The Honorable Michael David is a former Circuit Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit in Missouri with more than forty years of experience. Judge David offers mediation services spanning all areas of dispute. This work is an extension of his years of courtroom experience, as well as his interest in promoting the benefits of alternative dispute resolution. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge David tried numerous jury trials during his time as an assistant public defender and, later, while in private practice. At the same time he was practicing with his firm, he also served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. While in the House, Judge David served on various committees and chaired the House Committee on Municipal Corporations. In 1989, during his fourth term in office, he was appointed by the Governor to be an Associate Circuit Judge, and then a Circuit Judge less than four years later. Judge David presided over many of the Circuit’s lengthy and more complex cases and served as the Circuit’s Presiding Judge from 2003-2004 after serving as the President of Missouri’s Circuit Judge’s Association (2000-2001). Since re-entering private practice, the breadth and depth of Judge David’s experience has given him a unique perspective in his current work as a mediator, arbitrator, special master and trial consultant.

Jim E. Dillon is a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP where he practices real estate law.  He studied Shakespeare in college, where he played Bertram in a 1989 college production of Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That Ends Well.”  That’s the last time he acted in any capacity . . . until now.

Robert Henke is Professor of Drama and Comparative Literature at Washington University, and Director of the Washington University Prison Education Project, a program that offers college courses and degrees at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific, Missouri. He has published single-authored books on Shakespeare’s late plays, on  the Italian commedia dell’arte,  and on representations of poverty and charity in early modern theater and performance, and he has edited several books on early modern theater. He is now writing a book on the resonance of Italian scripted and improvised theater in Shakespeare. He is also an actor, having recently performed Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape at Washington University.

Bruce Longworth is a Resident Artist at Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and previously directed The Winter’s Tale (2017), Henry V (2014), Othello (2012), and Hamlet (2010) for Shakespeare in the Park. He has been a faculty member in the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University since 1985 and is the Head of the Performance programs. Local and regional directing credits include Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theatre St. Louis, Pulitzer Museum, Saint Louis Symphony, Lyceum Theatre, Mustard Seed Theatre, New Jewish Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Missouri Thespians, International Thespians and many shows for the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster. Bruce is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Actors Equity Association.

Joel Schwartz received a B.A. in 1984 and his J.D. in 1987 from the University of Texas at Austin. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1989 and has been practicing in the area of criminal defense for 20 years. He is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Southern District of Iowa and the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. Mr. Schwartz has represented individuals in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Kansas, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and California. Mr. Schwartz is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell. He is a life member of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice. Joel has been a lecturer for several legal educational institutions and has appeared as a legal commentator for several news outlets. Mr. Schwartz’s practice concentrates exclusively in the area of Federal and State criminal defense.

Justin Blanchard was seen on Broadway in the Tony Award winning production of Journey’s End. He has worked with Theatre for a New Audience, McCarter Theatre, Roundabout, Red Bull, Fiasco Theater Company, Berekley Rep, Ma-Yi, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Tina Landau, Paula Vogel, Mary Zimmerman, Trinity Rep and Long Wharf Theatre. He is a master acting teacher, a proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG-AFTRA, and a champion of classical work and emerging playwrights. Education: BFA NYU Tisch, MFA Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Acting Program.

Michelle Hand is so grateful and glad that theater is finding a way in the time of COVID-19 and that she can be a part of it.  A STL born and bred actor, she most recently appeared as Marie in Mute: A Play for Zoom by Nancy Bell and Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice at the Rep.  Other recent credits include Into The Breeches (Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis); Oslo (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); Shakespeare in Love (Insight Theater); and The Two-Character Play (Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis). If the world is open again come late July, you can see her in Looking for Normal with Max & Louie Productions.  Much love and thanks to her friends and family for their support–especially and always, Liv.

Jesse Munoz is a Midwest-based actor, writer, and teaching artist. He is a graduate of the Webster Conservatory, and has worked with the festival in the past in various productions and capacities. He is simultaneously thrilled and intimidated by video platform-based performance. Yay Hamlet!

Andy Sloey, a St. Louis native, has been studying and performing improv since 1996. He holds a BFA in performance from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University and is a graduate of both the iO Training Center and Second City Conservatory in Chicago. While in Chicago, he performed at the iO Theater with multiple Harold teams, and has also performed at Chicago, Seattle, St. Louis, New York and Los Angeles improv festivals. Andy is currently an adjunct professor at Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts. He serves as General Manager of The Improv Shop and Artistic Director of its Harold Program.