Meet the Team
FILM - TV - THEATRE - RADIO -INTERACTIVE - CREATIVE
When Nathan Shelton founded ARCANE, he set out to bring together a cabal of like-minded creatives who share a passion for all things dark, twisted, and mysterious. Together, the artists of ARCANE create numerous stage, screen, live event, and audio productions as well as the design and fabrication of specialty makeup effects, masks, & props for industry and consumer applications.
Founder / Executive Producer
NATHAN SHELTON
NATHAN SHELTON (AEA . SAG/AFTRA) is an award-winning actor, writer, director, producer, & SFX makeup designer working in the areas of theatre, film, and television. He grew up working on stage and screen in Springfield, MO, and currently resides in Chicago, IL with his family. Nathan has been acting professionally for 30 years and his work as an SFX makeup artist can be seen in such films as Winter's Bone (starring Jennifer Lawrence), Above Ground (Showtime), and The Rake. As founder of ARCANE, Nathan set out to bring together a cabal of like-minded creatives who share a passion for all things dark, twisted, and mysterious. Together, the artists of ARCANE have produced numerous stage productions (including Nathan's horror/comedy adaptation of George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead) as well as screen productions (such as the international award-winning web series, SHADOW BOUND). THE FRIGHTMARE THEATRE PODCAST is one of the many artistic endeavors currently in production with Arcane.
Co-Producer
KEVIN KEPPY
KEVIN KEPPY is a Los Angeles-based actor, creature performer, and producer in film and theatre. He has credits in award-winning web television productions and has wide experience in short and feature films, music videos, and theatre productions. Most recently, Kevin has been featured in the critically acclaimed feature film, SMILE, as well as Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix. His creature performance skills have also been seen in the Disney production, The Quest! Kevin's work in Arcane began with several theatrical stage productions in Springfield, Missouri. Soon after ARCANE was formed, the company moved forward with the international award-winning web series, SHADOW BOUND. Despite growing his continuing career in Los Angeles, Kevin continues to serve as an Executive Producer with Arcane and aids in overseeing film projects.
Associate Producer / Creative Developer
SHAWN YOUNG
SHAWN YOUNG is a Los Angeles-based, award-winning writer, director, producer, actor, & fight choreographer for stage and screen. He received his Bachelor’s degree in theatre from MSU in Springfield, MO where he met and collaborated with many of the creative masterminds behind Frightmare Theatre. Recently he has transitioned from a focus on acting to creating Coldertomb Productions with his wife/producing partner, Lillie Young. With Coldertomb, he has written and directed multiple short films including the award-winning “Are You Sure” and “The Interview” (currently on the festival circuit). Aside from creating Coldertomb Productions, Shawn & Lillie have produced a human boy child! Shawn has two daughters, living in MO that often pop up in his creative endeavors. Find out more at coldertombproductions.com
Writer / Director
BRITTNEY GREER
BRITTNEY GREER is an award-winning writer, director, and producer based out of Nixa, MO. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media, with an Art minor from Missouri State University in Springfield Missouri. Brittney also holds a Certificate in Screen Writing from the prestigious MSU Media, Journalism, & Film Program. Over the years, Brittney has worked on numerous award-winning web series including Drifter the series, Stage Fright, Strange Happenings, and Arcane's Shadow Bound. She is excited to be getting back to her horror roots with her feature film, Happy Halloween! Brittney wrote and directed this Halloween/Slasher film which is currently in post-production. When Brittney was asked to once again join the team at Arcane with The Frightmare Theatre Podcast, she jumped at the chance to write horror for a new medium!
Writer / Director (Frightmare Theatre)
FEE BASANAVICIUS
FEE BASANAVICIUS is a Chicago-based actress, comedian, director, and writer. She is a graduate of Missouri State University's BFA Acting Program and iO's Comedy Lab Writing Program. Currently, Fee is writing, producing, and performing sketches with Trash Panda Comedy and Family Dinner Sketch Comedy. She is a company member of Arcane and serves as a series writer & performer for The Frightmare Theatre Podcast. If you'd like to see what else she's up to or want to catch her stand-up, check out www.feebasanavicius.com or follow her on instagram @fbasanavicius.
