JC is the Casting Director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and a freelance stage director. He has cast productions out of Chicago and New York over the past decade including the Broadway productions of Linda Vista, Pass Over, and The Minutes. As a freelance director his credits include The Nerd, The All Night Strut!, Murder for Two, Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, The Doyle & Debbie Show, Forever Plaid (Milwaukee Rep), Waiting: A Song Cycle (The World’s Stage/Cherry Lane, NYC), and Murder for Two (Merrimack Rep). He holds an MFA in Directing from Western Illinois University, and is a proud member of SDC and the Casting Society of America.

Chad Eric Murnane, CSA (he/him) is a Casting Director at Binder Casting. He has worked on a myriad of theatre, film, and television projects for the past decade. Prior to joining Binder in 2018, Chad was mentored by industry veteran, Lisa Fields, and served as her casting associate in Los Angeles for three years. Among his current/upcoming projects are national tours of My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and Tootsie, Asolo Rep's ’22/23 Season, Ogunquit Playhouse ‘22 Season, Sister Act (Paper Mill Playhouse), Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed), Did You See What Walter Paisley Did Today? (La Mirada), among others.

Tim Heller is a professional voice actor (newly) based out of Austin, TX. He spent the past 6 years in New York City as an actor working in theaters around the world and voicing projects for TV, radio, podcasts, video games, animation, and more! He may or may not have also performed at ATC as Javert in Les Miserables back in the day. Tim brings his classical acting background and sense of play to his work and can’t wait to share it with you all! Connect with Tim though all social platforms @TimHellerVO or through his website www.TimHellerVO.com.

Adam Belcuore is currently the Managing Producer of Chicago’s Tony Award winning Goodman Theatre. Since beginning his career at The Goodman in 1998, Adam has worked with some of the nation’s top directors casting and producing a wide array of projects including classics, new works, and musicals. As a Casting Director, some of his favorite projects include: Robert Falls’ productions of King Lear starring Stacy Keach and The Iceman Cometh, starring Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy, as well as Mary Zimmerman’s production of Disney’s The Jungle Book, Calixto Bieto’s Camino Real, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s production of The Long Red Road, Chinglish by David Henry Hwang and many, many more. As a freelance casting director, he has had the pleasure of working with many other great theatres such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Repertory Company, The Alley Theatre, Northlight Theatre, About Face Theatre Company, and Chicago Children's Theatre. As a former director, he received the first SDCF Mike Ockrent Fellowship, through which he assisted Harold Prince on Steven Sondheim’s musical Bounce. He subsequently assisted Mr. Prince on Hollywood Arms, the autobiographical play by Carol Burnett and Carrie Hamilton. He is a founding member of Serendipity Theatre Collective, a Chicago storefront theater dedicated to original work, and served as Artistic Director until 2005. His STC directing credits include: 365day/365 plays, by Suzan Lori Parks; Delores Dogan, by Courtney Shaughnessy; Alcatraz by Al Letizia; and Travelogue, by Zac Richardson. During his tenure he conceived of and produced 2nd Story, a hybrid storytelling, wine, and music event and eventual festival that has since become the company’s new name and primary practice. He currently serves on 2nd Story’s advisory board.

Ally Young-Price is an actor based in LA. With her credits ranging from stage productions (Fancy Nancy, Seussical, Grease etc) to her more recent credits in Television (Dollface, Grown-ish, Rutherford Falls, etc.) She is also an alumni of ABC networks 2019 Discovers showcase. In her spare time you can find her binging the latest marvel TV shows, or playing her nintendo switch! Oh and playing her little pup Winnie 😉

Bob Mason has been casting director at Chicago Shakespeare Theater since 2000, where his classical credits cover more than two-thirds of Shakespeare’s canon, including numerous productions with Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Other notable CST productions include a quartet of Stephen Sondheim musicals (Pacific Overtures, Sunday in the Park with Geoge, A Little Night Music and Passion ) directed by Gary Griffin, and several more . Prior to casting, Mason enjoyed a 15-year career as a Jeff Award-winning Chicago actor and singer, and has been a visiting educator for the School at Steppenwolf and Northwestern University.

Brandon Logan (He/Him) is a New York City based Director, Audition Coach and Teaching Artist. Brandon began his career as an Actor, appearing in both the 1st and 2nd National Tours of Broadway’s The Book of Mormon where he garnered glowing reviews for his turn as “The Doctor”. He has also performed at NYC's Signature Theatre, The St. Louis MUNY, The Arvada Center, Florida Studio Theatre, The Marriott Theater and The Olney Theater Center. Having found success on the stage, he is now committed to using his gifts to guide the next generation of Musical Theater performers toward realizing the fullness of their potential both on and off of the stage. Brandon is currently on faculty at both The Broadway Collective and Unity Stage Company (NYC) where he directs and teaches College Audition Prep, Musical Theater Vocal Performance and Acting Techniques. In addition, he has previously taught and/or directed for Northwestern University, The Amy Murphy Studio and Applause New York (Artistic Director). Brandon received his BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he was awarded the Laurie Beechman Award for Vocal Excellence in Musical Theatre. Proud member of AEA.

