Jimmy Byrge grew up in a coal mining community in the mountains of East Tennessee, where he grew to love the mountains and their people. The incredible beauty, Spirit and Love for the Appalachian mountains inspired his writing and fine tuned his writing skills. His faith, family, and heritage are his defining characteristics. His generosity and sense of community enables his writings to create such spirit and realism you feel as if his stories come to life. He still lives in his home community with his wife and near his children and grandchildren. Jimmy has many stories with wonderful adventures that take place in the Beautiful Tennessee Appalachian mountains. The Evergreen Christmas Tree will be his first published children’s book. Jimmy has many more stories about the Tennessee mountains and the people that molded his appreciation for them. Jimmy plans to share these stories before they are forever lost.
Katharine ‘Kat” Kramer is a former Miss Golden Globe Ambassador. Kat is the Founder of “Kat Kramer’s Films That Change The World,” in international cinema series to showcase motion pictures and documentaries that raise awareness of important social issues. Kat is the daughter of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kramer, actress/producer Karen Sharpe-Kramer, and the Godchild/namesake of screen icon Katharine Hepburn. She has starred in four one woman shows, and debut her solo show “My Duet With Mick” for Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. She is currently developing a new solo show titled “She’s A Rainbow.” Kat has won awards for her roles on stage as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” and Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” She starred as Estella in “Great Expectations,” “Joan of Arc” in “The Lark,” and she appeared in the ensemble of “V. Monologues” Ms. Kramer served on the dais and opened the program for the Pioneer Luncheon honoring her performing idol Lily Tomlin. She received a standing ovation with a special salute musical parody called “Dear Lily Tomlin.” An animal rights advocate, Ms. Kramer re-imagined the theme song from “Bless The Beasts And Children” as an anthem for animal rescue and wildlife protection organizations. She was honored with the Compassion Award from the Braveheart Women. Kat has appeared in films such as “Going Shopping” “What Just Happened”and “Little Fockers.” She created the role of “Frances Rye” and multiple characters in the web series “Child of the 70’s.”
Kat won for Best Supporting Actress at the 2019 LOVE International Film Festival for her role as “Fran” in TURNOVER, the award-winning indie film streaming on Amazon Prime and other platforms. She costars as “Michelle” in the award-winning dramatic short film “MOTHER’S DAY MEMORIES” Kat plays “Beverly” in the award-winning indie feature “FATE’S SHADOW: THE WHOLE STORY” and its award-winning short film version FATE’S SHADOW. Ms. Kramer will next be seen as “Violet Grace” in the award-winning indie feature RINGS OF THE UNPROMISED. Kat has won international Awards for her role of “Violet Grace Pennington.” Kat can be seen in the documentary “Call Me Kate” which launched on Netflix. She was recently honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Luxury Oscar Gala presented by Samira’s Network. Ms. Kramer has multiple projects in development as actor/producer.
A Rolling Stones aficionado, Kat recorded an album of Mick Jagger cover songs and obscure Rolling Stones tunes titled GEMSTONE: Kat Kramer Sings Mick Jagger….and Keith Richards. Kat served on the Board of Directors for the Hollywood Media Professionals, and she’s a founding Board Member of the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival. Kat serves on the Advisory Board of both the LA Press Club,and the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. Ms. Kramer is the COO of “Forget Me Not” Juanita Moore Productions, was instrumental in nominating and securing Ms. Moore for a posthumous STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kat Kramer established the “Hunt For Humanity Award” at “Kat Kramer’s Films That Change The World”. The award is given to an actorvist who uses their voice to fight for human rights, animal welfare advocacy and environmental justice. Kat is launching the #SHEroesForChange Festival and podcast, with an additional #SHERO Award. Ms. Kramer is creating an outreach program called “New Voices For Change” to present original screenplays and theatrical works exploring social issue subjects with an emphasis on global impact, diversity and inclusion.
Patricia Riley, President of Riley’s Productions LLC, has her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Arts and Children’s Theater from California Baptist University. Patricia Riley was Deaf as a child and did not receive her hearing until sixth grade. She has a passion for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing children and the Deaf community because she was one of these children, one of the forgotten few. Patricia Riley Wwas Executive Producer and stared in “The Better Half Feature Film” as Sam the Mime. She has appeared in a variety of TV shows including “CSI Las Vegas,” “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” “America’s Court,” and “Millionaire Matchmaker.” Patricia Riley has been performing and teaching. Improv, Mime technique and movement in the San Diego and Los Angels area for many years. Patricia Riley had the honor of studying under one of Marcel Marceau’s leading students Jean Marc, at CBU. While there Patricia directed and lead a Mime Troupe for California Baptist University that traveled throughout California through 1984 and 1985. Through Riley’s Productions Patricia Riley has had the unique opportunity for performing and teaching for corporations such as, Budweiser, Knotts Berry Farm, Warner Springs Ranch, Westfield malls, Universal Studios, Coke A Cola, etc. Patricia Riley Performed as Riley the Mime and went all the way to the top for the 2010 “America’s Got Talent” auditions. Patricia Riley, is the Founder of Don’t Be A Sap… It’s A Booby Trap 501c3 Non Profit which continues to bring awareness to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities all over the nation, currently focusing on Florida and Alabama. She has been performing in the San Diego and Los Angels area for many years, bringing informed regard to the public for the betterment of deaf, hearing impaired, and communication-challenged children and their families. Her objective continues to be facilitating integration of this sub-culture into the expanding world. Through Patricia’s former performances, she has empowered children of all ages through laughter and education. She has focused on empowering and bringing awareness to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and children with special needs. She is the mother of a child with disabilities as her daughter has severe dyslexia and she has always focused on raising awareness for her daughter and others like her daughter.
