Andrew Coopman (he/him, they/them)
DIRECTOR
Hometown: Seattle, WA
BA, Theater - Performance, Whitworth University
MA, Educational Theater in Colleges and Communities, New York University
Andrew is a Seattle-based director, choreographer, and teaching artist who is just starting his 3rd and final year at the University of Washington School of Drama where is he pursuing an MFA in directing. After touring with Missoula Children’s Theater for 3 years, they left the road and got an MA in educational theater from New York University - Steinhardt. As a director, some of their most recent highlight credits include: FROZEN: A Play, Body Awareness (UW), Disney’s Beauty & The Beast (EDP), Little Women the Musical (SMT), James & The Giant Peach (Village), Into the Woods, Mary Zimmerman’s The Odyssey (Studio East), and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (KFT). As a choreographer, Andrew’s work was most recently seen in In the Heights (Village), Once Upon a Mattress (SFFT), and Seussical (Studio East). Up next: Andrew will direct the Seattle Premier of Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm as his thesis with the University of Washington School of Drama. Many thanks to the entire artistic cast and crew of Love & Information for coming back and making this show truly powerful and impactful, the audience for showing up on Zoom in the midst of everything happening in the world, as well as his husband, Jamey, for his continued love & support. www.andrewcoopman.com
Bella Brown (she/her)
DRAMATURG
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Bella is a senior pursuing degrees in drama performance and communication. In her studies, Bella is interested in exploring the social impacts of technology and how artists can leverage technology to make art more innovative and accessible, which is why she is especially honored to work on Love and Information. Past UW acting credits include The Best of Everything, Three Sisters, Romeo and Jules, and 12 Ophelias (a play with broken songs). Outside of UW, Bella has done readings for ACT Theatre/Seagull Project and Strawberry Theater Workshop. She is a graduate of Young Actor Institute and has done extensive work with 14:48 HS and Young Americans Theater Company. Bella would like to thank Andrew for his kindness and creative spirit!
Em Chan Dickson (she/her)
STAGE MANAGER
Hometown: West Lafayette, IN
Em is a current sophomore studying drama design and comparative literature at the University of Washington. This is her second time working as a stage manager, after getting her start working on the School of Drama’s CabLab FROZEN. She has made a spreadsheet for just about every facet of her life. She would like to thank the wonderful cast and team of Love & Information for being a beacon of kindness and connection amidst current social isolation.
ENSEMBLE
Danielle Aldrich
(she/her)
Hometown: Mill Creek, WA
Danielle is currently a senior studying drama and was mostly recently in another online zoom reading for She-Devil of the China Seas for Pork Filled Productions (PFP). Her other credits include UW's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and other productions with the Undergraduate Theater Society. Danielle would like to thank everyone involved in this project and her supportive family and friends!
Joshua Barajas
(he/him)
Hometown: Seattle, WA Joshua is currently a senior at University of Washington and is pleased to be returning to acting after working on multiple productions; including directing UTS's fall show Anonymous and stage gigs with STG.
Sagen Berry
(he/him)
Hometown: Sandefjord, Norway Sagen most recently appeared in California Hollandia’s modeling campaign, and before that was scheduled to perform in the CabLab production Two Heads of a Hydra and the Asbestos Productions Gost Hoonter. Other credits include UW School of Drama’s Three Sisters directed by Jeffrey Fracè and UTS’s Much Ado About Nothing directed by Daphne Sage Gomez. Sagen would like to thank his friends and family for all their love and kindness.
Will Chadek
(he/him)
Hometown: Maple Valley, WA
Will was mostly recently seen as Matt in SecondStory Repertory Theatre's The Fantasticks, as JD in Ballyhoo Theatre's Heathers, and in the ensemble of Head Over Heels at Arts West Theatre. He would love to thank his parents for getting him involved in theatre, and Andrew for this wonderful opportunity.
Kristopher Jones
(he/him)
Hometown: Bremerton, WA
Kristopher has performed much across Kitsap County. Productions include: The Crucible, as Rev. Hale, WWCA, MacBeth, as MacDuff, Bremerton Community Theatre, As You Like It as Oliver, Bainbridge Performing Arts, William Razzavi's 27 Short Plays About Being Murdered in A Hotel By ABBA, a play as Bjorn. In productions with combat he is often called to be Fight Captain, due to his proficiency and attention to safety. A special "Thank you!" to his mother, Rhonda, for all of her support in his journey.
