers, motors and corn starch. Since co-founding String & Shadow Puppet Theater, he has developed and managed their mobile theater infrastructure – setting up and breaking down an entire small theater’s worth of sound and light equipment every performance in order to deliver an entirely unique theater experience directly to the people. He can often be found on the streets of Olympia disguised as an animal playing folk music.
Jordanna Averett - Set Designer
Jordanna Averett is a budding theater creative in the South Puget Sound area. She started as an OFT set painting volunteer in 2019 and has been hooked ever since! Jordanna recently had the pleasure of working with OFT + String and Shadow on The Secret Garden and with the South Puget Sound Theater Collective as the stage manager and set designer for The Moors. She is grateful and delighted to be working with all of these talented and kind folks again! Infinite thanks and love to Danny.
Lily Raabe - Costume Designer
Lily is a community-engaged artist and creative business consultant who combines storytelling, social justice, and bold fundraising strategies. Raabe holds her M.A. from New York University and her B.A. from University of Portland. Beyond her own artistic work, she has 20+ years experience as a Teaching Artist and 7+ years experience as a theatre manager having worked with companies including: Intiman Theatre, Opening Act, The New Group, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Theatre Askew, and NW Children’s Children’s Theatre.
Kate Arvin - Lighting Designer
After 15 years of surviving the professional theater industry, 12 US tours with groups such as The Havana Cuba All-Stars, Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano, Taj Express, The Russian National Ballet Theater, and regional gigs galore, Kate is THRILLED to make a permanent home here in Olympia as OFT’s Deputy Director. She thanks the cast and creative team, her partner Jordan and all the volunteers who helped bring this glorious production to fruition.
Bonnie Reese - Properties Designer
Bonnie is making her first appearance as properties designer at OFT and is so excited to be a part of a really fun memorable and touching story. She has worked with OFT on The Secret Garden, and Dragons Love Tacos. She is a student at SPSCC, where she has worked on productions such as The Thanksgiving Play, Title of Show and The Moors. She would like to thank her family and those closest to her for being so supportive and helping her to fulfill doing what she loves to do, she is also thankful to such wonderful cast and crew for being so great! She is looking forward to many more fun and amazing shows to come.
Jill Carter - Graphic Designer
Jill is delighted to be OFT’s Resident Designer. She has decades of experience in scenic, lighting, and projection designs, for a variety of theaters in the Pacific NW. Some of her favorite OFT designs include Corduroy, Cinder Edna, Orphan Train, BusyTown, The Wind in the Willows, and Fishnapped!.
Vanessa Postil - Stage Manager
Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Vanessa has been performing, teaching theater/dance/music, stage managing, designing lights and sound, choreographing and producing here in Olympia for 15+ years. She would like to thank her cute little family, 4 cats, and the incredible cast and crew of Nyx and the OFT staff for helping to create a safe and collaborative environment for theater artists to thrive. Thank you all so much for coming, and please enjoy the show.
Ariel Schmidtke - Backstage Support & Puppeteer
Ariel Schmidtke is an interdisciplinary physical performer and multimedia artist. With roots in the Pacific Northwest and influences ranging from Southern Gothic to French Nouveau Cirque, Ariel has traveled extensively to enrich her approach to circus dramaturgy. Inspired at a young age by gymnastics she began training as an aerialist with the Dream Science Circus at the age of eighteen. She is drawn to the nonverbal expressiveness of gestures and to diversify her performance skills she has spent the past ten years studying dance, theater, puppetry, and contemporary circus.
David Nowitz - Scenic Engineer
David is happiest tinkering around in his scene shop coming up with imaginative ways to make things. Recent favorite engineering challenges for Olympia Family Theater include building an escalator for Corduroy, making a recycling machine with working wooden gears for Cinder Edna, making an under bed and over bed/jungle gym in The Monster Under the Bed, making a ski slope for A Year with Frog and Toad, and making a bed fall through a ceiling in Mercy Watson to the Rescue. Also, for Open Road Productions, David made an underwater/ overwater transforming touring set for The Incredible Undersea Trial of Joseph P. Lawnboy, and for Ballet Northwest, a candy cane throne.
Thank You to our OYAA Campaign DONORS:
Thank you to the generous supporters of our recent space expansion campaign for O YAA: a new interdisciplinary office, workshop and performance space for people of all ages! Together we raised over $21,000 to support this exciting new endeavor. Find out more here.
