Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Jodie Markell attended Northwestern University where she was mentored by writer/director Frank Galati (RAGTIME, THE GRAPES OF WRATH) in the field of adaptation of literature to the stage and screen.

After moving to New York, Markell studied as an actress at Circle-in- the-Square Professional Theater School. She helped rediscover the Tennessee Williams’ play CONFESSIONAL and starred in the New York premiere. Her success grew as an actress as she worked with accomplished theater directors such as John Patrick Shanley, John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Simon Curtis, and Michael Greif and playwrights including David Lindsay-Abaire, Will Scheffer, David Marshall Grant, Theresa Rebeck, Will Eno, and Lanford Wilson. She starred at Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theater Club, Circle Rep, The Public, Steppenwolf, Naked Angels (company member), Williamstown, and Mark Taper in LA (Complete Acting Resume).

Markell has been featured in films by directors including Woody Allen, Jim Jarmusch, Todd Haynes, Ira Sachs, and Barry Levinson. She also played a recurring role on HBO’s BIG LOVE. After receiving the Obie Award for her leading performance at The Public in Sophie Treadwell’s MACHINAL (a 1929 play she rediscovered and brought to Joseph Papp’s attention), Markell was invited by Richard Eyre and the National Theater in London to be the creative consultant to Stephen Daldry on his award winning production of MACHINAL with Fiona Shaw.

Markell directed several plays at Naked Angels including AFTER THE DEERHUNTER by Nicole Burdette starring Logan Marshall-Green. Markell adapted and directed the award winning short film WHY I LIVE AT THE P.O. based on Eudora Welty’s classic story and starring Robert Morse. The film played at numerous festivals including Seattle Film Festival/Women in Cinema and the Hamptons Film Festival. At the New Orleans Film Festival, her film was awarded the Lumiere Award and the Moviemaker Magazine Breakthrough Award—the highest award given to any film in any category at the festival. The film was invited to screen at the National Museum of Women In The Arts in Washington D.C.

THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND is Markell’s feature film directing debut which she adapted from an original screenplay by Tennessee Williams. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans, Ellen Burstyn, Will Patton, and Ann-Margret and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival before its theatrical release. The New York Times calls the film “A significant feat of reclamation.” The LA Times says, “Lovely. A film to savor. Rich in ways that are all too rare these days.”

Markell has been a guest teaching artist at various universities, high schools, film festivals, and literary events. She currently teaches Directing Actors in the Columbia University MFA Film Program.

William Kennedy was born and raised in Albany, New York, and still lives on its outskirts. His Albany cycle of novels includes Legs, Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game, Ironweed (winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award), Quinn’s Book, Very Old Bones, The Flaming Corsage, Roscoe, and Chango’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes. A longtime journalist before becoming a novelist, Kennedy covered both the Civil Rights and Cuban revolutions as they happened in the 1950s and 1960s. He is the founder and former executive director of the New York State Writers Institute. He has received many literary awards, including the first Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award, the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant, and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Award; in 1993, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was named a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France, and in 2018 received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award of Ireland.

Norbert Leo Butz is a two-time Tony Award winner for Best Actor in a Musical, and is one of only nine actors ever to have won the award twice as lead actor. He first won for his work in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and won again for his work in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. He was additionally nominated for a Tony for his work in THOU SHALT NOT and MY FAIR LADY. The star of 11 Broadway shows, he is also a five-time Drama Desk nominee and two-time winner, amongst other stage accolades. 

Other notable  productions include RENT, (Bway debut) WICKED (original Fyiero) SPEED THE PLOW, IS HE DEAD, ENRON, BIG FISH, MY FAIR LADY (Tony nomination) THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Drama Desk nomination) JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, 50 WORDS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, and most recently, CORNELIA STREET. 

In 2019 he released THE LONG HAUL, his first solo record of original songs. In 2023 he released an EP of new music written in collaboration with his daughter, Clara Virginia, called KING OF HEARTS. 

On television, Butz has starred on David Zabel and Ridley Scott's MERCY STREET for PBS, played Kevin Rayburn on BLOODLINE for Netflix, "Paddy Chayefsky" on FOSSE/VERDON for F/X, and on DEBRIS for NBC. Other TV: JUSTIFIED, CITY PRIMIEVAL for FX, THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE for HULU, the upcoming GLADIATOR, AMERICAN SPORTS STORY for FX, and the character of Alan Lomax in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the Bob Dylan biopic, currently in production. 

