fbpx
Casting Notices - Sign Up

Subscribe

This will add you to our general email list. To receive notices more tailored to you specifically, we recommend signing up for our Real People Division.

ABOUT

With over thirty years in the casting business, we’ve been meeting our clients' creative demands for decades. Constantly keeping things fresh and innovative.


Our excellent reputation is built on integrity, valuing our clients, a meticulous attention to detail, and our unique ability to deliver the best talent while saving productions money and headaches. We are experts in finding needles in haystacks and answering Hail Mary calls.


To ensure all of your casting needs are met, we also have a Real People Division.


Whether you’re a Creative or Producer who is familiar with casting or just starting out, give us a call. We’re always happy to walk you through the process, provide advice and do whatever we can to make your job easier.

MEET YOUR TEAM

A little history on each of us.

"Do you know who I used to be?"

- Zero Mostel, 'The Producers'

David O'Connor, CSA

David O'Connor, CSA

Owner / Director of Casting

David O'Connor, CSA

Owner / Director of Casting

David has cast for thousands of projects for the industry’s most respected directors, production companies and agencies. Helping him build this impressive body of work is his team of dedicated, creative and experienced professionals that are as devoted as he is to finding you the best cast for your project.


“Yeah. See, we plan ahead. That way, we don’t do anything right now. Earl explained it to me.”

– Kevin Bacon, ‘Tremors’

Virginia Anello, CSA

Virginia Anello, CSA

Partner / Casting Director

Virginia Anello, CSA

Partner / Casting Director

Virginia Anello, CSA (she/her) is in her 15th year with O’Connor Casting Company, currently as a Casting Director and Partner. Prior to casting, she graduated from Columbia College Chicago and freelanced in production in Chicago and Los Angeles for many years before deciding she wanted to work with actors on the daily. Landing at O’Connor Casting, she worked her way up from intern – working alongside David O’Connor and many talented casting and session directors – to partner with David and Jessica Lyons. As a Casting Director, she strives to represent Chicago’s strong and competitive talent market to production companies and advertising agencies, while also providing talent with as many employment opportunities as possible. She likes nothing better than seeing working actors make a solid living doing what they love. She will also quote movies whenever possible and geek out over all the nerd things. All of them.


“When you gotta go, you gotta go.”

- Jeff Goldblum, 'Jurassic Park'

Jessica Lyons, CSA

Jessica Lyons, CSA

Partner / Casting Director

Jessica Lyons, CSA

Partner / Casting Director

Jess Lyons, CSA (she/her) has been in the entertainment business her entire life. She began her career as a performer and holds a degree in Theatre from Roosevelt University’s CCPA. Now in her 8th year with O’Connor Casting, Jess is a Casting Director and Partner in the business alongside David O’Connor and Virginia Anello. Her favorite part of this job is being in the room with talent, making discoveries together, and creating a comfortable space for people to work.

Prior to landing this dream job in casting, Jess’s favorite resume credits include singing some Doo-Wop with the acclaimed @lovettesgram, managing a worldwide tour for a Johnny Cash Tribute Artist, and traipsing around the country as the Associate Producer on a Live Game Show featuring Bob Eubanks (the original host of The Newlywed Game) and Erik Estrada (of CHiPs). When she’s not directing sessions and being a boss lady, she’s watching true crime documentaries, or doing her favorite job to date – wiping up baby drool.


"Curse my metal body. I wasn’t fast enough.”

- Anthony Daniels, 'Star Wars'

Drew Johnson

Drew Johnson

Awesome Dude / Casting Associate

Drew Johnson

Awesome Dude / Casting Associate

Prior to joining O’Connor, Drew worked as an actor in Chicago for over a decade. He performed in contemporary plays, musicals, children’s shows, Shakespeare and more for theatre companies large and small, both in Chicago and regionally. On camera, Drew has appeared in numerous commercials and a couple of Chicago-based TV dramas on which he exclusively played guys who weren’t particularly good at making positive life choices. He earned an MFA from the University of Arkansas. Drew is a new dad, so he asks that you pretend to not notice the spit-up stains on his shirt.


RESUME

We don’t need fancy quotes from our clients touting how awesome we are. Our kudos come when clients keep coming back. And they do!

