Meet the fine folks that bring “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” to life at Fremont’s Downstage Theater.
Meredith Binder (Frankie)
Meredith Binder is an actress, screenwriter and filmmaker. Her acting film credits include the Northwest Film Forum’s multiple award winning Naked Proof (SIFF 2004), and The Oregonian (Sundance 2011) Her original short films Rent’s Due (One Reel 2004), Alistair MacLean: Y’did Nefesh and Remember me have all won awards and gained distribution. Recent stage credits include the Irrealist Theatre’s original work, Amniotes, and Attic Theatre’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Meredith is thrilled to be playing the role of Frankie in Arouet’s inaugural production.
Greg LoProto (Johnny)
Greg is thrilled to be on board for Frankie and Johnny and to be working on Arouet’s first production. Last season, Greg performed at Odd Duck theatre as part of One Shot Production’s portrayal of Troilus & Cressida and with Open Circle Theatre’s production of Bullied by the Beast. He was also fortunate enough to direct with the Driftwood Player’s Alternative Stages productions of Coming Clean by Ann Teplick and The 8: Reindeer Monolgues by Jeff Goode.
Roy Arauz (Director)
Roy Arauz is a producer, director, choreographer, and stage manager. Directing credits include Chess at Redwood Theatre, Annie at Driftwood Players and The Butler Did It at Valley Community Players. He has choreographed for Microsoft Theatre Troupe, Redwood Theatre, SecondStory Repertory, Studio East, and Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theatre; and stage managed for ArtsWest, Balagan Theatre, Redwood Theatre, and Theatre 9/12, where is he Company Stage Manager. In 2010 he created Arouet, to present works that speak of civil rights, tolerance, freedom of and from religion, social justice, and celebration of our differences. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune is Arouet’s premiere production.
J.S. Epperson (Radio Announcer / Sound Design)
J.S. Epperson is an audio engineer and recording artist. His work appears on more than a dozen solo albums and countless compilations as well as on television, film, video games. Epperson has designed sound for ArtsWest, Redwood Theatre and Theatre 9/12. He is glad to participate in the premiere production for Arouet and he’s proud of Roy for doing his thing.
Dick Floyd (Set Design/Construction)
Dick previously worked with Roy designing the set for Annie (Driftwood Players.) You may have seen his work at various Edge of the World Theatre (now Phoenix Theatre) productions and most recently for The Driftwood Players’ Nunsense.
Jordan Johansen (Stage Manager)
Jordan has stage managed and assistant stage managed several shows for EDCC, Driftwood Players, Village Theater (Kidstage) and Seattle Musical Theater. Some of her favorites are The Laramie Project, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, All My Sons, Barefoot in the Park, Jungle Book, Annie Get Your Gun, Love, Sex and I.R.S. Jordan would like to thank her friend’s and loyal dog Maizey for all their love and support.
Eric Olson (Videographer)
Eric is once again happy to be a part of a play with Roy Arauz… This time, lending his video production skills. Eric has worked with Roy as an actor on presentations of The Cherry Orchard at Theatre 9/12 and These Walls Can Talk at Stone Soup.
Kristina Hestenes Stimson (Set Design and Costuming)
Kristina is pleased to be partnering for the first time with the talented Dick Flolyd on set design. Kristina’s’ design style began taking shape in France where she studied fine art at the L’Ecole Des Beaux-Arts. Sculpting, drawing, and painting, however, were not enough. She wanted her designs to be experiential, to engage all the senses. This led her to study architecture and to become a licensed architect. Now she has discovered another medium in film and theater in which her art is experienced though the telling of a story.
Recently Kristina worked on two film shorts directed by Ian Stone and starring Meredith Binder. She is thrilled to be dressing the set and Meredith once again. Kristina did set decoration and production design for Sister Billie’s Sinner Hour, which won best costuming in the 2010 48-Hour Film Festival. She was also the Production Designer for the film short Three Mothers.
Kristina takes pleasure in visually enhancing the script through her choices of shapes, colors, and textures. She is a great believer in green design and tries to recycle and reuse materials whenever possible. Kristinas’ background in art and architecture inspire her to create innovative approaches to three-dimensional design. The telling of a good story through theatre and film affords her the opportunity to work along side many talented and imaginative people.
Daniel Shih (Lighting Designer)
Daniel recently moved into town from Australia. Having been a lighting designer for a few student productions back home as well as The 8 Reindeer Monologues and The Misanthrope here in Seattle. He started his artistic career as a photographer in University and got his hands wet in theatrical lighting when his friend directed a production and gave him a seat in the booth, it has been a steady stream of productions since then.
Ian Stone (Promotional Video Director)
Ian Stone is a writer, actor and director of film and stage. He has directed several short films including the award winning Remember me. Ian’s film acting credits include Domino’s (SIFF 2001). He has acted in The Seattle Children’s Theatre Deaf Program and at Theatre Schmeater. Ian’s original play, Plate Up, appeared in the 2001 Seattle Fringe Festival. His original play That will be produced in Seattle later in 2011.