Kara has recently graduated from art school along with her five best friends. She is a small town girl who has set out to conquer Chicago one photograph at a time. With a heart of gold and a knack for falling up stairs, at any given moment she’s surviving on almond butter straight from the jar, planning a fulfilling life of love and adventure with her cat, or seeing the world through her camera lens. She wants the world to see what she sees. She fears that she won’t find balance.

Played by Kelsey Jorissen

Kelsey Jorissen hails from Cottage Grove, Minnesota. She has been making movies since the age of seven when she recreated Grease in her garage with a VHS camcorder. She graduated with a BFA in Acting from DePaul University's Theatre School in 2011. After graduation she collaborated on a number of films projects with DePaul film students as well as finished her first feature film SANCTUARY. Alongside film she has worked as a professional stage actress, touring nationally with Griffin Theatre Company. Alongside acting she works as a freelance photographer and runs her own small business at Kelsey Jorissen Photography. She aims to live a fulfilling life of adventure and mayhem with her beloved cat Evie. So far so good.
Brad, Kara's coworker, is also a native to the rumble and the rust of Chicago. He definitely has memorized the lyrics to every musical written in the 20th century, don’t even try and challenge him. Armed with a quick wit and a serious addiction to dance parties, he spends his non existent free time singing his heart out to those willing to lend an ear and drinking embarrassingly large gin and tonics. He wants the world to listen. He fears never finding stability.

Played by David Wesley Mitchell

David Wesley Mitchell is a Chicago-based actor primarily working in theatre. Recent credits include: Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors with Awkward Pause Theatre, Big Love and The Boy in Black with Chicago Fusion Theatre, Marat/Sade and Titus Andronicus with The Right Brain Project, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Stinky Cheese Man (and other fairly stupid tales) [National Tour] with Griffin Theatre, as well as work with Pride Films and Plays, Underscore, Wayward Productions, Livewire, and Hobo Junction. He will be seen this holiday season in Light Opera Works' production of The Merry Widow.
Clarissa, Kara's bestie from college, is a west coast transplant who doesn’t take shit from anyone. Just because there is a flask of whiskey in her purse at all times doesn’t mean she’s a lush. As equally in love with the stage as she is with her boyfriend, she puts the sass in class. Though she be but little, she is fierce. She wants to light up the stage. She fears not being able to have it all.

Played by Giselle Vaughn

Giselle began acting professionally at the age of ten and has performed Off-Broadway, worked with Broadway In Chicago, NightBlue Performing Arts Company, Emerald City Theatre, Drury Lane Oak Brook, Theatre Hikes, Theatre Building, Explore Theatre, American Girl Place and toured the country with Griffin Theatre Company. She was also featured in the National Geographic film “Madness In The White City”. Giselle earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Many thanks to Kelsey for this opportunity.


Cavin, Kara's wingman from art school, is an east coast hipster who wears plaid like a second skin. He can be found reciting Keats or Poe in random alleyways, drinking fair trade coffee in dark corners, or unearthing his masterpiece of a manuscript in the recesses of his studio apartment. He wants the world to hear him. He fears not achieving all that he has set out to do.

Played by Mike Hamilton

Mike Hamilton graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theatre performance.  He then moved to Chicago and fell in love with it.  Stage credits include The Neofuturists, The Building Stage, Griffin Theatre Company and others, though he has only just begun to explore work for the camera.  He very much looks forward to further explorations.  Thanks to Kelsey for her unfaltering drive and passion.  And a big thanks to the crew and cast for working through all of this.  Nothing but love. 
Eliza, Kara's best friend from home, is a true blue Minnesotan who is trying her hardest to adjust to the concrete and cacophony of the city. Aside from her inability to navigate the CTA and deep seeded hatred for small talk , she enjoys three ice cubes in her glass of chardonnay, impeccable graphic design, and giving people the side eye. She wants the world to know she is capable of taking risks. She fears that she won’t survive away from home.

Played by Callie Stephens

Callie Stephens had a BLAST filming the first season of The Dreamers and made some true friends in doing so.  Since moving to Chicago in September of 2011, Callie has been lucky enough to film quite a few shorts and features and a couple of television shows.  Some of her favorites include Chicago Fire, Lifelines (pilot written by Nikola Jajic), When the Lights Go Out (written/directed by Craig Deering), Drinking Buddies (written/directed by Joe Swanberg), and In Between Engagements (co-staring Armande Assante)....and of course The Dreamers!  Callie also Assistant Directed her first short this past spring entitled Happy Hour (written/directed by Allen Murphy)  Thank you so much for supporting us dreamers throughout this whole journey.  It has been quite a year :)
Jackson, Clarissa's boyfriend, is Chicago born and bred. He loves his iced coffee with cream and is a hard core Tracy Lett's enthusiast. Jackson also knows all of the choreography to all of the Rihanna music videos. Ever. He wants to make the world laugh and smile. He fears he will never be truly comfortable with who he is.

Played by Michael Bartz

Like Jackson, Michael is a Chicago native. Michael attended The Theatre School at DePaul University and received his BA in Theatre and Television Writing from Columbia College Chicago. He was also trained through the comedy writing program at Second City. As an actor, Michael has worked with many theatre companies in Chicago including Next, The Side Project, Strawdog, Redtwist Theatre, as well as 2 years touring the country with Griffin Theatre's LETTERS HOME and STINKY CHEESE MAN, where he met Kelsey.  He is currently writing for an upcoming web series CLARK & BELMONT and is also thrilled to join the writing team for Season 2 of THE DREAMERS!