A graduate of NYU and a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre. He received the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for his 1987 film Moonstruck. In 1990, Shanley directed his script of Joe Vs. the Volcano starring Tom Hanks and also wrote two songs for it. In 1995, he wrote the screenplay for the film Congo. In 2005 Shanley’s play Doubt: A Parable was awarded the Pulitzer prize for Drama, and the Drama Desk and Tony awards for Best Play. He wrote and directed the film version of Doubt in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. This film was nominated for 5 Oscars, BAFTAS, Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes. It won SAG and Critics Choice Awards. Mr. Shanley is the author of more than 23 plays which are frequently produced in the USA and Europe. For a full list of projects visit: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788234/

Freddie Ashley is Artistic Director of Actor’s Express in Atlanta. He has directed over 40 AE productions and is a multiple Suzi Bass Award winner (Best Play – Angels in America, The Crucible; Best Musical – Rent; Best Director – Rent, Grey Gardens, Angels in America; Best Actor – The Whale). Other directing work includes Aurora Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Jewish Theatre of the South and Atlanta Lyric Theatre. New play development work includes Playwrights’ Center, Kennedy Center, Alliance Theatre, Page 73 and the New Group. He has received the Elliot Hayes Award for Dramaturgy from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Medallion of Excellence. Ashley is Vice-President of the National New Play Network. He is on faculty at Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University, and he holds an MFA from the University of Southern Mississippi. For more info visit: https://www.freddieashley.com/.

Hanson Alford is a senior working towards his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in Acting / Directing. Along with his passion for acting and directing, Hanson is an aspiring writer. He plans to use his experience in theatre to inspire future projects with the goal of publishing his work.