"Respect the work, leave the ego at home . . . "
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; border-collapse: separate; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 23px; word-wrap: break-word; ">A life-long New Yorker, Stephen earned his BA from Columbia University. His short film, Fall to the Son, won the Short Film category in the Litchfield Hills Film Festival, was a top-ten competitor in the Tribeca Online Short Film Festival, and an official selection in the Connecticut Film Festival. Stephen has worked on independent feature films, documentaries and short films. He has over ten years experience directing and producing, and is a Final Cut Studio editor.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 23px; word-wrap: break-word; ">Prior to Sunshine Rebels, Stephen served as artistic director of he Palace Theatre, Danbury, CT, where he was responsible for all aspects of live performance events and theatre rentals, including contract negotiations, budgeting, producing. Conceived and wrote the Palace Theatre’s mission statement, “To bring the performing arts in all disciplines back to the Danbury community, Fairfield County and beyond.” Worked with agents, managers and companies to hire, contract and book talent. Produced live performances, including: stage plays, comedy, spoken word poetry, dance and live music performances.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 23px; word-wrap: break-word; ">In 2008, Stephen founded the Center for New Media and the Arts in Bethel, CT. He conceived the Center’s identity and wrote its mission statement. As the creative and executive director, Stephen produced or directed all of the Center's events and performances: plays, dance performances, live music performances, comedy nights, poetry slams, arts workshops. Created the Joseph Farris Art Gallery within the Center. As part of the Center’s commitment to community outreach, organized benefits at Center to aid charitable organizations, including the Gear-up Foundation (9/11 first responders medical fund) and the Wyatt Foundation (Becker Muscular Dystrophy fund).</p></span>