QUICKSAND, An Exploration of the Realest Sh*t We Face

A Solo Show Written & Performed by Heather Fink #HFF24

After comedian/filmmaker Heather Fink’s dad suffers a paralyzing stroke, she struggles to pull herself up from sinking. From caregiving to death and the midlife crisis, QUICKSAND is a storytelling and clown exploration of the realest sh*t we face.

QUICKSAND is set for a 5 show run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Hudson Guild Theatre (6539 Santa Monica Blvd.) The show is directed by Jake Plunkett and produced by Aniela Coveleski, with production design by Chloe Reise.

Heather Fink started performing standup comedy in NYC in 2005 and continued making funny videos, doing improv, and sketch comedy. Day jobs included PR for a gay porn company, Senator Kennedy Intern, and Content Strategy for Digital Media. In 2009 she began NYU’s Grad Film program as Writer/Director. She currently pays the bills as a Sound Person for film and tv, including Marvel’s “Daredevil” and Hulu’s “The Dropout.” She also participated in the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program and shadowed Emmy nominated Director Kate Dennis on an episode of “The Tick.” Fink’s written more than 35 short films and directed even more, including “The Focus Group” by Sara Benincasa, comedy shorts for College Humor, “Sosi” for UCB’s Mark Sarian & Ari Voukydis, the branded content comedy webseries “Banfield After Party,” the indie TV pilot “Urban Teach Now,” and wrote and directed the feature film “Inside You.” In 2022, she wrote and directed a new short film “Quiche.” She’s written 6 feature films and 3 tv pilots that she continues to develop.

Website: heatherfink.com

With QUICKSAND, Heather Fink creates a platform to advocate for caregivers who are often invisible. With heart and humor she makes people dealing with elder care and disability feel seen, she speaks for female breadwinners and women over 40 that become invisible just as they really have something to say… Heather Fink is making something more of what she’s been through. She imagines building a robust national stroke foundation with real resources for caregivers, addressing everything caregivers wish they had but don’t.

It all starts with a story. Stories change people’s minds. Someone can see themself and those they love in someone’s story. People care when they can relate, they find mercy. By telling her story on stage and screen Fink is raising awareness and understanding of the situations too many families face with very little resources. We need real legislation, structures and organizations that can ease the burden on America’s caregivers and families.

May is American Stroke Awareness Month, a good time to learn how to spot a stroke using the letters F.A.S.T.

Heather Fink and her dad, Stephen Fink. Photos courtesy of the Fink family.

Quicksand Team

Quicksand Fairy, Joy Nash is an American actress best known for her role as Alicia “Plum” Kettle on the AMC television series “Dietland.” Before this breakout role she appeared in “Twin Peaks: The Return” and “The Mindy Project” among other television shows. She wrote and directed “A Fat Rant” a viral video in 2007. Joy has narrated over 85 titles with Penguin Random House and Audible Audiobook narrator.

Director Jake Plunkett is a Peabody & Emmy award-winning producer/director. He is known for his work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2016-present), Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s Hulu Summer Election Special (2016), The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015), Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special (2015) and Saturday Night Live (2014-2015). He also dabbles in commercial work and was recently the Co Executive Producer on CBS’ Pickled starring Stephen Colbert.

Producer Aniela Coveleski is a seasoned fine artist and creative producer with over a decade of experience in NYC and Los Angeles. As a co-founder at Praxis Craft LLC, she specializes in blending art and entertainment in live theater. Holding a BFA from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Film & Video, Aniela’s coursework spans art criticism, sculpture, set design, and screenwriting. With on-set experience in both film and TV, she crafts engaging productions, comedy shows, and art exhibitions, welcoming collaboration. She has been on the Board of Directors for the City Reliquary Museum & Civics Organization in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Event Coordinator for Bushwick Open Studios from 2016-2019, current member/supporter of Save NYC Spaces, appeared on panel discussions for Hyperallergic, and is currently working as a Theater Technician at UCB Theater in LA.

Chloe Reisen is a Production Designer and Art Director in Los Angeles. Raised in Idaho, she graduated from NYU in 2012 with a unique B.A. in Comic Book Adaptation to Film. After working for several years as a Production Designer and Art Director in NYC, she moved to LA, continuing with Narrative, Commercial, Music Video, Film & Editorial Production Design under her company Appledoorknob. From Narrative features to commercial builds, miniatures, documentaries, music videos and live events, her work has taken her around the world and back again – fabricating props with artists in Seoul, shooting commercials in Japan, short films in Vietnam, and producing & designing a feature film in Europe. As a production designer and art director she has worked with artists such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Murray Bartlett, Teyana Taylor, Britney Howard, Halsey, Pierce Brosnan, and many more. She was the Production Designer on Heather Fink’s films Heart Break (2010) and Quiche (2022). Quicksand (2024) is their first live stage collaboration.