Doug Besterman
(Musical Supervisor)

Broadway: Tarzan, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony/Drama Desk awards) The Producers (Tony/Drama Desk awards), Fosse (Tony award), Music Man (Tony/Drama Desk nominations), Seussical, Big (Drama Desk nomination), Damn Yankees (Drama Desk nomination), Dracula, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Also in New York: King David. London: Guys and Dolls (Donmar). Film/television: The Producers, Chicago, Mulan, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Lincoln, Cinderella, Annie, Geppetto, South Pacific, and Superstar. As a songwriter: The Punisher, Summerland, One Life To Live.

Susan Birkenhead
(Lyricist)

received a Tony and a Grammy nomination and a Drama Desk Award for her lyrics for Jelly's Last Jam. She was nominated for a Drama Desk for Triumph of Love, was one of the writers nominated for a Tony for Working, and won an Outer Critics Circle award for What About Luv? Susan wrote lyrics for High Society, Pieces of Eight, and Fanny Hackabout Jones, and was one of the contributors to A...My Name Is Alice.

Michele Brourman
(Composer)

Awards: Johnny Mercer Award, Emerging American Songwriter. Broadway: composer, Working. Theater: composer, I Married Wyatt Earp, Dangerous Beauty (in progress). T.V.: songs for Cagney & Lacey, Santa Barbara, Designing Women, Animal Jam. Film: songs for Shiloh, Shiloh Season, and 15 animated features for Universal Studios (three nominations for DVD Premiere Awards); score for A System in Shambles. Brourman has music directed for many artists, created special material for singers from Aretha Franklin to Crystal Gayle, and played piano in Bob Dylan's band.

Pat Bunch
(Lyricist)

is a 67-year-old songwriter who is "living in a moment she would die for." Her songs have been recorded by performers including Restless Heart ("I'll Still Be Loving You," Grammy nomination), Faith Hill ("Wild One," number one for four weeks), Martina McBride ("Safe in the Arms of Love"), Ty Herndon ("Living in a Moment") and Reba McIntire ("Baby's Gone Blues"). This is her first song co-written for a musical, proving that it is never too late to get started.

Gretchen Cryer
(Lyricist)

is part of the songwriting team Cryer and Ford. Their most notable success was I'm Getting My Act Together And Taking It On The Road, based on Cryer's life experiences; she co-wrote and performed in the piece, which ran in Broadway's Circle on the Square theater for three years. Cryer's other credits include The Last Sweet Days of Isaac (Drama Desk, Obie, and Outer Critics Circle Award), Shelter, and Now Is The Time For All Good Men.

Beth Falcone
(Assistant Music Director/Composer)

Beth Falcone, currently a member of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop (Advanced), won the 2006 Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. She was also selected as a Jonathan Larson Musical Theater Fellow in 2004. Beth is the musical director for the BMI showcase and the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Conference. She is on faculty teaching voice for the National Theater Institute and also teaches privately in Manhattan. Beth is thrilled to be part of the Red Hat family!

David Friedman
(Composer)

Songs: "We Can Be Kind," "Listen to My Heart," "Help is on the Way," "Rich, Famous & Powerful," hundreds more. Film: conductor/vocal arranger Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hunchback. Composer: Aladdin sequel, Trick, Lizzie McGuire (platinum), Bambi sequel. Record producer: Nancy LaMott. Songwriter: Diana Ross (quadruple platinum), Barry Manilow. Upcoming: Chasing Nicolette (Broadway), Desperate Measures, King Island Christmas, Listen To My Heart Revue, opening around the country. Songbook, CDs, info available at MIDDER.com.

Kathie Lee Gifford
(Lyricist)

received 11 Emmy nominations in 15 years on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Her Broadway debut was Putting it Together (1999); work includes numerous T.V., film, and stage productions, 12 CDs, seven books. She wrote book and lyrics for the musical Under The Bridge, which ran off Broadway in 2004, and her second musical, Hurricane Aimee, is scheduled to debut at the Signature Theatre in D.C. in the spring of 2007. Mrs. Gifford lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, and beloved mutts Regis and Louis.

