top of page
The Hand That Feeds You
a new play by Sarah Groustra
co-produced by Forager Theatre Company & the Players Theatre
December 5th - 22nd, 2024
John receives the deed to his estranged father's butcher shop, only to discover a meat monster has taken up residence inside. A story of inheritance, otherness, and how at the end of the day, we're all just sacks of meat.
Team
Meat the Team
SARAH GROUSTRA
PLAYWRIGHT/CO-PRODUCER
Sarah Groustra (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based, Massachusetts-born playwright, actress, and theatermaker. Sarah's work has been produced off-Broadway at the SheNYC Festival, and across the country in California, Ohio, Arizona, and more. She was a finalist for the 2023 Jane Chambers Award, was named a 2022 Ascending Playwright by Yonder Window Theater Company, and was the recipient of the 2021 James E. Michael Playwriting Prize. Sarah has developed new work with Under Construction Playwright's Group (the Road Theater), the Parsnip Ship New Play Group, Forager Theater Company, and Historically Close Friends. Sarah is an alumna of Kenyon College (2022), the 24 Hour Plays: Nationals (2022), and is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. sarahgroustra.com // @ladypoachedegg
JENNIE HUGHES
DIRECTOR
Jennie Hughes (she/her) is an NYC based director, choreographer, educator and the founding director of Forager Theatre Company. She prioritizes work that is women-led and tells stories that are often overlooked in commercial theatre. Her most recent credits include: Ladies' Lady (World Premier) at the Vino Theatre, Beauty and The Beast (choreographer) at Paris Summer Theatre, Judy Moody and Stink (director/choreographer) at ArtsPower National Touring Theatre. @jenniemarie7 on Instagram.
IRIS RODRIGO
PRODUCER
Iris Rodrigo is a Hispanic actress, singer and producer, originally from Spain. As an actress, favorite credits include Flora (Flora The Red Menace), Susan (tick, tick…BOOM!), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Ilse (Spring Awakening). With a degree in Business Administration, she is now a founding member of Forager Theatre Company and produces musicals, plays, and new work in NYC, including tick,tick…BOOM!, Spring Awakening, Neglect, and The Musical Multiverse series. @iris.rodrigo222
.jpg)
NICK DISLA
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
This is Nick's debut with Forager Theatre Co. and his debut directing role in New York. Nick is a Brooklyn-based actor, director, and writer. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with his BFA in Theatre. His most recent performing credits include Benedict in Archane’s Much Ado About Nothing. Your Faithful Reader in their 2024 season. He will also be performing with them again in early 2025. He would like to dedicate this production to his mentor and best friend Diego. @nkdisla
LAUREN REDMAN
STAGE MANAGER
Lauren Redman is a Brooklyn-based stage manager and artist. After a brief stint in arts administration, she is grateful to be back in the rehearsal room with all of these wonderful people! Previous work includes The List (Stone Circle Theater), Hope Springs Internal (Kenyon College), and Five Flights (Kenyon College). She also regularly works with IMCD Lighting, assisting in venues including Park Avenue Armory, Spring Studios, and The XX Venue. IG: @morbidboyfriend
LUCREZIA ZICHICHI
ASST STAGE MANAGER/SWING
Lucrezia Zichichi (they/them) is a recent Skidmore graduate in Music and Theater. Previous acting experience includes Skidmore's productions of Eurydice (Little Stone) and After Jane (Mary), the Schenectady Symphony's production of The Turn of the Screw (Miles), and Forager Theater Company's Steven Universe Experience. Production credits include Heddatron (Assistant Stage Manager), Frog and Toad (choreographer), and Bamboo Box (Assistant Choreographer). They are forever grateful to the Forager Theater Company for everything they do for young theater artists, and they cannot wait to make more art with these pieces of meat.
CLAY BAKER-LERNER
SET & PROPS
Clay Baker-Lerner (they/them) is a theatre-maker and theatre-doer, born in Boston, MA, based in Brooklyn, NY. In May 2024, they received their BFA in Dramatic Arts with a Concentration in Playwrighting from The New School in Manhattan, NY. In August 2024, their play TRANSCENDENCE AIRWAYS got its world premiere at The Chain Theatre in Manhattan, NY. They are a proud member of the Dramatist Guild. Clay and Sarah went to high school together!
CORA CICALA
SOUND DESIGN
Cora is an NYC-based sound designer hailing from the SF Bay Area. Recent projects include The Station (SheNYC), Radio Man (SheNYC), and cityscrape (Good Apples Collective). Despite her vegetarianism, she is thrilled to be working on this play.
CAROLINE DAVID
LIGHTING DESIGN
Caroline David is a lighting designer, visual artist, creative thinker, and storyteller from NYC who enjoys working closely with directors to use design to uplift their stories. https://carolinedavid.myportfolio.com/lightingdesign
THERESA ALEXANDER
INTIMACY & FIGHT COORDINATOR
Graduate of Cornish College of the Arts (2017, Seattle WA) with a BFA in Dance Performance, Theresa is a North Carolina native turned New York based performer, choreographer, and educator. She fervently believes in creating and uplifting queer stories in theater, and deeply values having dance be safe and accessible for all dancers, in all forms, at all times. Theresa has been professionally creating work in the city for the last 5 years, with her choreography most recently seen in Forager’s production of Flora the Red Menace. Recent credits: Frizzled: a Magic School Bus Musical Parody (The Tank), Flashdance (Arizona Broadway), Ladies’ Lady (54 Below), Curtains (Mac-Haydn Theater), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
theresaalexander.com | @theresalexander
Meat the Cast
LAUREL ANDERSEN
is MEAT
Laurel Andersen (they/them) is a vegetarian who is truly BEYOND STOKED to be here. NYC includes: MERE WATERS (SheNYC), SLEEPY HOLLOW (Players Theatre), ROMEO AND JULIET (Match: Lit); and originating roles in THE OTHER OTHER WOMAN, (Turn to Flesh Prod.), ALL ONE FOREST (Barefoot Shakespeare); THE TRAGICAL HISTORIE OF MAXIMILIEN ROBESPIERRE (The Fled), the new musical LADIES' LADY. Regional includes: INTO THE WOODS (Playhouse on Park); THE RESOLUTE (Wyoming Theatre Festival), two seasons with Adirondack Shakespeare, PALIMPSEST (workshop, Forestburgh Playhouse). More info: laurelandersen.com. Socials: @laurelmrc
JUAN CASTRO
is JOHN
Juan Castro (he/him) is a NYC-based singer and actor who has performed in venues such as 54 Below, Symphony Space, The Laurie Beechman Theater, and The Green Room 42. . Thrilled to be back with Forager Theatre Company, he was last seen as a Storyteller in Close to Home: A Folk Concert and as Willy in Flora the Red Menace. Other credits include William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Artistree VT) and Bobby Strong in Urinetown (The Secret Theatre) Mainly a musical theatre performer, he is excited to take on a MEATY role in a straight play! IG: @juancastrophe
JONATHAN LORENZO PRICE
is TODD
Jonathan Lorenzo Price is a New Jersey born, Brooklyn based actor and playwright. Jonathan holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, having performed at venues such as The Brick Theater and LaMama. He will make his feature film debut in 2025 in Mas Bouzidi’s ‘Concessions’. In addition to writing and performing, Jonathan is also an ambassador of the streetwear fashion brand Cross Colours.
Cast
bottom of page