Films include Peter Hedges's DAN IN REAL LIFE, Sony's HIGHER GROUND, opposite and directed by Vera Farmiga; Craig Zisk's THE ENGLISH TEACHER; BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY, opposite Sam Rockwell; the 2020 Sundance picture LUCE, directed by Julius Onah; recent 2021 CANNES hit FLAG DAY; the EXCORCIST reboot from director David Gordon Green; BETTER NATE THAN EVER; FAIR GAME; and GIVE OR TAKE, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award from FilmOut San Diego. 

He holds a BFA from Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts, an MFA from the Actor Training program at University of Alabama, and an Honorary Doctorate from his Alma Mater, Webster University. He and his wife Michelle have three daughters and reside in New Jersey.

Dane DeHaan recently wrapped AMERICAN PRIMEVAL for Netflix and can seen in Christopher Nolan's OPPENHEIMER, starring Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt, as well as DUMB MONEY with Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Sebastian Stan, and Seth Rogen. Additionally, he recently appeared in Antonio Campos' highly anticipated HBO Max drama, THE STAIRCASE, alongside Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Juliette Binoche and Sophie Turner. He also starred in Stephen King’s LISEY’S STORY opposite Juliane Moore, Clive Owen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Joan Allen. The series is directed by Pablo Larrain for Apple TV+.  He can also be seen in Amazon Studio’s international cocaine drama ZERO ZERO ZERO, from director Stefano Sollima. On the silver screen DeHaan was last seen as Billy the Kid in THE KID opposite Ethan Hawke and Chris Pratt and as Gore Verbinski’s leading man in A CURE FOR WELLNESS. Other film and television credits include THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, CHRONICLE,  KILL YOUR DARLINGS, VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, LAWLESS, and IN TREATMENT.

Jessica Hecht is an acclaimed stage actress and has appeared most recently in Summer, 1976, opposite Laura Linney (Tony nomination). Hecht's Broadway credits include The Price, opposite Mark Ruffalo; Fiddler on the Roof, opposite Danny Burstein; The Assembled Parties, opposite Judith Light; Harvey, opposite Jim Parsons; After the Fall, opposite Carla Gugino; The Last Night of Ballyhoo, opposite Dana Ivey and Paul Rudd; Brighton Beach Memoirs, opposite Laurie Metcalf; Julius Caesar, opposite Denzel Washington; and A View from the Bridge, opposite Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson (Tony nomination). Off-Broadway, she has appeared in King Lear, opposite John Lithgow and Annette Bening; Stage Kiss, opposite Sandra Oh; Three Sisters, opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal; and at Lincoln Center Theater in Admissions, for which she received an Obie Award.

She received an Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the Netflix series Special. She was seen on television in the limited series Super Pumped and The Loudest Voice, and in recurring roles in The Sinner, Dickinson, The Boys, and Succession. She is also recognizable to television audiences from Friends and Breaking Bad.

She has just completed filming Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, opposite June Squibb.

Jessica created The Campfire Project in 2017 (campfire-project.org), providing wellness-based performing-arts programs for refugees in settlements around the world. This summer marks their first NYC shelter project. Jessica is also on the board of Projects With Care, an NYC NGO that provides clothing, educational tools, care, and Christmas to children and moms who are unhoused.

Most recently, Neal played the roles of Link Deas and Bob Ewell in Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway. Previously, he played Willie Oban in George C. Wolfe's production of The Iceman Cometh with Denzel Washington. On the film and television side, Neal played Sean Muldoon on season four of The Sinner (USA/Netflix), Father Dan in Mare of Easttown (HBO) and Phil Saviano in the Oscar winning film, Spotlight. Neal can currently be seen as the ghoul, Roger, in the series Fallout (Amazon Prime). 

Danny is currently appearing in the hit CBS show Elsbeth. Other recent TV appearances include recurring roles on East NY, Raising Kanan, Blacklist, Billions, and Instinct. He has also appeared on American Rust, Bull, The Equalizer, Law and Order (SVU and Criminal Intent), and The Sopranos amongst others. Broadway appearances include Golden Boy, Lucky Guy, Rocky the Musical, The Front Page, Iceman Cometh, and Contact. Off-Broadway and other New York theater credits include The Tempest (NYSF), Antipodes (Signature), Burning (New Group), Stunning (LCT3), The Hallway Trilogy (Rattlestick), and many others. Film appearances include Share, The Cobbler, The Mend, God's Pocket, Fighting, The Producers, and Backseat.

