The Years Between Us at The Lodge Performing Arts Center

(she/her) is a Chicago Actor thrilled to be collaborating with Jonathan James Productions to tell this incredible Liana Sonenclar tale. Recent theatre credits include the Emcee in “Disasterpiece” (Mosaic Theatre Collective), and Thea in “Spring Awakening” (Point2 Productions), nominated for Best Musical at the Lou Awards. She graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, receiving her degree in Musical Theatre. CCPA credits include #7 in “The Wolves” and Harper in the film, “Another Room In Your Head”. She also writes music, and performs with the tribute band, Absolute Cranberries. Kate would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support, the astonishing team at Jonathan James Productions, and Liana for this incredible experience! IG @katecvengros

is thrilled to be part of The Years Between Us as Josh, bringing his love of acting and performance to this compelling play. A passionate performer with a background in theater, film, and music, Julian is proudly represented by Talent X Alexander. One of his most memorable performances was as Johnny Cade in The Outsiders at the Athenaeum Center, earning praise from Chicago Theatre Review, which called him “the heart and soul of this production,” while Playbill noted, “even green, the depth of his talent is visible.” Other favorite roles include Carter in the student film Dolonia, Andrew in Jagged Little Pill, Jim Quinn in Prodigal Son, Hades in Hadestown, Two-Bit Mathews in The Outsiders, and Aaron Samuels in Mean Girls. His voiceover work includes Saint Vincent de Paul with The Merry Beggars. Julian is excited to share the stage with this wonderful cast and creative team and is grateful to be part of a show that celebrates empowerment and self-expression. He thanks his family, friends, mentors, acting coach Jonathan James, and everyone at Talent X Alexander for their unwavering support.

is so excited to make her debut with Jonathan James Productions! Some of her other roles include The Artful Dodger in Oliver! (Westmont Performing Arts), Fiddler/Ensemble in Fiddler on the Roof (Holy Guardian Players), Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Janice) with Theatre on the Hill, and Twelfth Night (Curio) with Albright Theatre. Michaela is very grateful to be able to work with her cousin Jonathan for the first time with this production and to her family and friends for all their continuous love and support!

has performed on stage in productions such as Prodigal Son (Alan Hoffman), Murder on The Orient Express (M. Bouc) and Guys and Dolls (Rusty Charlie) among others. John has also starred in a number of short films with Columbia College. He is elated to be able to act in, design the set, and build the set for his son’s directorial debut. He is also eternally grateful to his son, Liam, for destroying his life and giving him something much, much better.

is a writer based in New York City. Her work has been presented with New York Stage and Film, The New Group, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Hearth, Dorset Theater Festival, Firehouse Theatre Company, Out of the Box Theatrics, Omeleto, Film Shortage, Minute Shorts, Hobart Literary Magazine, and more. Her short film “To Be Honest” played at thirteen festivals across the country and scored four Best of Fest wins. Liana studied English at the University of Chicago and has a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME).

is making his directorial debut with The Years Between Us. He has been recognized for his outstanding acting by Playbill for his performance as Ponyboy Curtis in Jonathan James Productions and The Home Creative’s production of The Outsiders at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, a performance that also won him a nomination for "Best Actor" by Broadway World Chicago. Liam also played Austin Schmitt in Prodigal Son twice, once with JK Entertainment and once with Elgin Theatre Company. This show has been such a great experience with everyone in the cast and team. He hopes everyone enjoys Liana’s amazing writing in this show as much as he does!

is an Elgin-based vocal/acting coach, director, music director, and producer with over 30 years of experience in theatre. JJ coaches clients all over the country and world, recently returning from coaching vocalists in Kurdistan. Jonathan served as the Youth Vocal and Acting Coach for Broadway in Chicago’s Children of Eden at the Cadillac Palace. Jonathan’s favorite directing credits include The Outsiders (The Home Creative), Prodigal Son (JK Entertainment), and The Importance of Being Earnest (The Lodge Foundation). His favorite vocal directing credits include Hunchback of Notre Dame (Elgin Symphony Orchestra), Spring Awakening (P2P), and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (JK Entertainment). His favorite acting credits include Jonathan in tick, tick...BOOM!, John Proctor in The Crucible, and Fred in Present Laughter. Jonathan has produced and directed many theatre productions and two student films Dolonia with Jonathan James Studio and Locked In with Children’s Theatre of Elgin. Playbill published an exclusive article about Jonathan directing and producing The Outsiders at Athenaeum Center. Jonathan is the Executive Director and co-founder of JK Entertainment, co-founder of the Chicagoland Theatre Fund, and sits on the Board of Directors for The Lodge Performing Arts Center in Elgin.