Dave Gonzalez is a fight director and Certified Teacher of both Stage Combat and the Alexander Technique. A long-time member of the Society of American Fight Directors, his Chicago-area credits include Lookingglass Theatre, American Theatre Co, Filament Theatre, Piccolo Theatre, The Plagiarists, Roosevelt University, Elmhurst College, and Innervation Dance Cooperative. Dave has also taught workshop classes across the country, including New Mexico, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, and Florida. In addition, Dave is the co-founder and co-coordinator of The Left Turn at Albuquerque, the only SAFD stage combat workshop in the southwest. As a stage combatant, he has performed with Chicago's Lyric Opera on multiple occasions, including a featured fight in the 2014 and 2018 productions of Il Trovatore, and most recently the new 2021 production of Verdi’s Macbeth, directed by Sir David McVicar.

David Singer is a filmmaker/musician/writer/composer based in Chicago. His first feature film, Imperfections, was released in 2017. The Hollywood Reporter said, “A shaggy charm permeates David Singer’s comic thriller about an aspiring actress who gets more than she bargained for upon taking a job as a diamond courier… The dialogue is frequently fast and funny... Imperfections marks an impressive debut effort from its tyro director.” His previous short film, Advantage: Weinberg, was selected for the prestigious Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Recently, his digital series “Incoming” won the 2019 Austin Film Festival Script Competition.

Deborah has worked on a multitude of projects during her 28-year career in casting including Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, The French Dispatch, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and Tim Burton's Dumbo, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, as well as James Gray’s Ad Astra and Armageddon Time. Last year, she was delighted to work on M. Night Shyamalan’s feature Knock at the Cabin which premiered in February as well as enjoying working on his many other features over the years. Other recent projects include covering the US in helping cast the lead child in the newest addition to the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast X which is in theatres now. She loved working on Marielle Heller’s newest feature starring Amy Adams which is now in post-production. Most recently, she cast Visiting Birdie which she also co-directed with her daughter, Hadley. Directing and educating actors has always been her passion and it was wonderful to take her zeal into this beautiful project. Coming up, Deborah looks forward to casting Remedial Ed being directed by the Canadian director and writer, Carl Bessai, with whom she has worked for many years.

Jane Drake Brody is a Master Acting Teacher, former Casting Director and actress. She will be a recurring character (Spring '21) in the new HBO series, “Somebody, Somewhere” starring Bridget Everett. She has authored two books, The Actor's Business Plan: A Career Guide for the Acting Life (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Acting, Archetype, and Neuroscience (Routledge) 2016.

Jennifer Rudnicke and Mickie Paskal have been casting directors in Chicago for the past 15 years. They have cast for hundreds of commercial clients both regionally and nationally. Past film credits include Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale and the Express starring Dennis Quaid. Other credits include Road to Perdition, Fargo, What Women Want, Amityville Horror and Stranger Than Fiction. They have worked with film directors such as Michael mann, Robert Altman, the Coen Brothers, Sam Mendes, Marc Forster and Harold Ramis.

Julie Schubert is a New York based, Emmy-Award winning Casting Director. She has casted numerous projects including the hit Netflix shows House of Cards and Daredevil. Other casting credits include Confessions of a Shopaholic, Footloose, Devil Wears Prada, and The Departed.

Kaitlin has recently relocated to Chicago from New York City where she worked for Tara Rubin Casting for 11+ years. Some favorite projects with Tara Rubin Casting include the future production of The Outsiders for the Goodman Theatre, Because of Winn Dixie at Goodspeed Opera House, Unmasked: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber at Paper Mill Playhouse, the national tour of Les Miserables, Falsettos (Broadway and tour), Marie, Dancing Still at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Flashdance, the Musical (National tour), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Paper Mill Playhouse and La Jolla Playhouse.) She worked on the Broadway productions of The Phantom of the Opera, King Kong, Prince of Broadway, Disaster!, Aladdin, Gigi, Les Miserables, Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Promises, Promises and the Off-Broadway productions of The Other Josh Cohen, #DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora and Delia Ephron. Kaitlin won a 2016 CSA Artios award for casting Clinton, The Musical and has also been nominated for her work at Bucks County Playhouse, the touring and Broadway productions of Falsettos, and the Broadway production of Prince of Broadway. Kaitlin hails from Southern California and studied Dramatic Art and American Studies at University of California, Davis. She lives in Lakeview with her husband and daughter.