A brilliant and lauded stage actor, Kristine recently closed Annie Baker’s Infinite Life at The National Theatre in London and is a two-time Tony Award nominee for her work on Broadway in Taylor Mac’s Gary and in Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, in which she starred opposite Sigourney Weaver and David Hyde Pierce. For VSMS, she was also awarded the Outer Critics Circle Award and nominated for the Drama League Award. Additional Broadway credits include Present Laughter, You Can’t Take It With You, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and more.   

Kristine will be seen next in Joseph Schuman and Austin Stark’s comedy feature Coup!, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. She stars alongside Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen, and Sarah Gadon. Kristine also currently stars in Julian Fellowes’ The Gilded Age for HBO.

Emmy winner and four-time Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, easily moving between stage and screen. He has worked with directors including Yorgos Lanthimos, Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Fernando Meirelles, and Michel Gondry.

Ruffalo can next be seen in Warner Bros and Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi drama Mickey 17; in Brad Ingelsby's (Mare of Easttown) latest untitled crime series for HBO; and in Cooper Raiff’s upcoming television series Hal & Harper. Last year Ruffalo starred in Yorgos Lanthimos and Searchlight Pictures’ Poor Things and the Netflix mini-series All the Light We Cannot See.

In 2022, Ruffalo starred in Netflix’s sci-fi adventure feature The Adam Project. The film broke records as the fourth most-viewed Netflix film of all time. The same year, Ruffalo reprised the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the She Hulk Marvel series for Disney+.

In 2020, Ruffalo starred in the critically acclaimed HBO series I Know This Much Is True, which garnered him an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. He executive produced and starred in the series, playing the two main characters. Also that year, he starred in Focus Features’ Dark Waters, directed by Todd Haynes, about the DuPont Pollution scandal. In 2019, he reprised his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, the grand conclusion to Marvel Studios’ Avengers franchise, spanning twenty-two films. Previously, he starred in Avengers: Infinity War, which grossed $1.6 billion and was the biggest world-wide film opening since 2002. In 2016, he was seen in Thor: Ragnarok and starred on Broadway in Arthur Miller’s The Price. In 2015, he appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the hit sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers.

He was nominated for three Academy Awards within five years for his performances in The Kids Are All Right, Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, and Thomas McCarthy’s Spotlight. The film won the Oscar awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 2016 Academy Awards. The cast of the film was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2014, Ruffalo received Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild, and BAFTA nominations for his role as the late Olympic wrestler David Schultz in Bennett Miller’s drama, Foxcatcher.

He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award and Emmy nominations for his role as gay rights activist Ned Weeks in the HBO film The Normal Heart, based on the play by Larry Kramer. Ruffalo earned Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Award nominations for his performance in Focus Features’ The Kids Are All Right, directed by Lisa Cholodenko. Along with that string of nominations, he was also honored with the Best Supporting Actor Award by the New York Film Critics Circle.

In 2011, Ruffalo made his directorial debut with Sympathy for Delicious, which won the Special Jury Prize for dramatic film at the Sundance Film Festival. Ruffalo earned critical recognition in 2000 for his role in Kenneth Lonergan’s You Can Count on Me. The Martin Scorsese-produced film won the Grand Jury Prize for best film in dramatic competition and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

Ruffalo’s other film credits include Infinitely Polar Bear, Thanks for Sharing, Now You See Me, Shutter Island, We Don’t Live Here Anymore, Zodiac, The Brothers Bloom, Collateral, 13 Going on 30, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, In The Cut, Margaret, Blindness, Just Like Heaven, Reservation Road, All the King’s Men, What Doesn’t Kill You, My Life Without Me, The Last Castle, Windtalkers, XX/XY, Committed, Ride With the Devil, Studio 54, Safe Men, The Last Big Thing, Fish in the Bathtub, Life/Drawing, and Begin Again.

