Once at Writers Theatre

Kajsa Allen

Kajsa Allen is excited to join the cast of Once in her debut performance at Writers Theatre. She is an 8-year old actor/model who resides in Winnetka, IL. In 2021, Kajsa had the pleasure of playing “Lily” in Griffin Theatre’s production of Solaris. Her repertoire includes numerous castings as a print model and commercial actor. Her love and enthusiasm for performing arts continues to grow as she is an energetic, focused, funny, and motivated 3rd grader. She holds a great passion for figure skating, dance, theater, singing, and playing violin and piano. Kajsa would like to thank her teachers from Actors Training Center for their guidance and her agent at Talent x Alexander for believing in her.

Viva Boresi

You might recognize Viva as the little girl who saved the town bookstore in Toyota's holiday campaign or as the girl from the Brookfield Zoo ads. This marks Viva's professional stage debut, and she'd like to thank everyone involved in Once, her incredible team at Stewart Talent, her family, and her bunnies Cinna and Roo for their love and support. YouTube Channel: Viva Boresi

Elisa Carlson

Elisa Carlson is thrilled to be sharing the stage with such a stellar ensemble of talented humans! Elisa is a 20-year veteran of the piano bar scene, both in Chicago and around the world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance and theater from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Chicago credits include: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theater), Once (Paramount Theatre), Peter and the Starcatcher (Metropolis Performing Arts Center), One Man, Two Guvnors (Court Theatre), Pop Waits (Neo-Futurists), and American Idiot (The Hypocrites). www.elisacarlsonmusic.com

Yuchi Chiu

Yuchi Chiu is excited to make his Writers debut! Chicago credits include Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor Theater); The Chinese Lady (u/s)(Timeline Theatre); Drive-in to the End of the World (Sideshow Theatre); It’s a Wonderful Life (American Blues Theater); The Miscellany (The Passage Theatre); Baked! The Musical (Underscore Theatre). On-screen credits include Chicago Med (NBC); BJ’s Mobile Gift Shop (Sundance Film Festival). A Northwestern alumnus, Yuchi is a graduate of and teacher at Black Box Acting Studio and is proudly represented by DDO Artists Agency.

Matt Deitchman

Matt Deitchman (Music Director/Eamon/u-s Guy) returns to Writers Theater, where his previous credits include: Into The Woods (Jeff Nom.), Trevor, Parade, The Hunter and the Bear. Matt is a music director, actor, composer, orchestrator/arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose Chicagoland area credits include work with: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Paramount Theater, Marriott Theater, Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Children’s Theater, Mercury Theatre, Griffin Theatre, The Hypocrites, and many others. 
 NYC music credits include: Broadway — A Strange Loop, Almost Famous. Off-Broadway — Trevor (Disney+ and Original Cast Recording). Add'l select regional: South Coast Repertory (CA), Asolo Repertory Theatre (FL), Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Ogunquit Playhouse (ME). Proud Northwestern University Grad. For Ma and Da. For more: mattdeitchman.com / IG: @mattydeitch

Elleon Dobias

Originally from Colorado, Elleon's work as an actor, musician, and writer has taken her to a variety of venues, and she is grateful to return to the creative community in Chicago. A few favorite credits include Haymarket (Underscore Theatre), Indecent (Victory Gardens), Once (2019 National Tour), A Christmas Carol (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), Smoke on the Mountain (Portland Stage), Macbeth and Henry V (American Shakespeare Center), and a season with the Chicago Metropolitan and the Lakeshore Symphony Orchestras. Aside from performing, you can find Elleon hiking, drawing, and trying spicy versions of regular things.

Matt Edmonds

Matt Edmonds was last seen at Writers Theatre as the Wolf/Steward in Into the Woods. He’s been performing in Chicagoland for a little over 10 years, though it has been a bit, as this is his first return to the stage since Covid hit. Favorite work includes: Murder For Two (Marriott Lincolnshire & Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Forever Plaid, Pump Boys & Dinettes (Theatre at the Center), Ragtime (Griffin Theatre), Death of a Salesman, All-American (Redtwist Theatre), Rent (Theo Ubique), and The Last Five Years (Metropolis Performing Arts Center). Regionally, Matt’s performed in Next To Normal (TheatreSquared) and Twelfth Night (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival). He is a company member at Redtwist Theater, and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent.

