Meet the Cast of WAITING FOR GODOT, Now Playing on Broadway

Keanu Reeves - Estragon

As a remarkably eclectic actor, Reeves has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment through the diverse roles he has played. He is best known for his starring roles in The Matrix and John Wick franchises. Reeves made his comic book writing debut in 2021 with BRZRKR, a twelve-issue and graphic-novel limited series distributed through BOOM! Studios, which quickly became the highest-selling original comic book series debut in over 25 years. In 2023, he returned to the big screen in John Wick: Chapter 4, which became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. His other recent projects include The Matrix Resurrections, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Always Be My Maybe, Toy Story 4,and the video game Cyberpunk 2077. He recently completed filming Good Fortune directed by Aziz Ansari and Outcome directed by Jonah Hill. Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theater productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles.

Alex Winter - Vladimir

is a director, writer, and actor who has worked across film, television, and theater. Entering show business as a child actor, with co-starring roles on Broadway in The King & I and Peter Pan, Winter came to prominence in movies such as Warner Bros’ hit The Lost Boys and the wildly popular Bill & Ted franchise. As a filmmaker, Winter’s narrative features include the cult classic Freaked, for 20th Century Fox and Fever, for Lionsgate, an official selection in the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.

Michael Patrick Thornton - Lucky

 is an actor, improviser, writer, director, and co-founder of Chicago’s acclaimed The Gift Theatre. He recently starred alongside Jessica Chastain in the Broadway revival of A Doll’s House, directed by Jamie Lloyd and adapted by Amy Herzog, for which Michael’s performance as Dr. Rank earned him the 2023 Actors’ Equity Foundation Joe A. Callaway Award for best performance in a classical play in New York. Currently, Thornton stars in Obliteration, written by frequent collaborator Andrew Hinderaker and featuring Cyd Blakewell, now running at Chicago’s Revival Theater after a sold-out run at Steppenwolf. Thornton made his Broadway debut in Macbeth with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, directed by Sam Gold. On screen, Michael has acted opposite Jessica Chastain, J.K. Simmons, Hilary Swank, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, and Demián Bichir. Notable recent credits include The Savant, Black Rabbit, “NCIS,” “Away,” “The Good Doctor,” “61st Street,” and “Let The Right One In.” For two seasons, Thornton starred on “Private Practice” opposite Audra McDonald. As a playwright and director, he has developed original works for stage and radio, as well as directed numerous world and national premieres, most notably David Rabe’s Good For Otto. His long-running improv show You & Me debuted at Second City, has enjoyed residencies at iO and Steppenwolf, and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by making its New York debut at Lincoln Center. Thornton is the author of two novels: A Low Hum, and Janitor. Michael uses a wheelchair because walking is dumb. @michaelpatrickthornton.

Brandon J. Dirden - Pozzo

Brandon previously appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning productions of Take Me Out; Skeleton Crew, for which he received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations; All the Way (playing Martin Luther King, Jr. opposite Bryan Cranston); and the revival of August Wilson’s Jitney (appearing as Booster). Other Broadway credits include Clybourne Park, Enron, and Prelude to a Kiss. Off-Broadway, he appeared as Boy Willie in The Piano Lesson, for which he won OBIE, Theatre World, and AUDELCO Awards; The First Breeze of Summer and Day of Absence, all at Signature Theatre; the world premiere of Detroit ’67 at the Public and Classical Theatre of Harlem; Peter and the Starcatcher at New York Theatre Workshop; and as Brutus in TFANA’s production of Julius Caesar. On screen, he has appeared in “The Good Wife,” “For Life,” “Evil,” “The Big C,” “Public Morals,” “Manifest,” “The Get Down,” “The Accidental Wolf,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Quad,” the miniseries “Mrs. America,” and four seasons of “The Americans” as Agent Dennis Aderholt. He will soon be seen in Katori Hall’s series “P-Valley.” Dirden has directed numerous plays, including the revival of Steve Carter’s Eden at Yale Rep and most recently Arthur Miller’s The Price at Two River Theater. He is an Associate Arts Professor at Tisch Grad Acting at NYU, a volunteer at the 52nd Street Project, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He earned his B.A. in Mathematics from Morehouse College and an M.F.A. in Acting from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For Dad, of course.

Eric Williams - A Boy

Eric made his Broadway debut as ‘Little Michael’ in MJ The Musical. Other Broadway: Gypsy. Other credits: Stepp Stuart’s talent Camp Spotlight and A Soulful Christmas. Eric thanks his mom and dad for everything and agents @cesdtalent and managers @langellistm for all their support! Instagram: @eric_theentertainer.

Zaynn Arora - A Boy

Zaynn is making his Broadway debut in Waiting For Godot! National Tour: Peter Pan (Michael Darling). Voiceover: “Wonder Pets” (Nickelodeon). Commercials: CVS, Crest, Doordash, Dr. Praeger’s. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Jamie Lloyd, Carnahan Casting, Michele at Take 3 Talent, Shannon at Rebel Creative Group, and the entire Waiting for Godot team! Instagram: @zaynnarora.

Jesse Aaronson - Understudy for Vladimir/Lucky

Broadway: Leopoldstadt. Off-Broadway: The Play That Goes Wrong (New World Stages), Cellino v. Barnes (Asylum). Television: “Law & Order: SVU.” Other theater: Yen (Raven Theatre, Chicago), A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Theatre). Proud graduate of the University of Michigan. @iced__americano.

Franklin Bongjio - Understudy for Estragon/Pozzo