The Wolf You Feed is a theatrical exploration of instinct and desire staged at The VORTEX, where a shabby motel room becomes a living forest. The production, directed by artistic director Chris Fontanes, turns the ordinary into the uncanny, inviting audiences to witness a world where human and animal instincts collide.
At a Glance
- The play transforms a motel room into a forested landscape.
- Wolves inhabit the stage, blurring reality and fable.
- The run runs from January 23, 2026 to February 7, 2026.
- Why it matters: It offers a fresh take on classic fable tropes, blending visceral animal behavior with human emotion.
The VORTEX presented The Wolf You Feed on January 23, 2026, a night that began with a quiet motel scene and ended with a wild, vine-laden world. The play follows Max (Rachel Hancock), a woman seeking refuge after a turbulent breakup. Her stay at the Shady Pines Motel becomes a portal into a forested realm that slowly overtakes the stage.
Production Overview
The artistic vision was led by Chris Fontanes, who chose the play to challenge the audience’s perception of space and narrative. Darcy Parker Bruce’s script uses the motif of wolves to probe instinctual desires. The production begins with a clear boundary: Max’s motel room, complete with bland décor and a faulty coffee maker. As the story unfolds, the surrounding woods creep in, transforming the setting.
Scenic Design
Scenic designer Izzy Poehlmann crafted the transformation with a focus on gradual immersion. The stage starts with a simple motel room, then, through painted backdrops and live foliage, the walls become trees and the ceiling a canopy of vines. Poehlmann’s design echoes Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, creating a sense of wonder and unease. The gradual encroachment of greenery is described in the script as a forest growing “until [her] ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around.”
Wolf Characters and Costuming
All actors, except Rachel Hancock, begin the play as part of the wolf pack. The pack prowls the theater before the show, wearing masks that cover their faces. Costume designer Aaron Flynn gives the wolves black flannels and tie-dyed fur, some with scars and a swirling third eye. The wolves’ physicality is grounded in animal behavior: they paw at each other and use body language to communicate.
The lone fully wolf character, Phoenix Shaw as Pamplemousse, remains in his wolf form throughout. Shaw’s performance balances ferocity with a sense of safety, drawing Max into the pack. The pack’s presence is powerful, yet the actors’ human counterparts provide a contrast that highlights the tension between instinct and society.
Audience Experience
The audience sits in the same space as the wolves, with the pack positioned near the seats. This proximity creates a palpable tension; the wolves’ presence feels both theatrical and threatening. The transformation of the stage into a forest, combined with the wolves’ physical performance, turns the audience into participants in the narrative. The play’s blend of fable and reality invites viewers to examine their own desires and boundaries.
Timeline of Performances
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Opening night at The VORTEX |
| February 7, 2026 | Final performance |
Conclusion
The Wolf You Feed reimagines a classic fable by infusing it with visceral animal behavior and a contemporary setting. The production’s use of space, costume, and performance invites audiences to question the line between human and instinct. It is a bold theatrical statement that turns a simple motel into a living, breathing forest.
The VORTEX’s run of the play through February 7 offers a unique opportunity to experience this transformation firsthand. The production’s careful design, strong performances, and thematic depth make it a standout piece in the 2026 theater season.