Jennifer Anderson
Kassidy Anderson
Jeff Arvin
Katherine Arvin
Haze Bergtholdt
Lydia Beth Leimbach
Michelle Bretherton
Rachel Bryant Anderson
Lisa Carlson
Rachel Carlson
Jill Carter
Joe cason
MJ cason
Paige Celeste Morgan
Vanessa Centeno
Samantha Chandler
Samantha Chandler
Sarah Clifthorne
Sarah Coggins
Maritza Corliss
Kaiah Costa
Sandy Dale Felkey Mullins
Trina Delaney
CHRISTOPHER DESMOND
Dennis Dorling
Jessica E Guptill
Katherine E Strauss
Deborah Edden
Brandon Estrella
Lisa Every
Kaylin Furry
Sheryl G Harrell
Robin G McPherson
Ron Gajadhar
Anne Gavzer
AnnaLisa Gellermann
Irina Gendelman
Marygrace Goddu
Ingrid Goebel
Mike Gregory
Claribel Gross
Joseph H Rucker
Marcia Haggerty
Chloe Hakola
Hilarie Hauptman
Ned Hayes
John Helde
Adriane Herring
Michael Hogan
Travis Hoppe
Janet Hubbard
Jamie J Jenson
Samantha J. Chandler
Bonita Jacques
Two Jays Property Services
Anne Jeffrey
Pannowicz Jewelers
Susan K Finkel
Kenneth K Thiessen
Bobbi Kelly
Cindy Klettke
Kitty Koppelman
Tamar Krames
Jacci L Butler
Marcy LaViollette
Sara Lopez
Elizabeth Lord
Lauren Love
Betty M Brinkman
Thomas M Weaver
Britt Madsen
Julia Marshburn
Heather Matthews
Hugh McGavick
Melissa Meade
Randi Miller
Nicole Miller
Tanya Mote
Emily Mouat
Judith Moxley
Donna Myers
Doreese Norman
Bethany Noviello
Laurie OBrien
Margaret Olamit
David Owen
Anne p kohlbry
Charleen Patten
Polly Peterson
Valerie Pollet
David Price
Diana Purvine
Victor Ramon Velazquez
Collette Rauch
Ramzia Rida
Bruce Ritzen
Megan Rosenberg
Nancy Rucker
Sara Rucker Thiessen
Leisa Russell
Amanda Ryle
Jennifer Ryle
Jennifer S Ruzumna
Alexis Sarah
Michelle Schuyleman
Lulu Scofield
Annie Severson
Raymond Shaw
Mark Slavens
Kristina Smock
Harriet Strasberg
Mike Taylor
Tracy Thomas
Sonya Thomas
Jonnita Thompson
Edwin A Thorpe
Julie Tosswill
Monica Villarreal
Barbre w bryan
MEGHAN W HOPKINS
John Warren
Bonnie Warrn
Teresa Winstead
Bud @ $1,000 & Up!!
Kate Arvin
Elizabeth Gross
Linda & Ronald Moon
David & Jane Nowitz
Diana & Stephen Purvine
Paul Shepherd
Sara Thiessen
Seedling @ $200 - $999
Parfait Bassale
Daniel Berschauer
Gwen Bodeutsch
Chelsea Buchanan
Samantha Chandler
Erin Chanfrau
Megan Christopher
Deborah Edden
Evan Ferber
Katrina Groen
Alan Hardcastle
Karen Janowitz
Carolee Johnson
Bonnie Kavanaugh
Nancy Keeran
Abigail Kelso
Kelly Leonard
Richelle Little
Tom Lockhart
Vicki Lovegren
Stephen Lykins
Heather Matthews
Nicole Miller
Judith Moxley
Alexis Sarah
Jessica Shook
Kathy Strauss
Tracy Thomas
Sprout @ $100 - $199
Andrea Bichsel
Edsonya Charles
Stephanie Claire
Kathy Dorgan
Beth Dubey
Matthew Ferrel
Irina Gendelman
Marygrace Goddu
Rye Ives
Carol Jenner
John Linderman
R. Bruce & Gayle Magee
Rachelle Martin
Ellen Matheny
Alan Mountjoy-Venning
Donna Myers
Laurie O’Brien
Katie Russell
Andrea Severson
Michael Stapleton
Helen Tafejian
Morgan Taylor
Jonnita Thompson
Meredith Trejo
Cathy Wasserman
Melissa Young
Root @ $55-99
Janet Boyle
Jessica Chacon
Bonnie Cotton
Carolyn Fry
Andrew Gordon
Marcia Haggerty
Kathryn Hamilton
Adriane Herring
Rosalind Herrington-Moxon
Sarah Huntington
Ellie Jackson
Stephanie Johnson
Julie Kinn
L.M. Attea & Lauren Love
Robin McPherson
Melissa Meade
Suzanne Metzger
Jennifer Miller
Robbn MIller
Paula Moore
Sabrena Neff
Doreese Norman
Debby & Bob Pattin
Wang Rebecca
Jennifer Singleton
Emily Walsh
Laura Woodworth
Seed @ $49
Stephan Adams
Storrs Albertson
Kristina Alnajjar
Carmen Ambrose
Stacy Babb
Bitsy ‘Patricia’ Bidwell
Ben Blank
Marissa Rivera Bolaños
Katherine Bond
James Bryam
Kyle Burke
Christian Caravsjal
Lindsey Carman
Heather Caruso
Yahui Chi
Eva Coblentz
Howard Coblentz
Chelsea Cooperhear
Haley Crew
Joyce Deshaye
Karen Dingmon
Leah Dobey
Gail Douglas
Merry Ehlers
Joni Farris
Logan Fenner
Jessica Frierson
Molly Gilmore
Kay Hansen
Elizabeth/Richard Hauser
Elizabeth Heidinger
Margo Hoffman
Jennu Jenkins
Helia Johnston
Keri Kellerman
Leah Kosik
Kaylea Kuhlman
Karen Kuhlman
Emily Leobell
Rachel ManKenna
Devin Marcus
Sarah McGovern
Sierra McWilliams
Celeste Morgan
Amy Nelson
Judith Olmstead
Jennifer Personius
Christine Romero
Tora Saeger
Maija Sandberg
Amy Stolz
Quasar Suprise
Lisa Sushman
Jennifer Todd
Leeann Tourillott
Christine Tran
Meg Turk
Elain Vradenburgh
Nora Walsh
Lauren Wells
Kayleigh Wynn
*Denotes monthly donors/Combined Fund Drive donors.
ORGANIZATION CREDITS:
OFT Staff
Artistic Director
Lily Raabe
Deputy Director
Kate Arvin
Director of Programs
Erin Murray
Communications Director
Natalie Coblentz
Operations Coordinator
Angel Ramirez
Box Office Staff
Tracy Thomas
Scenic Engineer
David Nowitz
Resident Designer
Jill Carter
Company-in-Residence
String & Shadow
OFT Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Samantha Chandler
Sara Thiessen
Annie Severson
Mike Taylor
Members at Large:
Jonnita Thompson
Lauren Love
Edsonya Charles
Doreese Norman
Nicole Miller