Ghosts of the Void / Jason Miller, Dir / 2021 Speakeasy Productions

Super Host / Andy Koeger, Dir. (short), 2021 Cool Adults

Hunter's Creed / Justin Jackola, Dir. / 2020 / Jjack Productions

To Pray / Martin Rodahl, Dir / 2019 / Picture North

Deep Woods / Steve Laughlin, Dir. / 2019 / Belle City Pictures

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (local casting) / Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Dir / 2018

Kill The Light / Mark Shimmel, Dir. / 2017

The Shepherd / Dallas Jenkins, Dir. / 2017

Untruth / Mark Schimmel, Dir. / 2016

Bad Alex / Brian Fox, Dir. / 2015

Kanzler / Frank Donnangelo, Dir. / 2015

Uncle John / Steven Piet, Dir / 2015 (*SXSW 2015 Premiere)

Bride of Frankie / Devi Snively, Dir. / 2015

Once We Were Slaves / Dallas Jenkins, Dir. / 2015

Happy Hour / Martin Rodahl, Dir / 2014

Animals / Collin Schiffli, Dir / 2013 (*SXSW 2014 /Award winning Feature) / 2013

The Two Thieves / Dallas Jenkins, Dir. / 2014

Just Like a Woman / Rachid Bouchareb, Dir / 2012

The Drunk / Paul Fleschner & William Tanoos, Dir. / 2011

Unsettled / Joselito Selderam, Dir / 2011

Life Lessons / Maria Finitzio, Dir / 2010

Taking Flight / Bethany Lape, Dir / 2009

Carpe Millenium / Eric Bednarowicz, Dir. / 2009

Holiday Baggage / Stephen Polk, Dir / Baggage LLC, 2008

The Booby Trap / Simon Pennekamp, Dir / 2008

The Professional Interview / Annie Price, Dir / A Little Loud, 2007

Sugar / Alex Beh, Dir / Black House Productions, 2007

Witches' Night / Paul Traynor, Dir / Hay Moon Inc., 2006

Bodega / Brian Billow, Dir / Buttermaker Productions, 2006

5/25/77 / Patrick Johnson, Dir / Moonwatcher Films, 2004

Lifelike / John Besmer, Dir / Double Dutch, 2004

The Trouble with Dee Dee / Mike Meiners, Dir / Cinemetro Films in Assoc. w/ Purple Rose Films, 2004

Openminds / Joe Sedelmaier, Dir / Sedelmaier Film Prod. (*2003 Sundance Film Festival, 2003)

Versus / Munier Sharrieff, Dir / Carpe Diem Films, 2002

Johnny Dodgeball / D.P. Carlson, Dir / Film Foetus, 2001

The Secret / Melinda Roenisch, Dir, 2000

Under the Bus / Ashby Richardson IV, Dir / Atom Bomb Productions, 1999

Postmortem / Keith Estrada, Dir / Brand X Films, 1998

Mugz / Peter Quigley, Dir, 1999

With a Family Like Mine / Keith Estrada, Dir / Brand X Films, 1998

I Do / Joe Scudiero, Dir / Cuz Films, 1999

Cold Night Into Dawn / Serge Rodnunsky, Dir, 1997

Brady Bunch / Betty Thomas, Dir / Paramount Pictures, 1995 (local casting)

Alt for Denmark / Snowman Productions, 2020 (Series Casting Director)

Divided We Fall / PBS Documentary, New Voice Strategies (Chicago Casting) 2018

Approach Alone / TV Pilot, (Netflix/Gaumont) Erik Crary, Steven Piet 2017

Alt for Norge / TV Norge Norway / Monster Entertainment, 2009 - 2018 Seasons 1-10 (Series Casting Director)

Alt for Danmark / SBS Broadcasting Denmark / Snowman Productions, 2012 & 2019 (Series Casting Director)

"3" / CBS / Magical Elves, 2012 (Chicago Casting)

Sons of Norway / Norwegian TV2 / Nordisk Film TV, 2012 (Series Casting Director)

100 Days of Summer / Bravo / Half Yard Productions, 2011 (Series Casting Director)

Screw'd / Craftsman, Web Series, 2011 (Chicago Casting)

So You Wanna Be a Designer / Kenmore, Web Series, 2011

Final Witness / ABC, (Chicago Casting) 2011

Forever Young / TV Land, 3 Ball Productions (Chicago Casting) 2010

The Fashion Show / Bravo, Left/Right Productions (Chicago Casting), 2010

Obsessed / A&E, Tijuana Entertainment, (Chicago Casting) 2009

Scream Queens / VH1, JNB Entertainment, (Chicago Casting) 2009

Ultimate Cake Off / TLC, Discovery Studios, 2009 (local search)

