The Creative Team
Tres Dean, Director
Russell (Tres) Dean, originally from the mighty metropolis of Tutor Key, Kentucky, has written, directed, and performed for Disney, Norwegian Cruise Lines, The Groundlings, iO West, The Comedy Central Stage, TMI Hollywood, and regional theaters across the country. He is currently in his 5th year as Director of the Millikan Middle School Drama Production program. While at Millikan, he has directed co-written or adapted the main stage productions of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Sketch, The Princess and the Pea, and Jack. Prior to coming to Millikan, he was the Director of Theatre and Assistant Professor of Theatre at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA. Some of his other previous directing credits include productions of A Flea in Her Ear, The Happiest Days of Your Life, All in the Timing, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Will Any Gentleman?, Buried Child, The Rocky Horror Show, Is He Dead?, Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas, Jack, The Secret Garden, Lysistrata Sings the Blues, P.S. I Love You Hair, Beyond Therapy, 'Dentity Crisis, The Tarantino Variations, Medea, Antigone, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, and Vanya, Sonia, Masha, & Spike. As a performer, Tres has appeared in such roles as Leo Bloom (The Producers), Banquo (Macbeth), Huckleberry Finn (Big River), Barney Cashman (Last of the Red Hot Lovers), Arles & Company (Greater Tuna), The Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz), King Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar), Hero (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Banjo (The Man Who Came to Dinner), Jacquot (Carnival), Billy Bibbit (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest), and Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol). He has appeared in both short and feature films including Shakespeare’s Cat, Dirty Souls, The Latest Thing, L.A. Paranormal, The Green Fairy, A Crooked Somebody, and the upcoming Sci-Fi channel originals Mind Blown and Doomsday Device. He is the Co-Artistic Director of A Prima Vista Productions with his beautiful and talented wife, Noemi. They live in L.A. with their children Viktorria, Miles, Christian, Miranda, and dog Kahlo.
Bob Gerdes, Scenic Designer
Bob is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and a retired industrial engineer by trade. Bob is an expert in welding, electrical air systems, HVAC, boilers, anhydrous ammonia refrigeration, and water chemical treatment systems. He was also the Head of Transportation fo the Riverbank School District for five years near Modesto, California. He is currently a board member and the Vice President of the Encino/Sherman Oaks Girls Softball League and has also served as the Field Director. When he isn't busy, he enjoys riding horses, motorcycle and car racing, and hunting and fishing in the Sierras. Bob's past design credits include Mysterios Creatures and Macbeth.
Mark L. Wray, Lighting & Tech Designer
He has been lighting shows for the past 16 years, including productions of The Wiz, The Little Mermaid, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Hairspray, Mulan, High School Musical, Charlotte’s Web, The Addams Family, Shrek, Spamalot, Mary Poppins, Anything Goes, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Sketch, Jack, Princess and the Pea, and many others. A professional stage magician, Mark brings a special magic to our shows through the accent of lighting design.
Noemi Villela Dean, Sound Designer
Noemi is a director, writer, producer, and designer who first began working as a Children's Educational Director, Stage Manager, Director, and Sound Designer for the La Quinta Playhouse in La Quinta, California. She has written and directed professionally for The Comedy Central Stage in Hollywood and The Indio Performing Arts Center in Indio, California. Her previous directiing credits include All in the Timing, A Tuna Christmas, The Vagina Monologues, and Laugh Lines. Her sound design credits include the Millikan productions of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Mysterious Creatures, Sketch, The Princess and the Pea, and Jack. Other sound design credits include Buried Child, All in the Timing, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Vagina Monologues, and A Tuna Christmas. She co-wrote and adapted the Millikan productions of Jack, The Princess and the Pea, and Sketch. She is currently pursuing her degree in Writing for Film & Television through Stephens College and the Los Angeles campus located at the world famous Jim Henson Studios. She is the Co-Artisitc Director of A Prima Vista Productions. She lives in L.A. with her husband Tres, and their children Viktorria, Miranda, Christian, Miles, and their dog Kahlo.
Meghan Ims, Costume Designer
Meghan currently teaches costume design for Los Angeles Mission College and Pasadena City College. She previously taught at California Institute for the Arts and East Los Angeles College. Her most recent design credits include the Millikan productions of Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, O-Lan Jones' Katy Cruel, various concerts for the CalArts Dance program at REDCAT, and the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles' production of Macbeth. She also assisted in on The Fantastiks and God Looked Away at the Pasadena Playhouse.