Nivedita Joshi
(she/her)
Hometown: Ahmedabad, India
This is Niv’s first play as an actor. She most recently joined the theatre industry at the University of Washington. Before this, Niv was a crew member for Undergraduate Theatre Society’s Vietgone last quarter and was more than thrilled to have come in contact with such a fun group of people, and that is why she decided to audition for the School of Drama. Niv would like to thank every member of the cast and crew of Love and Information to have welcomed her with open hearts and made her feel a part of the family.
Sarai Luna
(she/her)
Hometown: Walla Walla, WA
Sarai is a senior at UW and is passionate about wildlife conservation. She took a hiatus from acting and this is her first production back in many years. She has a love of food, books and language. She has a pet corn snake named Noodle and a betta named Sir Johnny Deep. She would like to thank her friend, Aditi, for telling her about the auditions!
Ira McInstosh
(he/him, they/them, she/her)
Hometown: Astoria, NY
BM, Opera Studies, Whitworth University; MM, Opera Studies, University of Montana
Ira is a costume and clothing designer from New York who also works part-time as a drag queen. Previous roles have included Hades in the University of Montana's production of Orpheus, Reverend Salvation in Whitworth University's production of Cradle Will Rock, as well as roles in Seussical (Horton), Les Miserables (Javert), and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown). Ira is so proud to join this incredible cast as we foray into the new horizons of online performance!
Elizabeth Myers
(she/her)
Hometown: Gold Beach, OR
This will be Elizabeth's second show at the University of Washington. Highlights of her acting career include playing Gwendolyn in the Ellensburg Theatre Company's production of The Importance of Being Earnest, and Beatrice in Brookings Harbor Community Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys baking and online shopping.
Maria "Masha" Rojkova
(she/her)
Hometown: Moscow, Russia, and Brush Prairie, WA
Masha is so happy to share this provocative, funny, and hopeful piece in a new medium during this challenging time. At UW, she was last seen as Brenda/Lorraine in The Best Of Everything directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, Miranda in The Tempest directed by Andrew Coopman, Polonius in Hamlet directed by Kristie Post-Wallace, and Margaret/Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing directed by Daphne Sage Gomez. Outside of UW, she is represented by TCM Models and Talent and was seen in the Platinum Project directed by Clara Hillier and Matthew Zrebski at Portland Center Stage. Masha would like to thank Andrew for his creativity, joy, and just pure love during this process, Em for such great organization and efficiency, the cast for their playfulness and bravery, and her friends and family for their love and patience.
Hannah Saito
(she/her)
Hometown: Shoreline, WA
Hannah’s previous roles include Antonio in The Tempest, Horatio in Hamlet, and Ursula/Conrad in UTS’s Much Ado About Nothing. Other credits include Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors and Miss Willie in The Curious Savage. Hannah would like to thank her friends and family for keeping her sane during the quarantimes.
Aditi Sanghavi
(she/her)
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
BS, Bio-Physiology, University of Washington
Aditi is a recent graduate from UW and is excited to be getting to work on one last project with the University. Her past credits include Funhouse Family's production of Funhouse VI and the UTS production of Much Ado About Nothing. Aditi would like to thank all of you for supporting this very unusual but exciting new form of theatre!
Emma Shafer
(she/her)
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
BA, Theatre, Butler University
Emma is pleased to be back working with Andrew on the UW (virtual) stage. Last fall at UW, she performed as Lily/Ensemble in As Is. Recent credits include: Oedipus and The Drag with Play Your Part, Saint Joan with Second Story Rep, and Night Parade with REBATEnsemble.
Emily Welter
(she/her)
Hometown: Prairie Village, KS
BE, Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University
Emily has performed with Bainbridge Performing Arts, Reboot Theatre Company, Renton Civic Theatre, Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Seattle Musical Theatre, and SecondStory Repertory. Favorite credits include Spring Awakening (Wendla), The Who's Tommy (Tommy), Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Diva), and Joseph... (Potiphar's Wife). Emily is a transportation engineer by day.
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Sarah Jane Yun
(she/her)
Hometown: Seattle, WA
BS, Biochemistry, University of Washington
Sarah has played in You'll See, Girl Power, Bugsy Malone, and as Florinda in Into The Woods. She would like to thank her husband and dog for all the love and support during all the at-home rehearsals!
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Justin Zheng
(he/him)
Hometown: Seattle, WA
BS, Sociology, University of Washington
Justin is a newly self-designated actor that is looking to expand his acting career. He has been part of small parts and iterations of School of Drama class plays such as Really Really and Polaroid Stories. Justin is always welcome to experiment with new roles and is eager to put his name out in the world as an Asian-American actor. Justin is also a part time streamer on Twitch that would like to thank his girlfriend, Vivian, for her love and support in Justin's new hobbies.
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