Ruffalo’s acting roots lie in the theater, where he first gained attention starring in the off-Broadway production of This Is Our Youth, for which he won a Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actor. In 2017, he starred in Arthur Miller’s The Price on Broadway opposite Danny DeVito. In 2000, he was seen in the off-Broadway production The Moment When, a play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Lapine. He made his theater debut in Avenue A at The Cast Theater. A writer, director, and producer, Ruffalo co-wrote the screenplay for the independent film The Destiny of Marty Fine. In 2000, he directed Timothy McNeil’s original play Margaret at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles. Ruffalo has also received Drama-Logue and Theater World Awards. Ruffalo made his Tony Award-nominated Broadway debut in the 2006 Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing!

Ruffalo advocates for addressing climate change and increasing renewable energy. Ruffalo helped launch The Solutions Project in 2012 as part of his mission to share science, business and culture that demonstrates the feasibility of renewable energy. A regular contributor to the Guardian and Huffington Post, Ruffalo has received the Global Green Millennium Award for Environmental Leadership and the Meera Gandhi Giving Back Foundation Award. He was named one of Time Magazine’s “People Who Mattered in 2011” and received The Big Fish Award from Riverkeeper in 2013.

BAM credits include: Bark of Millions, Kiki and Herb SLEIGH, the Olivier Award-winning revival of Einstein on the Beach, Nonesuch Records at BAM with Steve Reich and Philip Glass, The Source, and love fail. Other select credits: Grenfell (St. Ann’s), Trisha Brown Dance Company, Monsoon Wedding (St. Ann's), Only An Octave Apart (St. Ann's, NY Phil.), Social! the social distance dance club and Party in the Bardo (both at Park Avenue Armory), the Tony Award-winning revival of Oklahoma! (Broadway, St. Ann’s), A 24-Decade History of Popular Music with Taylor Mac (St. Ann’s, tour), Available Light with Lucinda Childs Dance Company, and three world-premiere plays by Athol Fugard.

Jeannette Oi-Suk Yew is an Obie award recipient for Sustained Achievement. She designs for theatre, dance, opera, musicals, music performances, and large-scale immersive installation. The New York Times described her designs as “clever” and “inventive.” Lighting: Kimberly Akimbo (Broadway), The Thanksgiving Play (Broadway), The Connector (MCC), Oratorio For Living Things (Ars Nova), The Nosebleed (LCT3), Your Own Personal Exegesis (LCT3), Gloria: A Life (Daryl Roth Theatre), Golden Shield (MTC), Manahatta (The Public), and Cullud Wattah (The Public). Additionally, Jeanette designs for immersive experiences like Nevermore Park: Home of Flyboy with artist Hebru Brantley and David Byrne’s Theater of the Mind. jeanetteyew.com

Vinson Cunningham is a staff writer and theater critic for The New Yorker. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2024. He was awarded the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism for 2021-2022. And, in 2020, he was a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He teaches at the Yale School of Art and Columbia University's School of the Arts and is a co-host of “Critics at Large,” The New Yorker's weekly podcast about culture and the arts. His début novel, Great Expectations, came out earlier this year.

Lizzie Moncrief is a Colorado native. She has worked in the music industry in New York City for 15 years, focusing her career on songwriter and artist advocacy and preservation within the evolving music industry. Lizzie is currently a member of the Music Legal Team at Meta. Lizzie has always dedicated her time to volunteer for a sound cause. She is a volunteer and Board Member for Projects With Care, a not-for-profit that works closely with housing and social service agencies in New York City, to serve the personal needs of individuals. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Headcount.org, a national nonprofit voter registration organization. 

Dr. Shakeema North (known affectionately as “Shak”) is a servant leader with a passion for youth and community development. She is committed to empowering young people to reach their fullest potential despite the challenges many of them have faced. The youth development initiatives she has built are strengths-based, trauma-informed, healing-centered, and designed to serve marginalized youth in search of hope and healing.

Shak joined Covenant House New York in 2015 and was instrumental in creating and expanding the youth development department. She has played a key role in developing policies and practices to ensure youth safety and well-being and fostered a culture where youth are treated with unconditional love and absolute respect, where their voice is valued. Shak became CHNY’s executive director in 2023. 

Prior to joining Covenant House, Shak worked for over 10 years as a marketing and production professional with HBO. She has a B.S. degree in computer science from North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke Divinity School