Chefs vs. City / Food Network, (Chicago Casting), Pie Town Productions, 2009

Opportunity Knocks / ABC Television, 3 Wall Productions, 2008

The Trek / Zip-Zag Productions, 2007

Top Design / Bravo (Chicago Casting), 2007

Boy's Life (Pilot) / TBS/TNT, 2006

Design On A Dime / HGTV / Pie Town Productions, 2005 & 2006

Designed to Sell / HGTV / Pie Town Productions, 2005 & 2006

Joe Schmo II / Spike TV, 2003

For Love or Money II / NBC, 2003

Cupid / CBS, 2003

Are You Hot? / ABC, 2003

Judge Mathis / Warner Bros, 1999, 2002-2003

Cannonball Run 2001 / USA, 2001

Survivor / CBS, 1999 (local search)

Young Americans (Pilot) / Columbia Tri-Star, 1999

America's Most Wanted / S.T.M. Productions (multiple episodes)

Budweiser

Burger King

Ace Hardware

Apple

Microsoft

Project Runway Promos

Walgreens

Southwest Airlines

Seattle's Best

Jimmy Dean

True Blood Promos

SnackCrate

Jennie O

Prudential

Swiffer

2016 Chicago Olympic Bid

Wrigley's Gum

CVS Pharmacy

Match.com

Purina

Dove

MasterCard

Fifth Third Bank

Nike

Pull-Ups

Walmart

DiGiornos

Presence Health

Verizon

MILK

U.S. Cellular

ESPN

Budweiser

Pampers

BMO Harris Bank

Lipitor

Tresemme

McDonalds

Sears

Humira

Eggland

AARP

American Airlines

Special K

Accucheck

Thunder Valley Casino

Johnsonville Sausages

Scott's Lawncare

Hallmark

Sperry

Crate & Barrel

Disney

Duluth Trading Col.

Enterprise

NFL/Hyundai

3M

AARP

AC Delco

Advocate Healthcare

Aflac

Alberto Culver FDS

Aleve

Allstate Insurance

Ally Bank

Altoids

Always

AMA

Amazon

American Airlines

American Family Insurance

American Lung Asssociation

American Standard

Ameritech

Ameritrade

Amtrak

Amway

Anheuser Busch

AOL

Apple

Applebees

Arby's

Art Van

Associated Bank

AT&T

Aunt Sue Honey

Autozone

Babybel

Bally Total Fitness

Bank Of America

Bayer Animal Health

Bayer Aspirin

Bayer Crop Science

Bermuda Tourism

Best Buy

Best Western

Big Ten

Bissell

Blistex

Blue Chip Casino

Blue Cross/ Blue Shield

Blue Rhino

BMO Harris

Bob Evans

Boniva

Boost Mobile

Botox

Breyers

Bud Light

Budweiser

Budweiser Select

Burger King

Busch Gardens

Butterball

Capital One

Captain Crunch

Career Builder

CarFax

Carmax

Carpet One

Carson’s

Castrol

Celebrex

Cellular One

Charbroil Grill

Chase

Chevrolet

Chicago Fire

Chicago Tribune

Chicago White Sox

Children's Mem. Hosp.

Chloraseptic

Choice Hotel

Church’s Chicken

Churchill Downs

Cialis

Cingular

Citibank

Citizen’s Bank

Coca-Cola

Coke Zero

Colgate

Colonial Penn

Com Ed

Community America Bank

ConAgra

Converse

Cooper Tires

Coors Light

Corona

Cracker Barrel

Craftsman

Crate & Barrel

Crayola

Culver’s

CVS Pharmacy

Deal or No Deal

Delta Airlines

Denny's

DeVry

DiGiorno’s

Direct TV

Discover Card

Discovery Channel

DISH Network

Disney

DNL- 7up

Dole

Dollar Rent-a-Car

DoubleTree Hotels

Dr. Pepper

DuPont

Duracell

EA Sports

Eckrich

Edge Shaving Gel

Efferdent Plus

Eggo Waffles

El Polo Loco

Enterprise

ESPN

Excelon

Experian

Exxon

Famous Daves

Famous Footwear

Farmers Insurance

Fed Ex

Fidelity Investments

Fifth Third Bank

First Alert

First USA Visa

Florida Gold O.J

Foot Locker

Ford

Fox Sports

Frontera

Fruit Of The Loom

Gatorade

Geico

General Motors (GM)

