Astrid Janson
12th season: Costume designer of The War of 1812. Stratford: A Delicate Balance, Harlem Duet, The Seagull, Richard II, Macbeth, The Cherry Orchard, Death of a Salesman, Sweet Bird of Youth, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Stillborn Lover, Othello, HMS Pinafore. Elsewhere: Otello (Norrlands Operan, Sweden); Alice in Wonderland (Augsburg Ballet, Germany); seven seasons with Soulpepper, most recently Doc; Fernando Krapp (Canadian Stage). Other theatres include the National Ballet, Canadian Opera Company, Citadel, National Arts Centre, MTC, Houston Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet. Eleven Village of the Small Huts history plays for VideoCabaret, most recently The Life and Times of Mackenzie King. Many films for TV, most recently Nureyev. Awards: Thirteen Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Silver Ticket Award for lifetime achievement, Gemini Award (Shadow Pleasures), Toronto Drama Bench Award.
Jim LeFrancois
Stratford debut: Producer of The War of 1812. Elsewhere: Jim is an award-winning artist and producer of contemporary Canadian theatre. Credits include 10 seasons at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (leaving the post of Artistic Producer in 2009); numerous shows for VideoCabaret (The Life and Times of Mackenzie King, The Great War, The Mackenzie/ Papineau Rebellion, The British, New France and The Life and Times of Brian Mulroney). Awards: Dora Mavor Moore Award (Outstanding New Musical, ArtHouse Cabaret, co-devised with David Oiye), the inaugural Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award (2008) and a Harold Award. Et cetera: Jim is also writing/composing a new musical; the soundtrack and virtual storyboard will be released in the fall. “Many thanks to Michael and Deanne for inspiration – in life, and art.”
Melanie McNeill
Stratford debut: Assistant costume designer of The War of 1812. Elsewhere: Spelling 255 (set and costume designer, Carousel Players); The Night of the Iguana, Macbeth, Bullet for Adolf, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, High Fidelity (Hart House Theatre); Doc Wuthergloom’s Haunted Medicine Show, Madhouse Variations (set and costume designer, Eldritch Theatre); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (costume designer, Birdland Theatre); Andromache, Hamlet (assistant costume designer, Necessary Angel); The Last Five Years (set designer, Angelwalk); and seven seasons with VideoCabaret. Film/TV: Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (assistant costume designer, SPACE). Awards: Dora Mavor Moore Award. Training: Ryerson Theatre School.
Laurie Merredew
Stratford debut: Assistant stage manager of The War of 1812. Elsewhere: Assistant/apprentice stage manager: The Life and Times of Mackenzie King, The Great War (VideoCabaret); The Tempest (Theatre by the Bay). Apprentice stage manager: The Great Gatsby (The Grand Theatre); Our Town, The Time of Your Life (Soulpepper Theatre Company). Training: BFA in theatre production and design, York University. Et cetera: Laurie would like to thank Deanne, Michael, Andrew and everyone at VideoCabaret for welcoming her into their family and bringing her along on this amazing journey! Laurie would also like to thank her parents for their constant support and encouragement.
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