Trash panda: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCZI6pqbI3gTni8EidKkzP8w
Family Dinner: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCVXqYtOjQz3wZqKEqkv5PqQ
Music Composer - (Frightmare Theatre / Theatrical)
CHRIS PORCELLI
CHRIS PORCELLI is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based composer and pianist. He has been composing for film and theatre for over ten years, providing the score for Springfield Contemporary Theatre's "Nick Dear's FRANKENSTEIN" and "THE ELEPHANT MAN" (both directed by Arcane's, Nathan Shelton). He has been honored with nominations for best score in the SATO48 Film Festival in 2016,17,18 & 2019. In addition to scoring short films, Chris writes original music and is a freelance pianist. Check out his music on his website: www.chrisporcellipiano.com
Co-Producer
ANDREW McMURTREY
ANDREW McMURTREY is a native of Springfield, Missouri, where he has been involved with many local stage and screen productions. He is the Co-Creator, Lead Writer, Producer, Editor, and Star of the local hit broadcast television series “The New Uncle Gregory Horror Hour”. Andrew serves as a Producer and Content Creator for The Frightmare Theatre Podcast and other sinister projects with Arcane. Recently Andrew has been seen by local theatrical audiences as Dr. Frederic Treves in The Elephant Man with Springfield Contemporary Theatre and as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps with Springfield Little Theatre at the historic Landers Theatre.
Co-Producer / Writer
HEATH HILLHOUSE
HEATH HILLHOUSE is a writer/performer in the Springfield, MO area, where he has been involved with a multitude of exciting projects over the past two decades. Heath is a well-known stage performer, working with Missouri State University's Equity summer series, Tent Theatre (4 seasons), multiple productions with Shakespeare in the Park, Arcane Co-productions such as portraying Dr. Seward in "Dracula," Dr. Sweet in "Bug", the Creature in "Nick Dear's Frankenstein," and both Dr. Frank-N-Furter and The Narrator in two separate productions of "The Rocky Horror Show"! Heath performed as his alter ego, Dr. Pete Killhouse, for several years with Springfield's own Cherry Bomb Burlesque Troupe, and had been a writer/performer for sketch comedy teams such as The Jabberwocky Guild and Blackout Sketch Comedy. As a writer, two of Heath's one-act plays were produced for MSU's One-Act Play Festival and he is currently pursuing publication for his novel, "HUMIDITY" (the 1st installment in his existential horror trilogy).
Associate Producer / Assistant Director (theatre)
ADAM NOLEN
ADAM NOLEN is a producer and performer, currently living with his family in Springfield, MO. Adam started performing 20 years ago, before realizing his greatest talents existed off the stage/screen, as a producer! Often collaborating with longtime friend, Nathan Shelton, Adam has successfully produced a multitude of stage productions in Springfield, MO. Some of his favorites include Evil Dead: The Musical, 2 separate productions of, The Rocky Horror Show, and Arcane’s very own, Night of the Living Dead: Undead on Stage, adapted for the stage from the classic film. In addition to serving as Executive producer, Adam also serves as the Business Manager with Arcane.
Writer / Music Production / Content Developer
JEREMY SHELTON
JEREMY SHELTON is a writer and musician from Springfield, MO. He writes snarky short fiction for his online blog, "Irreverent Nation", and snarkier alternative "thought-rock" under the musical moniker of The Archimedian Point. Jeremy is also the twin brother of Arcane founder, Nathan Shelton, and has been involved in many artistic collaborations over the past 30 years. Jeremy continues to collaborate as a writer and musician with The Frightmare Theatre Podcast as well as helping develop other new and exciting projects with Arcane. Listen to Jeremy's audiobook series, YELL FIRE now wherever you get your audio fiction.
