BIOS

Andy Kirshner (writer, director, composer) uses film, theatre, music, dance, and archival research to explore complex social and historical questions. His work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Michigan Council on the Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Education. An award-winning composer as well as filmmaker, Kirshner is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, jointly appointed by the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and the Stamps School of Art and Design. He has over 30 years of experience as an educator and a public speaker.

John Lepard (actor) has been acting professionally since he joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1991.  Over the years, he has worked at such venues as The Signature Theatre in New York, St. Louis Rep, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Gem in Detroit, and Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC. Feature films include Liberty’s Secret, Scream 4, Alleged, Conviction, Whip It, Batman v Superman, New Money and Eloise. He is an assistant professor at Michigan State University, and the Executive Director of The Williamston Theatre.

Debbie Williams (choreographer) is a director, choreographer, and actor with a background in musical-theatre. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she has performed on stages throughout North America and Europe. She choreographed and co-directed Andy Kirshner’s last film Liberty’s Secret, and has appeared as an actor in the indie films It Follows (2014), Break My Bones (2016), and Liberty’s Secret (2016.)