Kirsten Fitzgerald is a Chicago based actor and the Artistic Director at A Red Orchid Theatre. She was most recently on stage at A Red Orchid in Harold Pinter’s The Room and the world premiere of Pilgrim’s Progress by Brett Neveu. Other recent acting credits include the world premieres of Tracy Letts’ Mary Page Marlow and Bruce Norris’ The Qualms both at Steppenwolf Theatre and the world premiere of Appropriate by Brandon Jacob Jenkins at Victory Gardens Theatre. Other stage credits include Clybourne Park, The Elephant Man, A Streetcar Named Desire (Steppenwolf). Mud Blue Sky, Butcher of Baraboo, The New Electric Ballroom, Abigail’s Party, Pumpgirl, Weapon of Mass Impact, Mr. Bundy, The Sea Horse and more (A Red Orchid Theatre) and work with The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Goodman, Shattered Globe, Remy Bumppo, Plasticene, Prop, Next, Circle Theatre, Apple Tree, Famous Door, Defiant Theatre and more. Her Television credits include The Exorcist, Sirens, Chicago Med, Chicago Justice, Chicago Fire, Underemployed and ER. Kirsten is a Member of Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA. She attended The University of Kansas-BA and received her MFA in acting from The University of Iowa.

Marisa Paonessa is originally from Albany, New York and graduated with a BFA in Acting from State University of New York at Fredonia. She moved to Chicago in August of 1999 to start her career. Marisa has worked in promotional advertising, as a casting associate and tour manager for Chicago theatre. After realizing her passion for helping Chicago actors, she interned at a talent agency and was soon hired on as an agent. Her former clients urged her to start her own agency, and in January 2010 she opened her own doors. Marisa believes in cultivating personal relationships, giving individual attention and helping guide her talents' careers. When Marisa isn't working she's most likely on the phone with her mother.

Mary Hollis Inboden also joins the Professional Summer Intensive as a special industry guest and acting coach. Mary Hollis Inboden is an LA-based actor and writer. Her most recent credits include HBO hits such as The Righteous Gemstones and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and starring alongside Annie Murphy in AMC’s critically acclaimed series, Kevin Can F*ck Himself. Her adopted city is Chicago where she got her start performing in Chicago’s energetic storefront theatre scene. A founding member of The New Colony Theatre, she helped create and starred in The Warriors, Calls to Blood (NYC Fringe Fest Award winner, 2010) and 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (available in print from Samuel French, Inc.). Mary Hollis has been teaching at ATC for almost ten years and couldn’t be prouder of her association with the school and Carole Dibo. She resides in Los Angeles and her home state of Arkansas.

Matt Miller is a Chicago based director and teacher. As a commercial director, his recent work includes campaigns for TD Ameritrade, Crumbl Cookies, America’s Best Eyeglasses, Crest, and Lowe’s. Miller started his career as a casting director and in addition to casting hundreds of commercials over the years, his notable film credits include The Amityville Horror, Stranger Than Fiction, Public Enemies and The Break-Up. He was also the co-creator and an executive producer on the TV Land original series Teachers. Stalk him properly at mattmillerdirect.com.

Mickie Paskal and Jennifer Rudnicke have been casting directors in Chicago for the past 15 years. They have cast for hundreds of commercial clients both regionally and nationally. Past film credits include Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale and the Express starring Dennis Quaid. Other credits include Road to Perdition, Fargo, What Women Want, Amityville Horror and Stranger Than Fiction. They have worked with film directors such as Michael mann, Robert Altman, the Coen Brothers, Sam Mendes, Marc Forster and Harold Ramis.

Nick Blaemire is an actor, writer, musician and teaching artist based in Brooklyn. He was recently nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Jon in the Off-Broadway Revival of Tick, Tick...Boom! Broadway: Cry-Baby, Godspell. Off-Broadway: Dogfight (2ndStage), Found (Atlantic), The Black Suits (SPF at the Public). TV: Rise, The Good Wife, The Big C. He wrote the music and lyrics to Glory Days (book by James Gardiner), which premiered at Signature Theatre in DC before moving to Broadway at the Circle in the Square (OBCR through Ghostlight Records). It has now had over 40 productions all over the world. Other writing work includes the original musicals A Little More Alive (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kansas City Rep, Barrington Stage, film option); Soon (Signature Theatre, Stephen Sondheim Young Artist Citation) and Fallout (with Kyle Jarrow, in development with John Legend's Get Lifted Entertainment). Nick has also released two pop albums: The Hustle and the Ampersand EP, both available on iTunes and Spotify. He is a member of the faculty at The Performing Arts Project (performingartsproject.com).