Jordan Golding

Jordan Golding is thrilled to make his Writers Theatre debut in Once. He also performs regularly with Chicago’s Drunk Shakespeare. You can find Jordan's original music on all music streaming platforms or at an open mic near you. Follow him on IG @thejordangolding to see what he’s up to next!

Lucas Looch Johnson

Looch is a French/American actor, musician and is excited to make his Writers Theatre debut. Some of his favorite past projects include: Theatre- Routes (Remy Bumppo), August Wilson’s Fences, Reapers on Woodbrook Ave (American Blues Theatre), Hundred Days, Cruel Intentions (Kokandy Productions), Peter and the Starcatcher (Big Noise Theatre), Murdering Macbeth (Fearless Fiction). Commercial- Starbucks (Big Spaceship), Carvana (ArtClass), Sour Patch Kids (York Productions). TV-The Big Leap (FOX) Lacy’s Christmas Do-Over (Golan Productions), Games for Children (M&C Productions), and Write B!tch (Snack Shack Productions). He holds a BFA from The Chicago College of Performing Arts and would like to thank his family and friends here and overseas for the endless love and support. Spread Love. DDO Artists Agency. @LucasLoochJohnson.

Matt Mueller

Matt Mueller Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Ron Weasley. Tour: The Play That Goes Wrong - Chicago. Regional: Taming of the Shrew, Julius Caesar, Merry Wives (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Man of La Mancha (Marriott Theatre). Peter and the Starcatcher (Drury Lane Theatre), Shining Lives (Northlight Theatre), Shakespeare in Love, Rhinoceros, Hero: the Musical (Asolo Repertory Theatre), Dial “M” for Murder (Indiana Repertory Theatre), The Mousetrap (Milwaukee Rep), Peter and the Starcatcher, Sense & Sensibility (Lyric Repertory Company), multiple productions at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, and multiple productions of Woody Guthrie’s American Song. Television includes: Chicago Justice. Film includes: Popper Baxton’s Sickly Stew.

Liam Oh

Liam Oh returns to Writers Theatre after appearing as Gabe in Next to Normal. He was most recently seen in The Notebook at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. He is a recent graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in theater and a YoungArts winner 2018. Represented by Stewart Talent and One Entertainment. Lots of love to Mom, Dad, Charlie, Ted, Reilly, and Violet.

Dana Saleh Omar

Dana Saleh Omar is a creator and proud child of immigrants. Broadway National Tour: The Band's Visit, Off-Broadway:  We Live in Cairo (Joe’s Pub). Regional:  Frankenstein: A Ghost Story (composer/musician, KC Rep.), We Live in Cairo (American Repertory Theatre), Pirates of Penzance  (Pasadena Playhouse), HMS Pinafore (Actor's Theatre of Louisville), All Our Tragic (The Hypocrites), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  (People’s Light),  One Hundred Dresses  (Chicago Children’s Theatre), TV:  Chicago PD. Thanks to my family, bubs and friends for their endless support.

Ron E. Rains

Ron E. Rains returns to Writers Theatre, having previously performed in Death of a Streetcar Named Desire and Incident at Vichy. Ron is best known for his role as Peter Rosenthal, head film critic for The Onion. Ron regularly works at Chicago’s premier theaters, notably appearing in The Goodman Theatre’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL for 11 seasons. Most recently, Ron was in Paramount’s production of The Sound of Music. He’s been seen on TV in Chicago Med and Chicago Justice as well as in numerous independent films, including the supernatural horror, Brooklyn ’45 premiering on Shudder in March. Playing the role of DA with this director and this cast at this theatre is the realization of a ten year long aspiration, thanks to the fabulous Ms. Spelman. Ron is a proud union member of SAG-AFT

