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Withering Lows: A Love Story Better Off Dead
By Nichole Carey & Company
Directed by Callie Aho
Playing at
Show Description
A lonely traveler stirs up the ghosts of literature’s most dysfunctional couple in this gothic send-up full of brooding and buried secrets. Come for the melodrama, stay for the unnecessary song & dance number.
Genre and Content
Content Warnings
The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 16 and up
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Seat Reservations and Show Tickets
| Add to Schedule | Date | Time | Ticket Options | Quantity | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 08/01 | 5:30 PM | ||||
| Sat 08/02 BFF | 10:00 PM | ||||
| Tue 08/05 | 8:30 PM | ||||
| Fri 08/08 | 7:00 PM | ||||
| Sun 08/10 | 4:00 PM |
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Video Trailer
Cast and Crew
Nichole Carey
CATHY/Writer & ProducerNichole Carey (she/her) is a writer, performer, director, and vocalist whose work spans theater, cabaret, and comedy. She is the creator and star of "A Very Carey Christmas Cabaret," an annual holiday favorite that has sold out every year since its 2018 debut at the Bryant Lake Bowl. As a vocalist, Nichole has performed at top Twin Cities venues including the Acadia, Crooners, Jazz Central, Vieux Carré, and the Dakota Jazz Club, and has brought her signature cabaret style to New York City's Duplex and Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret in Chicago. As an actor, Nichole has performed with Siege Perilous Productions, Landman Land, Gnarly Bard Theater, Burning Ember, Dark Pony Productions, and more. Nichole is also a published playwright, with credits at Freshwater Theatre, Theatre Unbound, Smartmouth Comedy, and Jezebel Productions. In 2023, she co-founded Alchemy Arts with her husband, Andrew Lester. Their debut production, "When You Hear the Chime," premiered at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, combining dance, theater, and storytelling in a poignant, whimsical reimagining of classic children’s tales. She's thrilled to be performing alongside her favorite scene partner again and hopes you enjoy the show!
Andrew Lester
HEATHCLIFF/Designer & ChoreographerAndrew Lester (he/him) is a MN SAGE Award-winning performer with over 20 years of experience in dance and theater. He has built a celebrated career as a dancer with companies such as Shapiro & Smith Dance, James Sewell Ballet, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theatre, Ethnic Dance Theatre, the Minnesota Opera, and many more. His work extends beyond Minnesota, with performances in New York City and internationally at the Toronto International Film Festival and Festival de Danse in Cannes, France. Andrew is the recipient of a 2025 McKnight Dancer Fellowship, funded by the McKnight Foundation, recognizing his sustained excellence and artistic contribution to the field. In addition to his dance work, Andrew has returned to his theatrical roots in recent years. His acting credits include understudying at Park Square Theatre, performing with Gnarly Bard Theater, multiple performances with A Drinking Game – Minnesota, and voiceover roles with Dark Pony Radio. Andrew is also an accomplished designer, having created sets, costumes, and/or props for Burning Ember, Freshwater Theater, Broken Wing Productions, and a variety of cabaret shows over the years. He is the co-founder of Alchemy Arts, a multidisciplinary production company that blends dance, theater, and music. Its debut production, "When You Hear the Chime," premiered at the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival.
Kira Pontiff
NELLYKira Pontiff (she/her) first caught the theater bug as a student at South High School in Minneapolis and went on to major in Theater Arts at Hamline University. Some of her most notable projects include "Independence" with Chameleon Theater Circle and "Most Massive Woman Wins" with Theater Unbound. She can also be seen in the movie "Guns of the Apocalypse," a film by local filmmaker Christopher Mihm.
Jordan Goette
MR. FINCHJordan (he/they) is a Twin Cities local who caught the theatre bug early, when he snagged the coveted role of “Lady Bug” in his kindergarten production of “How My Garden Grows.” Today, Jordan is a performer, theatre educator, and director. Notable Fringe appearances included Chubby Pup’s, “This One Time…” and Jezebel Theatre Company’s, “Reclaiming My Time.” When Jordan isn’t in the theatre, he’s off picking flowers, or spaying and neutering your neighbors’ pets. Enjoy the show!