Scott Dare is a physical theatre and circus artist working as a director, deviser, choreographer, and educator. His passion for movement has taken him around the world to study clown, ground acrobatics, aerial arts, yoga and more. He currently coaches at the Actors Training Center, Actors Gymnasium, and Circesteem. Outside of Chicago he has performed and directed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Phoenix, and London. Locally he has collaborated with Teatro Vista, The Actors Gymnasium, Filament Theater, Mudlark Theater, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, American Theater Company, Imaginez Ensemble and Theater Unspeakable where he is a devising ensemble member. He holds a Master’s degree from Royal Holloway, University of London in Contemporary Performance and a Black Belt in traditional martial arts from the ISKA. See more at scottjdare.com

Stephen Schellhardt has been acting, directing, choreographing, producing, casting, and teaching professionally for over a decade. He has received three Equity Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and a Barrymore Award for acting, as well as Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for his directorial and choreographic work. In Chicago, Stephen has worked with the Marriott Theater, Writers Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Chicago’s Lyric Opera, The Goodman Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, and more. National Tours include Altar Boyz. Stephen has taught students of all ages at Ohio Northern University, Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University, among others, and has been on faculty at Northwestern University’s Cherub Program for over ten summers. Previously, he served as Casting Director and Associate Producer at Writers Theatre and was recently appointed Artistic Director at Boho Theatre and is a full-time lecturer of musical theatre at Northwestern University and director of the annual Waa Mu Show.

Co-founder of Runaway Train, Chicago-based director and producer Alex Thompson produced the features "King Rat" and "Our Father", and directed the features "Brother Sister" and "Saint Frances" this past year. Short films and pilots he produced and/or directed have premiered at festivals around the world. He has a BA from DePauw University and an MFA in directing from DePaul University. Alex has taught at DePauw University, Actor's Training Center and the Green Room.(www.runawaytrainchicago.com)

Jeff Lupetin has been a national voiceover talent for over 30 years and a teacher for 16 years. Check out his voice content on JeffsVo.com and his teacher tips on Ultimate Voiceover.com. In the past, Jeff has voiced nationally for Off products and Coors Extra Gold, winning the Fairfax Cone award for excellence. His character work for Raid as one of the infamous Raid bugs and as “I am Hungry” for McDonalds ran nationally. Locally, Jeff was the Lotto Wizard for the Illinois Lottery. Older gamers know Jeff as the voice of Gillian Seed in the Hideki Kojima video game, Snatcher. He still can be heard on the “Twilight Zone Radio Show” nationally. Jeff graduated from Northwestern University with a Radio-TV-Film degree and is also an adjunct professor at Columbia College, teaching Voice for Animation. He is available for coaching as well. He looks forward to helping start your career!! He can be reached at jefflupetin@gmail.com.

Kelly O’Sullivan’s theatrical credits include BLKS, This is Modern Art, The Internationalist, Honest, Good Boys and True, The Crucible, & 100 Saints You Should Know (Steppenwolf), Men on Boars, Bruise Easy, The Humans, Columbinus, & The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (American Theater Company), The Seagull (Goodman Theatre), The Skin of Our Teeth (Remy Bumppo), Bad Jews (Theatre Wit), Hesperia (Writers Theatre), My Wonderful Day – Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play (The Wilma Theatre), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Northlight Theatre), Jon (Collaboration), Mr. Marmalade – Jeff Nomination for Principal Actress in a Day (Dog & Pony Theatre). TV CREDITS: The Mob Doctor, Battleground, Sirens (2 seasons), The History of Us (pilot for CBS). FILM CREDITS: In Memoriam, Jessica, Sleep With Me, Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party, Brother Sister, & Saint Frances. Kelly is a graduate of Northwestern University & The School at Steppenwolf, & she is a recipient of a 3Arts Make a Wave Grant & a Princess Grace Fellowship for Theatre.

Jimmy Callahan has been a working actor for 20 years, filming over 100 commercials and several TV/Film projects including: Blue Bloods, The Jim Gaffigan Show, CHI PD/MED/Fire, and more. A long-time cast member of the famed Flanagan’s Wake show, he started off his career on-stage touring the Midwest doing standup comedy, and studying/performing at The Second City, iO, and ComedySportz. Also a teacher, Jimmy has helped students improve their on-camera technique at ATC, The Green Room, The Second City, and his own Callahan Workshops in LA & NYC. Since 2016, he has been one of four Guinness Brewery Ambassadors, in charge of engaging, educating, and entertaining people across 15 states with presentations of all sizes; from one-on-one to crowds of thousands. Jimmy has honed his unique public speaking ability through his extensive acting background, and now helps coach colleagues on their own presentation skills.

