AMA KUWONU (Viola, she/her)

Ama Kuwonu is over the moon to make her Oak Park Festival debut and thrilled to reunite with director Peter Anderson for this production! Originally from Lomé, Togo, Ama recently earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Roosevelt University. Her previous roles include Ms. Gibbs in Our Town, Delia/Sweetback in SPUNK, and the Farmer’s Wife in Mother Courage and Her Children. Outside of theatre, Ama enjoys dancing, running, and exploring new passions. Illyria here we come!

EVAN OZER (Duke Orsino, he/him)

Evan is grateful to be making his professional theatrical debut at OPFT. He is a Jewish actor from New York. Recent theater credits include Monster (The Creature) and Lysistrata (Magistrate) at DePaul University and Hamlet (Hamlet) at The British American Drama Academy. Recent film credits include MORE (Chicago Int’l Film Fest) and the NY Emmy-nominated production of Rising Stars (Solo Monologue). In addition to acting, Evan was the assistant director of the Jeff Award-Winning World Premier of Gods and Monsters and recently was commissioned to create original content for the new streaming app WatchLucid. He is a proud graduate of the Acting program at LaGuardia High School (Spirit Award Winner) and The Theater School at DePaul University and he is a National YoungArts Winner in Theater. Evan is extremely grateful for his teachers, friends, and family that have loved him into consciousness. IG @evanozer

MADISON KIERNAN (Olivia, she/her)

Most recently seen in Montana Shakespeare in the Park’s Measure for Measure and The Three Musketeers, Madison is a proud graduate of University of North Carolina School of the Arts. madisonkiernan.com.

JOSH CARPENTER (Malvolio, he/him)

Josh is delighted to return to OPFT after playing Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet last summer. Other Chicago area credits include The Winter’s Tale directed by Robert Falls at Goodman Theatre and readings with Shakespeare Project of Chicago and TimeLine Theatre Company. Regional: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Arden Theatre Company, American Shakespeare Center, Delaware Theatre Company, Theater at Monmouth, Miami Theatre Center, Montgomery Theatre, The Growing Stage, Gretna Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre Studio, and Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia, where he also directed his adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper. Josh is a Northwestern grad, Oak Park resident, and teacher at Pritzker College Prep in Chicago. Much love to Mattie and Ruby. joshcarpenter.net

ELIJAH NEWMAN (Feste, he/him)

Elijah is thrilled to return to OPFT, where he played Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet last summer. Theatre credits include: The Seagull (Steppenwolf), Berlin (Court), Measure for Measure, Three Musketeers (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks), As You Like It (Forest Park Theatre), Twelfth Night (Odd’s Bodkins). TV/Film: Chicago Med (NBC), Debaters (Full Spectrum Features, Official Sundance FF Selection). Education: BFA from University of Illinois at Chicago, L’École de Philippe Gaulier (Etampes, France), Éolia (Barcelona, Spain). Elijah would like to thank his family, friends, and fantastic fiancé Madelyn for clowning with him 24/7. elijahnewman.com.  

JULIA ROWLEY (Maria, she/her)

Chicago theater credits include: Romeo & Juliet (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Translations (Writer’s Theatre), Macbeth (Invictus Theatre Company), Hamlet (Red Theater), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (The Gift Theatre), Airness (Citadel), Blue Stockings (Promethean Theatre, Jeff Nomination: Best Ensemble). Film/TV credits: Chicago Med (NBC), South Side (HBO), neXt (Fox), The Killer (Netflix). She is a graduate of The Black Box Acting Academy, Second City and CIC improv, and Art of Acting Studio Los Angeles. “Thank you for coming out to support Oak Park Festival Theatre. You’re my favorite audience. Yes, you there. I’m so grateful you’re here.”

