Designers
Head Designer
Carmine Santavenere
Carmine Santavenere (he/him) is an Italian-Canadian queer interdisciplinary artist currently based in Montréal, Canada. He holds a BFA in Theatre Performance and an MFA in Fibres and Material Practices. He is a storyteller, creator, physical performer, and illustrator. He would like to think he is a lot like Hat with Bean tendencies. His favourite book smells like magic and home, and he is often seen daydreaming about the endless creative potential of yarn. Primarily working with found materials processed using fibre art techniques, he creates and devises worlds for audiences to explore. His work provides a window for the viewer to consider new perspectives and ideas by engaging with his odd characters and performative artifacts. He is honoured to be a part of Bean & Hat and hopes you enjoy your time with this endearing duo and the world that revolves around them.
Lighting & Projection Designer
Andie Lloyd
Andie Lloyd (any pronouns) is a queer interdisciplinary artist and community advocate, currently based on unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Territories.
Andie is a lighting designer, media artist and writer with dreams of living a joyful, unencumbered life full of art and music with plenty of food and laughter. There is nothing more exciting to her than leaving town for months to share art, staying up late to watch funny videos with friends, or hosting hot pot nights in her own home.
She believes life is too short not to love as fast and hard as possible, even if it sometimes means a little heartbreak. She channels this into her work in every way possible and hopes so much that you enjoy Bean & Hat.
Recent projects include Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night! (Vancouver), her Jessie Award Nominated Surtitle & Projection Design work for Neworld Theatre’s Clean/Espejos (Vancouver), Lighting Design for Shion Skye Carter’s Residuals(住み・墨) (Montréal, Vancouver), and she looks forward to working alongside Derek Chan on his new work in May 2023: Happy Valley 馬照跑。舞照跳.
Sound Designer
Cindy Kao
Cindy Kao (she/her) is a Taiwanese actor / sound artist (Ketegalan and Siraya Nations) based in Vancouver (Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations). She received a BFA in Theatre Performance at Simon Fraser University, with a classical violin background.
While studying theatre, Cindy re-acquainted with music, performing as an actor while doing sound design. Since then, she has explored her musical background and acting training in her practice.
Most recently, she starred in the award-winning short film "A Family Act "and performed for Music on Main 2022 and the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival 2022 as part of violin/electronic duo Sapphire Haze with duo partner Aysha Dulong. Cindy is currently the
Associate Artistic Producer with rice & beans theatre, 2023 season.
Cindy has connected to the theme of mortality in Bean & Hat by reflecting on her ancestry and home:
The ocean is my grandparents' resting place. They chose it based on the impact it has on their lives. Life has been scary with my constant change in living situations. The only certainty in life is the inevitability of mortality. However, whenever I go to the ocean, I feel at home again with my grandparents, and my fear of mortality fades.
Set Builder
Danny Guay
Danny Guay (He/Him) is a freelance filmmaker, illustrator, and multidisciplinary stop motion artist who grew up in Cobourg, Ontario. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Illustration from Sheridan College in 2010, he moved to the vibrant art scene of Montreal, QC. There he curated solo exhibitions, shot professional skateboarding videos, and began his love of stop-motion arts, such as miniature fabrication and set dressing. Danny now resides in Vancouver, BC and works in film and photography. Currently working on the stop motion film Wheetago Warsand Spirt Bear - Echos of The Past directed by Amanda Strong at Spotted Fawn Productions. Follow him on Instagram @dannyguay
If he had a choice, his favourite book from the Bean & Hat library would smell like lavender and calamansi.
Assistant Costume Designer
Mirabel De Guzman
Mirabel De Guzman (she/her) is a fashion designer and aspiring entrepreneur. Her love for fashion grew in gradual steps. She has loved styling since she was four years old. She enjoyed predicting future trends in elementary school and thinking of new concepts and designs. That is when it dawned on her that this could be a possible career path in the future. While attending Wilson’s School of Design, Mirabel learned more about the dark truths within the fashion industry and set off to Finland to learn more about sustainable fashion design.
Mirabel is passionate about environmental design and like to be an influential figure in re-conceptualizing the production process and
improving the damaging effects of the fashion industry.
Set Builder
Nichole N
Nichole N (she/her) is a crazy cat mom who loves building things, fishing and listening to true crime podcasts. She is a full-time journeywoman in the finishing trades specializing as an interior systems mechanic. Nichole was born on Dia de los Muertos or the day of the dead, and like many people, she thinks that death is just the beginning. She is excited to build the set for Bean & Hat, her favourite clowns. Holla at her if you need any work on your house or want a set created!