Bethany Thomas

Bethany Thomas is thrilled to be back at Writers Theater (Into The Woods, A Moon For The Misbegotten). Other credits include: The Goodman (A Christmas Carol); Chicago Shakespeare (The Tempest), Porchlight Music Theater (Marry Me A Little), Court Theater (Porgy and Bess), Milwaukee Rep (The Color Purple, Ragtime), Teatro ZinZanni, The Fly Honeys, and Northlight Theatre for her Jeff-winning performance as Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas in the one-woman tour-de-force, Songs For Nobodies. A 3Arts awardee in music, BT tours and records with Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Bros), and recently released two original albums- Material Flats (with Tawny Newsome) and the solo BT/She/Her. Find Bethany's music on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify and everywhere else. @bethanyt80

Bridget Adams-King

Bridget is thrilled to be a part of the wonderful company of Once at Writers Theatre. Recent credits include: Ensemble and Maureen u/s in RENT (Porchlight Music Theatre), Claire/Rachel in Queer Eye: The Musical Parody (The Second City); Jeff Nominated for Lucy Parsons in Haymarket (Underscore Theatre Company); Jeff Nominated for Kate in If/Then (Brown Paper Box Co.); Pamela in Head Over Heels (Kokandy Productions); As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Christmas at Pemberly (Northlight Theatre). Bridget was also seen on an episode of Chicago PD. Always sending love and gratitude to Nathan and my family for their endless love and support. Represented by Gray Talent Group. @badamsking www.bridgetadamsking.com

Harper Caruso

Harper Caruso (she/her) is an actor, musical director, and comedian in Chicago. You can find her at the Newport Theater clowning around with her friends from the Hot Clown Company, as well as generally being a social media influencer. She likes long walks on the beach and HATES compliments ;) IG: @harpercaruso

Tim Kidwell

Tim Kidwell is delighted to be making his Writers debut. A recent arrival to the Windy City, Tim’s been privileged to appear in Dante 360 (Athenaeum Theatre), I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard (First Floor Theater), Deirdre of the Sorrows (City Lit Theater), as well as work with Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre and most recently A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theatre. Regional credits include Much Ado About Nothing (St. Louis Shakespeare Festival), The Madwoman of Chaillot (Stray Dog Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (New Jewish Theatre) and A Long Trip (Sketch - Int’l Arts Festival - London, England). His award-winning song “The Long Goodbye Waltz” was featured in the production Breathe With Me at Filament Theatre. TV and film credits: Chicago PD, Sirens, Crisis, Killer Set, Amelia 2.0, Breathe. He is represented by DDO Artists. TimKidwell.com.

Ben Mathew

Ben Mathew is excited to be making his debut at Writers Theatre! He last performed at TimeLine Theatre as the understudy for Upton Sinclair in the world debut of CAMPAIGNS, INC. Prior to TimeLine, he graduated with a BFA in acting from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (go Illini!). At Illinois Theatre, he appeared in TITUS ANDRONICUS (Lucius), EURYDICE (The Nasty Interesting Man/Hades), and ORIGIN STORY (Dex) at the University of Illinois, as well as various roles in WINTER’S TALE in Bloomington, IL at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. He could not be more excited to continue his post-graduate, professional career with Writers!

Alina Jenine Taber

Alina Taber is thrilled to be making her return to live theater with Writers Theatre! Recently, Alina has spent time nurturing her film/tv/modeling career, most notably playing Lexi Olinsky on Chicago PD (seasons 1-4). As a vocalist and songwriter, Alina has performed all over the city and beyond in performances such as: "Ella Fitzgerald: Live at Mr. Kelly’s" at City Winery, "Patrick Lives On Anti-Gun Violence Benefit with Cast of NBC’s One Chicago Shows" (2016-2019), and "BB King’s Birthday celebration with Shirley King" (daughter of BB) at Motor Row Brewing. When Alina isn’t acting and making music, she’s restoring vintage clothing and making bolo ties with beetle specimens. You may also spot her legs in a Veet advertisement on Instagram.

Jennifer Vosters

Jennifer is an actor, musician, and recent Chicago transplant who is excited to work with Writers for the first time. Regional credits include American Players Theatre; the Utah, Notre Dame, and Flagstaff Shakespeare Festivals; and Lyric Repertory Company. A Wisconsin native, she has also performed with Next Act Theatre, Forward Theater Company, Children's Theater of Madison, and Third Avenue PlayWorks, among others. She is proudly represented by DDO Artists Agency. www.jennifervosters.com