Howard Sherman has emerged over the past decade as one of the leading defenders of high school shows that are challenged over content concerns and face censorship and cancellation. He was recognized as one of the Top 40 Free Speech Defenders in 2014 by the National Coalition Against Censorship and received the “Defender” award from the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund in 2015. He is frequently a resource for teachers, parents and students, as well as media outlets exploring the issue of theatrical censorship. Sherman is the managing director of the Baruch Performing Arts Center in Manhattan and has previously been executive director of the American Theatre Wing and the O’Neill Theater Center, managing director of Geva Theater, general manager of Goodspeed Musicals and public relations director of Hartford Stage. Since 2012, he has been the US columnist for The Stage newspaper in London and his freelance writing includes pieces for The Guardian, American Theater magazine, Encore Monthly and Theatermania. His book “Another Day’s Begun: Our Town in the 21st Century” was published in 2021.

Catie Jamieson is a 2022-2023 International Thespian Officer from Troupe 6309.  Her goal as an International Thespian Officer (ITO) is to advocate for mental health awareness as part of the #TheatreInOurSchools efforts and other theatre advocacy movements. Catie feels that it is important for teens to be taught the importance of mindfulness and to have healthy stress-release tactics. By advocating for mental health on a national level, she hopes that Thespians will feel more empowered and heard.

Cheryl J. Williams is the founder of CJ Williams Consultant.  Cheryl has been a professor of theatre for over 25 years, having taught a wide range of theatre courses, at various universities to include: Morgan State; University of Maryland, College Park and Baltimore County; Old Dominion University, Virginia Union University and the University of Ghana (West Africa).   She also teaches the Metaphysical Interpretation of the Bible and World Religion for the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary.  In addition to teaching Cheryl’s professional work includes teaching artist, director, lighting & sound designer, production/stage manager, workshop leader, motivational speaker, and videographer.

For further information please visit her website: Cjwilliamsconsultant.com

Martine Sainvil is a Brooklyn-based Playwright and Communications Strategist. Recent credits: Pursuit (2022 EAG Barbour Award Finalist), The Mary Lou Shine (2022 StatueFest: Monologues about Statue Worthy Women at Purchase College), Strange Happenings at the School Library co-written with Jenny Lyn Bader (Published by Next Stage Press; 2021 Luna Stage), Indispensable (2020 Resonance Ensemble Waldman Play Development Program). Previously, Director of Communications at the Broadway League and was on the publicity team for various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. For more visit MartineSainvil.com.

Robert B. Morrison is Founder and CEO of Quadrant Research, the nation’s leading arts education research organization where he has created a deep body of research and policy work. Mr. Morrison is recognized as a pioneer in statewide arts education status and condition research. He served as the managing partner for the groundbreaking New Jersey Arts Education Census Project, completing the first statewide census for arts education in every school building. Mr. Morrison has led similar research projects as director of the groundbreaking national Arts Education Data Project for the states including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. These efforts have directly impacted millions of students.            

Morrison founded Arts Ed NJ, the statewide arts education policy group. Through this work, New Jersey has emerged as a leading state for arts education in the country. Morrison also launched the Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning to highlight the powerful intersections between the two fields.

Mr. Morrison is also the founder of Music for All, was the first CEO of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and helped create the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. Mr. Morrison is recognized for his work add the arts as a core subject to the nation’s education goals in 1994. He served Director of Market Development for NAMM and the Director of Marketing for Pearl.

Mr. Morrison’s advocacy work has earned him both a Prime-Time EMMY and a Peabody Award, the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Arts Education and he received an honorary doctorate degree from the State University of New York. He is a member of the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.

Jessica Joy Satryan Shaw has been the Theatre Arts Teacher and Director at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA since 2016, and she has been developing and presenting on theatre curriculum at the local, state, and national levels since 2010. Previously, she taught music, theatre, and film to grades 5-12 at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, PA (2009-2016). She holds a Master of Arts degree in Theatre from Villanova University (‘09), and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Grove City College (‘07).

Joshua Rashon Streeter, MFA, is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Education at Emerson College teaching in the BFA, MA, and MFA theatre education programs. He previously held a professorship at James Madison University (JMU) where he built the Theatre Education Pre-Professional Licensure Program and the Teaching Artist Concentration, was a faculty associate in the Center for Faculty Innovation (CFI), and on faculty in the African, African-American, and Diaspora (AAAD) studies program. His teaching focuses on pre-service and in-service education in K-16 schools/institutions, drama and theatre education, Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), musical theatre, and arts integration.

Joshua’s scholarship analyzes the pedagogies used in rehearsals and classrooms and considers the relationship between process and product in a creative experience. Joshua was also one of the twelve writers for the National Theatre Standards and continues to work as a consultant to numerous state departments of education.

www.JoshuaRashonStreeter.com

Published by Playscripts and produced in over 100 academic and community theaters worldwide, Sarah’s documentary play 110 STORIES was read at Geffen Playhouse, Public Theater, and Vineyard Theatre with actors including Billy Crudup, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Tony Shalhoub, and Kathleen Turner. Plays include ABIGAIL (2021 O’Neill finalist, Ashland finalist, Princess Grace Award semifinalist, Athena Projects semifinalist, Inkwell Theater and San Antonio Public Theatre workshops) and MARVEL-OUS MONICA; IN WHICH MONICA LEWINSKY IS A SUPERHERO HELL-BENT ON REVENGE (O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Valdez Theater Conference, BAPF semifinalist, IAMA Theatre Company workshop.) Member Dramatists Guild and Antaeus Theatre Playwrights Lab.

Dréa Lewis is a 2021 award-winning director by The John F. Kennedy Center for her artistic leadership on “Tilikum” (produced in partnership with the University of Central Missouri). She began her career at Paramount Studios and is highly recommended by Mike Nichols and Tom Hanks. She is the author of "The Mathematics of Acting" and works as a certified Drama teacher at an elementary magnet arts school since (2016). Currently, Dréa Lewis is in post-production phase of the 1st feature length film "The Delilah Factor" from her production company, Dream of Dréa, LLC.

Kirsti Lewis helped develop an inclusive theater troupe in Florida which inspired her thesis on society’s misguided assumptions about people with disabilities. In 2016, she founded People Like Us, and currently serves as the non-profit’s Executive Director. Along with her team of therapists, educators, and performers with disabilities, she has developed a four-course curriculum that helps educators use the performing arts to create more effective learning environments for students with developmental disabilities. Kirsti also serves as an Executive Board member for Georgia’s Council of Exceptional Children.

Lauren Modawell is a performer with an unknown intellectual disability and rare genetic disorder. Her lived experience gives her a unique perspective on the intersection of art and disability. She currently serves as an on-site consultant and course instructor for People Like Us.