Andrea Riley received two bachelor degrees from UC Davis in Psychology and Art History. She is currently enrolled in a Masters program at Troy University for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has been published three times with her final publication by John Hopkins University in the “Macksey Journal”. She grew up in Hollywood, being on and around sets since she was 10. She has worked on “The Better Half” feature as an art director as well as stepped in as an extra when needed. She was on “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” “Maria My Love” and was apart of the Pilot for “America Most Awesome Parent.” She has been working in the theater field since before she could remember. At the Age of 16 she performed at the private parties at Knotts Berry Farm as a a pirate. She also has been a photographer for events at the Super Bowl 50, and some of her photos have been featured on “Ro Brooks Honors Up and Coming Hollywood Celebrity.”
April Hicks
Curriculum Designer – April Hicks
April Hicks one of Jimmy Byrge’s daughters, grew up in the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee, where she grew to love nature and mountain culture. She attained a bachelor’s degree in biology, then master’s degrees in environmental education and secondary science education to teach middle and high school. She worked with the National Park Service as a park ranger for 4 years, then settled back in her home community in Tennessee. She taught science for a few years before having children, and is now a stay-at-home homeschooling and homesteading mom.
Karen Sharpe-Kramer
PRODUCER
Karen Sharpe-Kramer was an acclaimed actress for twenty years. She is a Golden Globe winner and an Emmy nominee, was a guest star in over ninety television show and ten motion pictures, is a renowned a pioneer of ‘Live” television and Life Magazine called her “the busiest actress in television.” In 1966, Karen Sharpe married filmmaker Stanley Kramer, she retired from her acting career and her husband brought her on as a producing partner on “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” to teach her the ropes. She worked alongside him on all his later films. She did not take a screen credit because she wanted to earn her own respect. She raised four children, then she produced the remake of her husband’s film “High Noon” starring Tom Skeritt for Turner Broadcasting Network. She produced for Sony Home Entertainment “The Stanley Kramer Film Collection” Volume 1 and 40th Anniversary of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” including all the special features. “Besides Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?,” the box-set included “The Wild One,” “The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T,” “Member Of The Wedding,” and “Ship Of Fools.” She personally arranged interviews with Tom Brokaw, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, Taylor Hackford, the late Dennis Hopper, the late Garry Marshall, and other talent who waived their fees to be a part of it and greatly revere the Kramer Legacy. The Stanley Kramer Film Collection was critically acclaimed.
In 2000 Karen established the prestigious Stanley Kramer Award at the Producer’s Guild Of America where each year a socially-conscious film or filmmaker is honored for making films featuring current social issues. She is involved in the selection process, and established the Stanley Kramer Fellowship in Directing at UCLA School of Film/Television. As a producer of events, she produced both the 40th and 50th Anniversaries of ‘It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at the Cinerama Dome for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and The Egyptian Theatre as well as the 50th Anniversary of ‘Judgment At Nuremberg,” and the 40th Anniversary Celebration of “Guess Whose Coming To Dinner?.” As well as the Stanley Kramer Centennial Celebration Opening night and three month long Retrospective both at UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theatre. She has also introduced her late husband’s films and is a fixture on film panels, with Stanley Kramer films, as well as her own as a film historian. When the Tribeca Film Festival honored Stanley Kramer’s first film “So This Is New York” as part of their annual Restored and Rediscovered series, established by Martin Scorsese and restored by Film Foundation, Karen took the stage with Mr. Scorsese to introduce the film and answer the Q and A. Karen Sharpe- Kramer established her own KNK Productions, Inc. in1992 along with her daughter actress producer /activist Katharine “Kat” Kramer, and she also co-produces the international cinema series “Kat Kramer’s Films That Change The World.” Karen is the only sanctioned authority on Stanley Kramer, and controls the Stanley Kramer Library and Legacy. Karen Sharpe-Kramer is also a longtime member of the Producer’s Guild Of America, as well as SAG-AFTRA and the Television Academy as well as other guilds and organizations. In Stanley Kramer’s quote in his autobiography, he states about Karen Sharpe- Kramer: “As for Karen Kramer, what can I say? She has been everything and meant everything to me. I didn’t produce a piece of film during our thirty years of marriage to which she didn’t make positive contributions. This is not just a nod of Tribute, it is a bow to talent and responsibility far beyond the norm. I am fortunate to have her.” Karen has received numerous awards as a producer and for keeping the Stanley Kramer Legacy alive. In 2017, she received the “first” UNITY Award from the Women’s Image Network from the WIN Awards. She accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for the late Sidney Poitier from the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and the organization has since established the prestigious Karen and Stanley Kramer “Social Justice” Award during awards season. Karen Sharpe-Kramerc has several projects in development, including a stage adaptation of Stanley Kramer’s “High Noon” slated for Broadway and theatrical productions. Karen Sharpe-Kramer is the Board Chair of “Forget Me Not” Juanita Moore Productions, a non-profit to recognize Black pioneers in film and entertainment.