Writer (Frightmare Theatre)
DREW DIVELEY
DREW DIVELEY is a writer/performer based out of Kansas City, MO. He is a graduate of Missouri State University where he received a Bachelor’s in Theatre with a minor in Creative Writing. Drew is an avid fan of Stephen King and is excited to be part of the creative team of The Frightmare Theatre Podcast. Drew has previously collaborated with Arcane on the stage production, Night of the Living Dead: Undead on Stage and the internationally acclaimed web series, SHADOW BOUND.
Music Composer / Writer (Frightmare Theatre)
ALLISON JOHNSTON
ALLISON JOHNSTON grew up in Springfield MO and has played violin for over 20 years. She has a degree in music from Oklahoma State University. Allison has been involved in the composition of several award-winning scores for short films, & the upcoming feature film, “Happy Halloween”. She is having a great time co-composing with Chris Porcelli for Frightmare Theatre.
Resident Composer - Film / Theatre / Podcast Host
BRYAN ARATA
BRYAN ARATA grew up in St. Louis, MO and graduated from MSU in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He then taught orchestra at Pipkin and Carver Middle Schools as well as Parkview High School in Springfield, MO. After that Bryan moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a film/tv composition career. Since moving he has worked with Seth MacFarlane on the tv shows “Family Guy” and “American Dad” doing mock-ups, orchestrations, score supervising, and pre-recordings. Also, he was an orchestrator for composer Tyler Bates for the Marvel movie “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” and composer Robert Duncan on the tv show “Timeless”. In addition to being an orchestrator, he has been a composer for several film projects. He was nominated for Best Original Score for the short film “Surface of the Moon” at the 168 Film Festival. As well as being nominated for the Winter Award for Best Music for the short film “Saved Rounds”. He won Outstanding Achievement in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Series for Best Score for “Shadow Bound” at the LA WebFest. Currently, he contributes original compositions for 3 online music libraries and his music can be heard in tv shows like Making it and Lego Masters. Bryan & Nathan joined forces in 2022 to co-host Arcane's newest podcast, Life, Love, & Existential Dread.
Arcane Productions
The Frightmare Theatre Podcast is a horror anthology series from ARCANE. Each episode listeners are invited to join host, Doctor Necropolis, and the rest of the Frightmare Theatre team, as they introduce a variety of suspenseful stories that are sure to send shivers down your spine!
Time to turn down lights and turn up the TERROR with THE FRIGHTMARE THEATRE PODCAST!
Bryan Arata is a film composer based in Los Angeles. Nathan Shelton is an actor, writer, and director living in Chicago. The two have had a friendship spanning almost 20 years, since their early days of artistic collaboration in Southwest Missouri. After years apart working through their own fair share of trials & errors, the two decided to reconnect on a regular basis to check-in, learn, laugh, inspire, and discover what it is that makes them push forward in the crazy world of entertainment as they navigate life, love, and... existential dread!
Take a listen and join the conversation!
Welcome to Veritas. It is an old place. A place with a long memory. A city of shadows and hidden terrors long forgotten by the modern world of 1931. But some things in the shadows are best left forgotten...
SHADOW BOUND is an internationally award-winning silent horror web series, from ARCANE.
Part one of Jeremy Shelton's serial horror novel entitled "Yell Fire".
This audiobook is produced by Arcane Productions.
Narrated by Nathan Shelton
Music by Bryan Arata
Find more snarky short fiction from author, Jeremy Shelton at IRREVERENT NATION
Take a listen to Yell Fire HERE!
ARCANE is currently in development of a NEW & EXCITING Short Film Project entitled, THAT DARK AND STORMY NIGHT. This film will be a black and white highly-stylized horror comedy utilizing intricate hand & rod puppetry and miniature sets. The script is inspired by the 1931 film Frankenstein, taken from the novel by Mary Shelley and was originally concieved as a short play by Nathan Shelton. This play, then titled "Tinker Toys" won the Critic's Choice Award at the Samuel French Short Play Festival in New York city in 2005 and was later readapted for audio drama with The Frightmare Theatre Podcast in October of 2020. Now the script is entering its 3rd incarnation as a visual short film and will be in production throughout 2023. MORE TO COME!