Carol Hall
(Composer/Lyricist)

Wrote music and lyrics for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a five-year Broadway hit which became a popular movie starring Dolly Parton. Parton's recording of Carol's "Hard Candy Christmas" earned an ASCAP Most Performed Country Song award. Contributed to Sesame Street, A...My Name is Alice, and the children's classic Free to Be You and Me. Songs performed by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, and Big Bird, among others. Prizes: Drama Desk Awards, Emmy, Grammy, the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award for contributions to American popular song.

Henry Krieger
(Composer)

wrote the music for Broadway's Dreamgirls, receiving a Grammy award and Tony and Drama Desk nominations. Also for Broadway, he composed the music for The Tap Dance Kid and Side Show. Mr. Krieger wrote two songs for the current Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. For many years he has happily served as musical director for the 52nd Street Project, a group which brings entertainment professionals together with kids to create and perform in their own shows.

Stephen Lawrence
(Composer)

has composed numerous award-winning songs and scores, including over 100 songs for Sesame Street, and has won three Emmy awards for the series in Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition. He composed "Free to Be…You and Me" and many other songs from the landmark children's album and Emmy Award-winning television special of the same name. Lawrence also composed the top ten single, "You Take My Breath Away," and has been awarded three Gold Records.

Melissa Manchester
(Composer)

starred in national tours of Music Of The Night and Song and Dance and created the role of Maddy on the series Blossom. Awards: Grammy for best female vocalist (1982). Nominations: two Academy Award nominations (1980, Oscar record for a recording artist), Grammy (1980). Composer for The Great Mouse Detective, Lady And The Tramp II and the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love. Presented the Governor's Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1997.

Amanda McBroom
(Lyricist)

McBroom's song The Rose for Bette Midler hit number one in 1979 and brought her a Golden Globe Award and a Grammy nomination. Broadway: Seesaw. Off Broadway: A Woman of Will. Other theater: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well, Heartbeats. T.V.: songs for Cop Rock, lyrics for Land Before Time parts III through XIII, Hercules and Zena, The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, An American Tale Part II and Balto II, Wolf Quest.

Pam Tillis
(Composer)

is a 3-time Grammy Award winning Country Music Star and was the 1994 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. Pam has sold over 7 million records including 13 top ten hits, six of which went straight to number one. Pam also starred on Broadway in Smokey Joe's Cafe and had recurring roles in T.V.'s Diagnosis Murder and Promise Land. Pam was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000 and is releasing a new album in 2007 titled Rhinestoned.

Sharon Vaughn
(Lyricist)

Ms. Vaughn's first recorded composition, The Oakridge Boys' Y'all Come Back Saloon was number one on the national charts, followed soon by Willie Nelson's #1 Oscar nominated track My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. She has subsequently written numerous number ones and top ten recordings for Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood. Nominations: CMA Awards, Grammys, the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Anthony Dodge & Macia Milgrom Dodge
(HATS! Bookwriters & Lyrics to My Oven's Still Hot!)

Marcia and Tony's first play, Sherlock Holmes & The West End Horror, premiered at the Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor, New York. The play received a prestigious Edgar Award nomination and is published by Smith & Kraus in New Playwrights/ Best New Plays of 2002. Sherlock has had productions around the country at such esteemed theatres as the Asolo Theatre Festival in Sarasota and the Pioneer Theatre in Salt Lake City. Tony is also an actor and a member of the Dramatist's Guild, and Marcia is a longtime member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Dodge & Dodge are currently developing a new musical with Country Music legend Larry Gatlin, as well as writing a "femme noir" mystery called Venus Flytrap. Married for over 25 years-- and they said it would never last! --Marcia and Tony are the proud parents of their sweet Natasha, who attends Manhattan's PS 87. When not writing together, Tony happily spoils Natasha while Marcia continues her busy directing and choreographing career. For more, visit www.marciamilgromdodge.com. HATS! is dedicated to Polly, Jackie, Lillian, Sally, Barbara, Carole, Paula, Victoria and Marianne--Eight Red Hats and one Pink!