by Kirby Lindsay, posted 24 October 2011
Over four weeks, between October 28th and November 20th, Fremonsters have one more chance to see and sample the delights of an always imaginative, always challenging and always entertaining Café Nordo show. ‘To Savor Tomorrow’ takes visitors on Pan Am flight #892 (from Manila to Seattle) surrounded by stewardesses, scientists and secret agents all on their way to the 1962 World’s Fair.
In addition to an all-new show, Café Nordo has transformed an entirely new space as producers Terry Podgorski and Erin Brindley staged their latest of the ‘cocktail show series’ at West of Lenin, Fremont’s newest theater space. While the new setting challenged the Café Nordo team, audiences can expect to encounter the same unique and unequalled creativity Café Nordo produced for ‘The Modern American Chicken’, ‘Bounty: An Epic Adventure In Seafood’, and ‘Sauced’. Only this time, with real bathrooms…
An Odd Space To Ask For
Those Fremonsters who have missed previous Café Nordo installations must order tickets today! A week before opening night, ‘Nordoites’ (fans of Café Nordo) were sent an e-mail announcing that nearly 50% of available seats for ‘To Savor Tomorrow’ had already sold. Also, the successful theater/restaurant company currently seeks a permanent home. “We’re talking to some people about a shared space,” Podgorski admitted, but not in Fremont
They staged the first three Nordo shows in the warehouse of Theo Chocolate, until the chocolate factory expanded operations into the space – and left Brindley and Podgorski exploring other options. For spring of 2012, they’ve been negotiating the use of Washington Hall, although it – just like West Of Lenin – can only accommodate a cocktail show due to the lack of kitchen access. The producers still hope to find a place to offer the full menu dinners featured in ‘…Chicken’ and ‘Bounty’.
“We just ask so much of a space,” explained Podgorski. A complete Café Nordo installation requires two-months access to an approximately 1,200 square feet space for a stage/dining room – without a raised dais. They also need a kitchen, or nearby access to one, with a class 1 license that allows the cooking of meat. Finally , a greenroom – where performers/servers dress – and, well, bathrooms, accessible by the audience and performers, would also be handy.
“We’re hoping to find a place where we can put time and money into building a kitchen,” to expand what already exists, Podgorski explained, “to do two shows a year.” That way, before and after the run of Café Nordo, another business could use the kitchen. “It’s an odd thing to ask,” Podgorski acknowledged.
“We didn’t want to do another cocktail show after Sauced,” Podgorski admitted, but unable to find a theater with kitchen facilities – or a kitchen with theater facilities – West of Lenin became a welcome opportunity.
“It’s a give and take,” Podgorski acknowledged, “We like doing installation art, where we pop-up somewhere,” for a month long run, after a month of preparation. “We think we can do it because for that two months, we’re profitable,” he explained. For a theater company or a restaurant – particularly one as unconventional and complex as this one – it is impressive that their shows have all run in the black, with even the actors getting paid something. Renting West of Lenin has cost more than Theo, but Podgorski admitted, “we are crossing our fingers more.”
Another World To Create
“Our main goal is to create another world, or experience,” he explained. Together Podgorski (as the writer,) Brindley (as director,) Anastasia Workman (composer,) the musicians, Murphy Stevens (stage manager,) Mark Siano, Ray Tagavilla, Opal Peachy, Max Davis, and Aimee Bruneau (actors/servers,) and Joanna Hardie and Hilary Milo (dancers,) will imaginatively recreate 1962, in a relaxed setting of comfort and entertainment. “We want it to be an immersive experience,” he stated, “I don’t want my tech booth in my restaurant.”
“We want to take people on a journey for three hours,” he said, “We can do that in a warehouse or a restaurant, given time.” For ‘Bounty’, they created the full rigging of a sailing ship to create the illusion of being adrift on the Salish Seas. For ‘Sauced,’ audiences stepped inside a Pioneer Square speakeasy.
Those audiences can expect to encounter some of the same intrigue at they ‘…Savor Tomorrow’, but with comedic flair and more dancing, Podgorski promised. This is a story of global intrigue about the world food supplies, and a presentation to be made at the World’s Fair about ‘The Food of Tomorrow.’ The show incorporates “the attitude of science and technology promising a better tomorrow,” prevalent in the 1960s, he explained. “I like bringing up tough subjects,” he admitted, “but not being preachy.”
A Final Show In Fremont?
With the fourth original Café Nordo, audiences will most definitely experience something unequalled, including yet another transformation of West Of Lenin. Find out all about it by buying tickets (immediately) through Brown Paper Tickets.
Podgorski did mention that the show could be extended through Thanksgiving weekend, but historically those tickets have sold out faster than the original run. Don’t let others take your seat!
Related Articles
- Get ‘Sauced’ – And Well-Fed – At Café Nordo
- by Kirby Lindsay, October 4, 2010
- A ‘Bounty’ Of Theater & Food
- by Kirby Lindsay, May 14, 2010
- A New Theatre ‘West Of Lenin’
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 24, 2011
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.