Mandell "Hinks" and Elaine Fantle Shimberg
Mr Shimberg is Chairman of Shimberg-Cross Company. Since the early 70's, Mandell "Hinks" Shimberg has been active as a producer in London's West End Theatre and in both Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre. Elaine Fantle Shimberg is the author of more than a dozen non-fiction books. The Shimbergs are major supporters of education and the arts in the Tampa Bay Area.

John Gale, O.B.E. and Lisel Gale
"When Hinks and Elaine Shimberg, Lisel and I first discussed the idea of the BRIT Program in the last century little did we anticipate the success it has turned out to be. With the additional financial help of Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Dan Doyle, the program has now become an established annual event and is the envy of many universities in the U.S.A. and even some conservatories!

The original aim of the founding members was to bring the expertise of the British Classical Theatre to students at the University of South Florida (USF) from leading actors and directors working in the London Theatre, Television, and Film. It was essential to be a practical course with hands on master classes and we are delighted to have brought so many distinguished artists to USF over the past ten years. This year is no exception and we are pleased to welcome Sir Donald Sinden, Keith Baxter, Sheridan Morley, Matthew Francis and Stephen Wrentmore who keep up the tradition of passing on their considerable knowledge to the students."