KEVIN THEIS (Sir Toby, he/him)

Kevin is a longtime veteran of Oak Park Festival Theatre. He first appeared in Austin Gardens in “Falstaff” in 1990, and has since either appeared in or directed at least seventeen productions for OPFT.  He directed “Henry V,” “Robin Hood,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and “The Fair Maid of the West,” among others and his favorite roles include Benedick in “Much Ado,” Salieri in “Amadeus,” Henry Higgins in “Pygmalion,”  Prospero in “The Tempest,” and the title role in “Richard III.”  He last directed “Winter’s Tale” in 2022, and understudied Friar Laurence/Lord Capulet in our 2024 production of “Romeo and Juliet”. Kevin has also worked with the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Irish Theatre of Chicago, Next Theatre, Peninsula Players, and CT20 Ensemble, and has narrated over 300 audiobooks

NOAH LASH (Sebastian, he/him)

Noah is THRILLED to be returning for Oak Park Festival Theatre’s 50th season with immense gratitude. Previous OPFT credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Acting Apprentice/Demetrius U.S, performed). Other credits include The Swan (Bill U.S., performed) with Theatre L’Acadie, Is God Is (Scotch), and All’s Well That Ends Well (Henri Dumaine) at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Noah is a graduating senior in DePaul’s Theatre School Class of 2025 and a proud YoungArts Honorable Mention winner in Theatre. When not on stage, you can find him riding his longboard, eating just about anything, and exploring different corners of the city. He would like to thank his teachers, friends, and family for their endless support—he can’t wait for this wild ride!!! IG @_Noahlash

J CODY HUNT (Sir Andrew Aguecheek U/S Malvolio and Sir Toby, he/him)

Recent credits: Macbeth/Tybalt in Four Short Plays by Kate Abruzzese (OPFT); Macbeth in Macbeth (NIU) directed by Peter Andersen. Chicago credits: Low-Hanging Fruit (Fearless Fiction); Lost in Time (Magnified Gift). Regional: Jesus in JESUS, Joseph in Miracle of Christmas (Sight & Sound Theatres); Backwoods Bluegrass Band Guitarist in I’ll Fly Away, Lead Vocalist in Old Time Gospel Radio Hour (Servant Stage Theatre); Josiah for President (Blue Gate Musicals); Unto These Hills and the World Premier of Larissa FastHorse’s Cherokee Family Reunion (Mountainside Theatre); Th’ Burning (ArtPlay Birmingham). J Cody is a SAFD trained stage combatant and Fight Director. MFA in Acting (Northern Illinois University). Thank you to Elena, Emerson, and Ezra for their endless support. jcodyhunt.com

NATHAN HILE (Antonio, US Duke Orsino, he/him)

Nathan is ecstatic to be making his debut at OPFT. He is a recent Graduate of DePaul University where he got his BFA in Acting. Theatre credits include: Household Spirits (Theatre Wit), Vulcan Sleeping (Greenhouse Theatre), and Accidental Election of an Anarchist (Athenaeum Theatre). He would like to thank his cat, Mimi, for being a little sweetie pie.

KASON CHESKY (Fabian, He/Him)

Kason is an actor based in Chicago, Illinois, and an ensemble member at Gwydion Theatre Company. Recent credits include Warren in This is Our Youth (Gwydion Theatre Company), Gus in The Dumb Waiter (Gwydion Theatre Company), Kevin in Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Northwestern University), and Micah in The Totality of All Things (Redtwist Theatre), for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award. He is a senior at Northwestern University. Thank you to Peter, everyone at Gwydion, and Mom and Dad.

RYAN VU (U/S Sebastian, he/him)

Ryan is so excited to be back at OPFT! Ryan is Chicago born-and-raised actor, having recently graduated with his BFA in Acting at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Ryan understudied Paris in OPFT’s 2024 production of Romeo and Juliet. Other credits include Ernst in Spring Awakenings (Lazy Susan Theatre Co.), George Gibbs in Our Town (CCPA), Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night (Modern Archaic Theatre Co.), and Oliver in As You Like It (CCPA). If he’s not on stage, you can find him at an EDM concert, on the volleyball court, or sitting in a coffee shop, writing skits he posts on his Instagram: @rhyan_mem. Ryan gives his biggest thanks to his #1 cheerleaders: Steve, Steph, and Kimmy!

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