Callie Aho
DirectorCallie Aho (she/her) spends her days working as a school-based occupational therapist and her nights as a busy theater artist and mom. As a director, some of her favorite credits include RADIANT VERMIN with Lyric Arts, INDEPENDENCE with Chameleon Theater Circle, TEENAGE MISERY with Devious Mechanics, and "Reclaiming My Time" with Jezebel Theatre Company for the 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival. She also works as an Intimacy Director, with some of her favorite credits including SILENT SKY with The Phipps, THE WEDDING SINGER, and THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY with Lyric Arts, LEADING LADIES with Buffalo Community Theater, and MEAN GIRLS with Children's Performing Arts. Callie would like to thank her wonderful partner, Cody, for his love, and her son, Rhys, for being the best.
Megan Guidry
Assistant Director/Stage ManagerMegan Guidry (she/they) – Director, Stage Manager, Reformed Actor. Megan Guidry is a director whose career spans years, genres, and more late-night tech rehearsals than legally recommended. She is currently Assistant Director and Stage Manager for the 2025 Minnesota Fringe Festival’s production of WITHERING LOWS: A LOVE STORY BETTER OFF DEAD—a title so romantic and bleak, she immediately said “yes” before even reading the script. Some of her favorite directing credits include Queered Classic’s production of ARMS AND THE MAN (2023), where she heroically juggled 19th-century farce, period costumes, and the sudden existential crises of her actors, and FLASHLIGHT ZONE (2018 Minnesota Fringe), a show so enigmatic it may or may not have been directed entirely under the light of a single flashlight. Megan is also a seasoned stage manager, professional herder of cats (also known as actors), and a reformed actor herself—she bravely escaped the spotlight and now enjoys a life where she only has to memorize everyone else’s lines. Whether directing, managing, or reminding people to turn off their phones for the 47th time, Megan brings wit, warmth, and a laminated cue sheet to every production.
Scot 'One T' Froelich
Sound DesignerScot (he/him) has designed sound for dozens of shows at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Freshwater Theatre, Segue Productions, and others in Minneapolis and beyond. A graduate of the UW-River Falls Broadcast Journalism and Theatre departments, Scot has been working in varying modes of live and recorded sound design for over 25 years. Scot is grateful to once again be working with his good friend, Nichole Carey. More info at www.scotfroelich.com.
More Information
About Withering Lows: A Love Story Better Off Dead
"Withering Lows" is a gothic homage of epic proportions—equal parts ghost story, romantic tragedy, and absurd comedy. Written by Nichole Carey, the play picks up years after the events of Wuthering Heights, with the ghosts of Heathcliff and Cathy still haunting their former home… and still arguing about whose story was more tragic. A lonely traveler stumbles into the drama, setting off a chain of eerie, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt events.
About Nichole Carey & Company
Nichole Carey & Company is a collaborative production umbrella created by writer, performer, and cabaret artist Nichole Carey. While Alchemy Arts—co-founded with her husband Andrew Lester—produced the acclaimed 2023 Fringe production "When You Hear the Chime" as a two-artist endeavor, Nichole Carey & Co. represents a broader artistic community. This banner encompasses projects that involve a wide range of Twin Cities talent, including musicians, dancers, designers, directors, and fellow performers. Nichole’s long-running "A Very Carey Christmas Cabaret" is produced under this wider collective, bringing together some of the best local artists for a festive, funny, and queer friendly holiday tradition. Other projects under the Nichole Carey & Co. name include original short plays, variety shows, and satirical works like "Withering Lows," which continues her commitment to cross-genre storytelling.
The goal of Nichole Carey & Company is simple: to create theatrical experiences that live in the space where humor and heartbreak meet. Whether it’s a musical comedy or a ghost story wrapped in melodrama, the work invites audiences into bold, unforgettable worlds shaped by collaboration and care.
