PURCHASE TICKETS FOR APRIL 26TH ABOVE

April 25TH SOLD OUT

DOORS OPEN:  6:30PM

SHOW STARTS: 7pm

APRIL 27TH SOLD OUT

DOORS OPEN: 2:30PM

SHOW STARTS: 7PM

James Gordon (Charlie ) is an international award winning author and poet, champion storyteller and acclaimed actor. He has appeared in episodes of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Quick 2 Judge, and Netflix's Monster.

Sandy Gulliver (Holly) is delighted to return to Dreamers YOLO after playing Becky in 'The Truth Hurts' for the UWW Fest. Previous theater performances include roles in Old Ringers by The Second Act Players and as Grandmother Silberhaus in Dancenter North's The Magic of The Nutcracker. She also has nearly 100 IMDb film credits. Her agents include Lori Lin's in Milwaukee and The Talent Network in Chicago. 

Jeff Broitman (Robert) has written, directed, taught, and performed theater for over 30 years in New York City, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Recent credits include The Day After (Lucid Theater) performed here at Dreamers YOLO; The Language Archive (Edge of the Wood) for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award; Accidental Election of an Anarchist (Athenaeum); and The Diary of Anne Frank (YPT). Jeff is pleased to be a part of the Gray Matters festival. Thanks to Davette; Judi; Akeyah; Joyce; and William Hardin.

William Hardin (Henry) is a Chicago based actor who is most recognized for his role in Chicago PD on NBC. Over the last several years, he has worked on numerous commercials, independent films, and theatre productions. He received his on-camera training at The Second City.

Joyce Porter (Eleanor) is happy to return to the stage after focusing on film for the last several years. She is a SAG-AFTRA actress and voice over talent with an MA in theater from Northwestern U. Her first career was as a professor of theater, film, humanities and speech. She is the founder of the Oak Park IL Film Festival and author of Mastering Senior Life: Thriving and Surviving. Highlights of her acting onstage are roles with Oak Park Festival and Redtwist theaters. On camera highlights are an appearance on Better Call Saul, a couple of Com Ed Commercials and winning 11 Best Actress Awards for the microfilm “Stairs.”

Maggie Cain (Debra) is a Chicago-based actor. Stage credits include The Glass Menagerie, Mary-Arrchie Theatre (Broadway World Chicago award for best ensemble); Men Should Weep (Jeff Award for Best Play), Kin, Frindle and Stage Door, Griffin Theatre; May the Road Rise Up, Factory Theatre; Pornography and Moment, Steep Theatre; Good Boys and True, Stop Kiss, and Book of Days, Raven: Thirteen Days and Lovers, City Lit Theatre; Barney the Elf, Other Theatre and Pride Films and Plays, Bechdel Fest, Broken Nose; as well as Steppenwolf, Goodman, NorthLight and Chicago Dramatists theaters. TV Credits include Chicago Fire, A Man’s Woman; Webisodes: Watching Game of Thrones with Your Mom, Every Kurse Begins with Kay. She holds an MFA degree from Ohio University and is represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Julie Mitre (Ruth Ghost) is delighted to be part of Gray Matters. Most recent theater credits include The Tragedy of Macbeth (Witch#2/Doctor), Ripcord (U/S performance), Beau Jest, Jest A Second, and Murderers (Oil Lamp Theatre), After The Blast (Broken Nose Theatre), Black Ballerina (Fleetwood-Jourdain), The Clean House (Crabapple Productions) and The Oldest Profession (Open Door Rep), and Old Ringers (2nd Act Players; James Downing Theatre). She began performing as a dancer with Midwest Dance Theatre, Indianapolis. Film and TV credits include Chicago Med (NBC), The Visits and Give Up The Ghost (independent Short), Broiled (Hike Creative), Ballot Box (Studio 22), Sex Drugs and Rocking Chairs (Columbia Thesis) and web series, Thanks A Latte (Hike Creative). Julie has performed the role of Grandma in The Ruth Page Civic Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker for the past 12 years.

Bobbie O’Connor (Vanessa) returns to the stage in Mother Lovin’, finally fulfilling her dream of becoming a lawyer—even if only on stage. Bobbie has performed previously at the Den, Dandelion, and Spartan theaters, as well as Second City. Favorite TV and movie roles include Boss, Market Value, Selling Stupid, and Hannah Free. She credits the Covid-era web series What Did Clyde Hide? with introducing her to other isolated actors and bringing about the Gray Matters “coalition." She is a proud SAG/AFTRA member and is represented by the Shirley Hamilton Agency.

Andrea Conway-Diaz (Sharon) is thrilled to be cast in Life Sentence. She was previously seen as Louise, in August Wilson's Seven Guitars, at City Lit Theater, which won the Jeff Award for Best Production. Other favorite City Lit performances include Sen. Barbara Jordan: Voice of Good Hope (for which she was nominated for a Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Lead Actor), and Vivian Rademacher in Emma's Child. She also appeared as Kishawn in Have You Ever?, by Leonora Brown at Baer Theater, and as Mrs. Alvarez in A Tale Out of Fishwater, Dreamer's YOLO Theater. Andrea is an ensemble/board member of Playground Chicago, participates in Evanston Writer's Bloc and has been featured in several independent films such as Angels in the Rye and The Good News. Andrea holds an MA in Written Communication from National Louis University, and a  BA in Communication/Theater from Loyola University. She is represented by Gill Talent and The Talent Networks. Andrea thanks her family for their continued support!

Carlos Correa Jr. (Bert) grew up in the heartland of the Midwest, where he learned early on that every person has a story worth telling. For over 30 years, he has been blessed to share his life with the love of my life, creating a home filled with laughter, love, and shared dreams. He is a proud father to three beautiful daughters and now a devoted "Papa" to three amazing granddaughters—with one more on the way—each of whom brings new light 

Michael Hora (Harrison) is thrilled to be back for his third production with DavJasFran Entertainment, having previously appeared in Punk Grandpa and the UWWFest with the children's show written by Amy Crider. His company, Famous in the Future, just finished the 3rd annual A Judy Christmas at the Den Theater. Michael has worked with multiple theater companies throughout the Chicago area, and would like to dedicate this performance to the love of his life, DB.

Maura Shea (Suzanne) is thrilled to be included in Gray Matters, playing the role of the free-spirited Suzanne.  Maura has been involved with local community theatre for the past several years, and most recently appeared in the Kirkwood Players production of Alice in Wonderland.   

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (MONOLOGUE PARTS 1,2 & 3)

Judi Schindler is thrilled to see her plays come alive at Dreamers YOLO Theatre. A former public relations and marketing consultant, she began acting professionally 20 years ago. Some 15 years later, she added playwriting to her resume in an effort tell stories for and about people her own age. She is grateful to Davette Franklin for making this vision a reality.

Davette J. Franklin is a producer, director, playwright, actor and singer. From the age of three, she loved being on stage and entertaining. In high school she became passionate about acting and noted that most agencies and casting directors were not interested in actors or performers who do not have extensive resumes, She formed her producing company, DavJasFran Entertainment and the Dreamers YOLO Theatre, to address this issue and give new and under-represented artists a stage, an audience and the opportunity to create great work. She has Produced over 10 shows and even got mentioned in the Chicago Sun Times for her annual Halloween play festival, Unnatural Weird Wonder Festival (UWWFest) as "things to do for Halloween". She is often called the "Millennial Hero" and "Queen of YOLO,” all names she loves.