Gerbers

Gestiva

Glade

Goose Island

Gordmans

H&R Block

Hallmark

Hanes

Harley Davidson

Hartford

Head & Shoulders

Healthy Choice

Hillshire Farms

Honda

Hoosier Lottery

Horseshoe Casino

Humira

Hyatt

IAMS

IBM Centennial

Illinois Lottery

Infiniti

INTEL

Intuit

Iowa Lottery

Jeep

Jim Beam

Judge Judy

Just My Size

K F C

Kansas Lottery

Kelloggs

Kenmore

Kentucky Lottery

Kentucy Farm Bureau

Klein Tools

Kmart

Kodak

Komatsu

Kotex

Kraft

KY

LA Times

La-Z-Boy

Land Rover

Lap-Band

LaSalle Bank

Lexus

Liberty Mutual

Lipitor

Listerine

ll. Bureau of Tourism

Long John Silver’s

Loreal

Lowes

Luvs

Lycos

Lyrica

M&Ms

Makers Mark

Marshall's

Mastercard

Maytag

McDonald's

Meijer

Mercy Medical Center

MGD

Michelob

Michigan Lottery

Microsoft

Midas Muffler

Midwest Airlines

Milky Way

Miller Beer

Miller High Life

Millstone Coffee

Milwaukee Brewers

Missouri Lottery

Motorola

Mr. Clean

Mutual of Omaha

NAPA

Nationwide Insurance

NCAA

NFL

Nike

Nintendo

Nissan

Northshore Hospital

NYC Bakery

Ocean Spray

Office Depot

Office Max

Ohio Lottery

Oil of Olay

Old Country Buffet

Old Navy

Old Spice

On the Border

On-Cor

Orbit

Oscar Mayer

Pace

Pampers

Panera

Pantene

Payless

Penzoil

Peoples Energy

Pepsi

Perkins

Pillsbury

Pizza Hut

Playstation

PNC Bank

Poligrip

Popeyes Chicken

Priceline

Pringles

Procrit

Progressive Insurance

Progresso Soup

Proplan

Prudential Insurance

Quaker

Quicken Loans

Quizno’s

RadioShack

Ragu

Range Rover

Rayovac

Red Lobster

Rentway

Retin-A

Ritz Crackers

Rolaids

Rolling Rock

Round Up

Rubbermaid

Rush Hospital

Santander Bank

Saran Wrap

Sargento

SC Johnson

Scott’s Lawn Care

Sea World

Sears

Secret

Serta Mattresses

Sharpie

Sierra Mist

SK-II

Skintimate

Skippy

Sleepys

Slim Jim

Snickers

Sonic Drive-in

SONY

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Bell

Sperry

Sprint / Sprint PCS

Staples

Starburst

State Farm Insurance

Steak & Shake

Subway

Sunsilk

T-Mobile

Tampax

Target

TGI Friday’s

Tide

Time Warner

Toyota

Trident

Trojan

True Value Hardware

Turkish Airlines

Turtle Wax

United Airlines

United Way

US Cellular

US Robotics

USA Network

USPS

Value City

Velveeta

Verizon

Vesteel Furniture

Viagra

Victoria's Secret

Viva

Volkswagen

Walgreens

Weight Watchers

Wells Fargo

Wendy's

Western Union

Wheat Thins

White Castle

Wii

Wisconsin Lottery

Wolverine

Xbox

Xerox

Yoplait

Zenith

Ziploc

@Radical Media

02 Pictures

1/33 Productions

100 Street Films

180LA

23 films

2D Productions

3 Ball Productions

40 Acres & A Mule

59 Films

72andSunny

90 Degrees west

A White Label

Abelson-Taylor

Acne Digital

Aero Film

Alltel

Altitude Films

Anonymous Content

Arbor Group

Arnold Worldwide

Arts & Sciences

Assembly Films

August Jackson

Avalon Films

B-Reel Films

Backyard Productions

Ballistic Pictures

Bark Productions

Barton F. Graf

BBDO

Believe Media

Big Deahl Productions

Biscuit Filmworks

Blue 60

Blue Chip Advertising

Bob Industries

Bottle Rocket Media

Bravo Network

Brian Kuhlmann Photography

Bridges Media Group

Burrell

BVK

Campbell Mithun

Campbell-Ewald

Cannonball

Carmichael & Lynch

Casta Diva Pictures

Castorri & Co.

