Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories from Detroit 

Ashley M. Lyle
Director

Ashley M. Lyle is thrilled to be the director of this deeply fascinating piece of art created by the Extra Mile playwrights. Some of her credits, as an actor, include Who Will Sing for Lena (Matrix Theatre, Detroit); Ain't Misbehavin’: A Fats Waller Musical (Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Walled Lake); Mom's Boyfriend is an Ass (Obsidian Theatre Festival, Detroit); and Nollywood Dreams (Open Book) where she won Best Actor in a Play (comedy) by EncoreMichigan.com. Ashley previously directed Dance with Me, one OBTC's 2022 Driveway Theatre shows. As an anti-racism activist within the Michigan theater community, it is truly an honor and a privilege to help bring to life Detroit's own Black history. #FreeCongo #FreeSudan #FreePalestine.

Kiah Manthei
Stage Manager

Kiah Manthei (she/her) most recently co-directed Catch Me If You Can for the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center (DYPAC). She stage managed Open Book’s productions of Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, How I Learned to Drive and Nollywood Dreams. She has also assistant directed Legally Blonde: The Musical (DYPAC), and has stage managed various other plays and musicals in the Metro Detroit area, including My Dad Was Fifteen Feet Tall (Outvisible Theatre Company), Princess Whatsername (DYPAC), The Turn of the Screw (Outvisible Theatre Company), and Xanadu (DYPAC). Kiah graduated from Wayne State University in 2019 with a Master of Social Work. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, going to concerts, reading, and spending time with loved ones!

Harley Miah
Lighting Designer

Harley Miah (Lighting Designer) is a freelance artist for theatres, nightclubs, concerts, and festivals across the country, as lighting designer for IKO Global Productions. He has been Open Book’s resident lighting designer since its inception, earning Wilde Awards for Best Design – Lights for Open Book's production of RED in 2014, and THIS RANDOM WORLD in 2022. Harley's work has recently been seen at The Ringwald, Tipping Point, Detroit Public Theatre and the newly opened Inspired Acting Company in Walled Lake. Harley also designs lights for "Detroit Presents: Live from Marygrove" on Detroit Public TV, which airs Wednesdays at 7:30 on WTVS and St George's Academy in NYC. Harley spends spare his time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, traveling, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast MI. He hopes you do the same.

Ashley Marie
Co-Scenic Designer, Builder, Painter

Ashley currently serves as the Facility & Operations Manager at the Allen Park Center for the Arts, as well as co-owns Spectrum Staging, an independent technical theatre company. With over 16 years of theatrical experience, Ashley considers herself a jack of all trades and is versed in directing, costuming, choreography, lighting, properties, set construction, production management, stage management, and more. She has an extensive dance background, and was a competitive ballroom dancer at her alma mater, Michigan State University ('12). In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her partner Valerie and their menagerie of animals.

Valerie Compau
Co-Scenic Designer, Builder, Painter

Valerie is a self-taught Broadway World Award winning lighting designer, and is knowledgeable in a multitude of technical theatre elements. She has over 7 years of experience in lighting alone, and even more in general stage work. Her creative designs have been credited with a number of local theatre companies, both professional and amateur, including Shakespeare in Detroit and Obsidian Theater Festival, as well as various community theatres and high schools. Although Val specializes in lighting design, she has also been known to run soundboards, design sets, stage manage, and direct. She has a passion for teaching young minds the technical aspects of theatre and the importance of the backstage crew. Val co-owns Spectrum Staging, an independent technical theatre company, with her partner Ashley.

Cheryl Zemke
Costume Designer

Cheryl Zemke is a Multi Award winning Fashion Designer, Artist, and Owner of C. Creations Custom Sewing & Design. Her store, Cheryl Zemke Boutique, is located at 2934 Biddle Ave. in downtown Wyandotte. The boutique sells her handmade fashion and art, as well as “Artfully Chosen” fashion and gift items. She also does custom sewing and alterations on site. Zemke was born and raised in southern Michigan, received a B.S.B.A. from Lawrence Technological University, and earned an Associate Degree in Merchandising at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design, graduating as class Valedictorian. Zemke has been a part of the Open Book team since 2017, this show will mark her 16th as a costume designer. She particularly enjoys costuming, saying it “allows me to use many of the skills that I have acquired from classes in Fashion History.” Contact Cheryl Zemke via her email czcreations@hotmail.com, website www.cherylzemke.com, Facebook or Instagram

Tim Pollack
Properties Designer

Tim Pollack is a theatre artist based in south eastern Michigan. He earned an Associates in Theatre from Henry Ford Community College before going on to get his BA in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Tim has served as the artistic and technical director at the Cabrini Monarch Theatre Troupe for eight years, selecting, directing, producing, and designing lights, set, costumes, sound, and props for 14 productions. Recently, you may have seen Tim’s work as a designer in “Lovebird Jamboree” at Planet Ant theatre, “Return to the Forbidden Planet” at Penny Seats Theatre Company, and "The Book Club Play" at The Inspired Acting Company. Tim worked as constructionist on the feature film “9 Parts of Desire, as well as Prop Department Head on the feature films “A Girl Like Him” and “House of Ka.”