Bio coming soon

Matilda Szydagis returns to ATC following wrapping Season 5 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (as Zelda). She will be leading scene study with our Professional Summer Intensive students. Matilda was born and raised in Chicago (southside, Baby!) by her Polish immigrant family. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in anthropology. She then moved to New York City, attended AMDA, took commercial classes at Weist Barron and TVI Studios, and then studied Meisner under renowned acting teacher and coach JoAnna Beckson.

ATC Alumn Nathan Salstone, currently appearing in the TONY-award winning revival of Sweeny Todd will be working with our Jr Musical Theatre Intensive students exploring scene work of Into the Woods Jr. Nathan originated the role of “Andrew Lynch” in the world premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Knoxville (Asolo Rep, Original Cast Album). Credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway OBC), Hadestown (First National Tour), What We Talk About… (The Old Globe, World Premiere), Rags (Goodspeed). BFA, Carnegie Mellon University.

Jane Lanier will be teaching a Fosse Style Masterclass to our cast of Pippin! Ms. Lanier has appeared on Broadway in On Your Toes (dir George Abbott), Sweet Charity (Dir Bob Fosse), Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls (dir Jerry Zaks), Jerome Robbins' Broadway, and Fosse (Dir Richard Maltby Jr and Ann Reinking). She danced with John Travolta in the film Michael and her last TV appearance was a guest star on Glee. Her director/choreographer credits include: directing Valerie Harper in a stage reading of the new play Bad Dog, choreographing the independent film Not Your Time starring Jason Alexander and Valarie Pettiford, and her choreography for The Wild Party garnered her LA Weekly and Backstage Garland Awards, Ovation, and NAACP Award nominations. Recently she choreographed Chicago at Drury Lane Oakbrook and received a Jeff Award nomination for Best Choreography and recently choreographed A Chorus Line there as well.

Virginia Anello, CSA (she/her) is in her 15th year with O’Connor Casting Company, currently as a Casting Director and Partner. Prior to casting, she graduated from Columbia College Chicago and freelanced in production in Chicago and Los Angeles for many years before deciding she wanted to work with actors on the daily. Landing at O’Connor Casting, she worked her way up from intern - working alongside David O’Connor and many talented casting and session directors - to partner with David and Jessica Lyons. As a Casting Director, she strives to represent Chicago’s strong and competitive talent market to production companies and advertising agencies, while also providing talent with as many employment opportunities as possible. She likes nothing better than seeing working actors make a solid living doing what they love. She will also quote movies whenever possible and geek out over all the nerd things. All of them.

Jess Lyons, CSA (she/her) has been in the entertainment business her entire life. She began her career as a performer and holds a degree in Theatre from Roosevelt University’s CCPA. Now in her 8th year with O’Connor Casting, Jess is a Casting Director and Partner in the business alongside David O’Connor and Virginia Anello. Her favorite part of this job is being in the room with talent, making discoveries together, and creating a comfortable space for people to work. Prior to landing this dream job in casting, Jess’s favorite resume credits include singing some Doo-Wop with the acclaimed @lovettesgram, managing a worldwide tour for a Johnny Cash Tribute Artist, and traipsing around the country as the Associate Producer on a Live Game Show featuring Bob Eubanks (the original host of The Newlywed Game) and Erik Estrada (of CHiPs). When she’s not directing sessions and being a boss lady, she’s watching true crime documentaries, or doing her favorite job to date - wiping up baby drool.

Brian Plocharczyk is a Chicago based actor, voiceover, fight choreographer, and educator. As an actor Brian’s television work includes Chicago Fire, Empire, The Chi, Shameless, and 61st St. Film work includes Christian ( Dottie, Stunt Coordinator/ Fight Choreography) and He Sends Rain (Kevin). In his stage work Brian has been twice nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Best Actor Award. Other work includes commercials for Delaro, McDonalds, Bayer, Dairy Queen, Meijer and Overstock.com Brian’s voice can be heard in a number of commercials, corporate and medical training videos, and even occasional animated projects or video games. Some of his most notable voice jobs have included He-man, C-3PO and Spiderman. When not pursuing his acting Brian is part time adjunct faculty at Columbia College Chicago(voiceover), The Acting Studio Chicago( Voiceover and On Camera), and teaches Shotokan karate as well. Check out www.brianplo.com for more info.