Cavalry

Caviar Films

Checkmark Communications

Chelsa Pictures

Company Films

Cornerstone Productions

Cramer - Krasselt

Creative Commercial Prod.

Crispin Porter + Bogusky

Critical Mass

DDB Needham Worldwide

Detour Network

Deutsch

DigitasLBi

Discovery Channel

DMB&B

Doner

Draft FCB

Drive Thru

Droga5 Studios

Dublin Productions

Edelman

Elastic

Elledge Photography

Emmissary Artists

Energy BBDO

Epoch Films

Escape Pod

Evolution Media

F5/Curious Films

Facebook

Fallon- Minn.

Fiber Films

Fiend, Inc

Film Foundry

Fireside Productions

Flip Films

Folding Pictures

Food Network

Form

Foundation

FRANK Media

Fuel

Furlined

G2 Herezie

Garrand

Go Films

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

Gorilla Pictures

Grant/Jacoby

Grey Advertising

GSD&M

GWP Inc.

Gyro

Half Yard Productions

Hanon McKendry

Harvest Films

HAVAS Worldwide

Headquarters

Hill Holiday Advertising

Hoffman York & Compton

Hogarth Worldwide, Inc.

HSI Productions

Hungry Man

HY Connect / Paco

I Level Productions

Imperial Woodpecker

Incubator Films

J.W.T.

Jack Morton

Johnson Burnett

Joinery

Kaplan Thaler

Kartemquin Films

Left/Right

Leo Burnett USA

Lightbourne

Liquid 9

Lopes Picture Company

Lovely Giant

Lowe & Partners

M Z D

MacGuffin Films

Marc USA

Martin Agency

Maximum Entertainment

McCann

McDonalds Television

McGarry Bowen

Meredith

MJZ

MK Films

MKTG Inc.

Momentum

Moxie Pictures

Mr. Big

Mssngpeces

Nash Films

NBA Entertainment

Northlich

O Positive

O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul

Ogilvy & Mather

Omnicom Group

One (Optimus)

Outsider

PACO Collective

Park Pictures

Partizan

Paydirt Pictures

Periscope

Picture North

Pictureshow Productions

PieTown Productions

Platinum Production

Preacher

Pretty Bird

Publicis

Pulse films

Purple Onion Productions

Quantum Group

Quriosity

Radiant Pictures

Raucous Content

Red Orange

Revolution Pictures

Richards Group

Riverrun Pictures

Rodgers & Townsend

RSA / USA

Rubin Postaer & Assoc.

Saatchi & Saatchi

Sarofsky

Savant Films

Saville Productions

SBK Pictures

Schafer, Condon & Carter

Screenscape Studios

September Productions

Silent Partner Films

Smuggler

Story

SuperPrime

Supply & Demand

Sussman Sikes

Sweetshop

Tag Films

Take 2 Productions

Tate USA

TBWA Chiat Day -LA

Tessa Films

The Institute

The Joneses

The Mill

The Richards Group

Tinsley Advertising

Tom Dick and Harry Creative

Tony D’Orio Photography

Tool of North America

Traveling Picture Show

True North

Twist

Uber Content

Urban Myth Media

Utopic

VML

Voodoo Films

VRA USA

VSA - Chicago

Walgreen Productions

Walton Isaacson

Waylon Advertising

Weber Shandwick

Weiden Kennedy

Whiskey & Bananas

WONDROS

World War Seven

Wunderman,Cato, Johnson

Yellow Shoes Creative Group

Young & Rubicam

Zimmerman

Have cast over 10,000 commercials, industrials, voice-overs & print projects.

CSA Member / AICP Member / Advisory Council Member to Midwest Film Festival

2009-2018 Advisory Board Member - Midwest Film Festival

2005 Daytime Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Special Class Series - Joan O'Connor, Co-Exec. Producer - Starting Over

2006 - 2008 Board Member – Collaboraction Theatre Company

2005 IPA (Illinois Production Alliance) Board of Directors

2001 Imaging & Sound Award