as Claire Larsen
Jennifer Blagen is thrilled to be a part of the Dragonfly team! She has been a professional union actor on stage, screen, television, radio, audiobook, and web for more years than she cares to acknowledge (ok, we're talking more than 30). She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of MN with a BA in Theater and from the National Theatre Conservatory with a Master of Fine Arts degree. Constantly developing her special skills set she learned last summer how to surf and how to walk a low wire. For her next feat she'd like to nail down juggling while doing either of the aforementioned activities. Currently she can be seen Tuesdays through Sundays in the critically acclaimed production ofThe Heiress at The Jungle Theater and in September she will perform in the world premiere of Joe Waechter's play Lake Untersee with Workhaus Collective, and then later this fall it's back to The Jungle Theater to play the Jane Fonda role in On Golden Pond. Jennifer lives here in the Twin Cities with her four fabulous children.
as Paul Larsen
Terry Hempleman lives in Minneapolis and works mostly in theater, mostly as an actor. He has appeared on many local stages including The Guthrie, The Jungle, Children’s Theater Company, Park Square, and Penumbra. His directing work includes Yellowtree Theater, Minnesota Fringe, and the Chicago Avenue Project. His film work includes Dear White People, Drop Dead Gorgeous, andFactotum.
as Brian Larsen
David lives and works as an actor in Los Angeles and he couldn’t be more excited to come home to Minnesota and work on such a fantastic project with his big sister. David has studied theater at CalArts, Tufts University, Circus Theatrical, Blue Sphere alliance, and most recently with Hank Azaria for two years in LA. He has been a member of SAG for over a decade. He has had a reoccurring on Charmed as Steve Montana and has had guest starring appearances on JAG, Summerland,The Tracy Morgan Show, Sideliners, and Line of Fire. Most recently he can be seen online in episodes ofMillennial Parents, The Off Season, and Shane Dawson’s music video for “Superluv.” David would like to thank everyone in the cast and crew for making Dragonfly such an amazing film experience to be apart of.
as Young Anna Larsen
Abby is thrilled to be making her film debut in Dragonfly. When asked what her dream role was by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Abby replied, "I want to play somebody strong — not butterflies and rainbows." In 2013, Abby won a national search to be the Girl Scout in anadvertisement for Girl Scout Cookie flavored coffee creamer. Prior to 2013, Abby’s acting experience and training took place in theaters around the Twin Cities metro including a lead role in the River Falls Community Theatre production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Along with her love of acting, Abby is a self-described political junkie, history buff, and Whovian. A native of Oklahoma City, Abby lives with her father, mother, and brother in River Falls, WI.
as Tim Brody
Matt grew up in Portland, OR but currently lives in LA with his wife Amy and son Eli. Matt got his start performing as mascot Charlie the Tuna. This would eventually lead to a BFA in Acting from Brigham Young University, an MFA in Acting from The Old Globe/University of San Diego (with the wonderful Cara Greene). He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and the Actor’s Equity Association. On television Matt has appeared in on Mad Men, NCIS, CSI:Miami, Cold Case, Medium, NCIS:LA, GCB, All My Children, Days of Our Lives, Medium, Heroes, and in numerous national commercials. Matt just finished shooting his first lead role in a feature film in Austin, TX and couldn't be more excited to shoot a film in an another amazing city like Minneapolis.
as Young Brian Larsen
Tommy O'Brien is a 5th grader who, up until now, has focused more on baseball and soccer than anything artsy in his free time. He played center field and pitched for his 10 year old Minnesota State Tournament baseball team and is looking forward to traveling soccer this fall. He dedicates his work inDragonfly to his dog, Domino.
as Ayla
Robyn has been acting and producing in New York City for the past seven years and is a proud graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. Recently, Robyn discovered her passion for baking and has been making and selling Thumbs Cookies nationwide. However, her heart with always be in acting. Robyn is a Minnesota native and is extremely proud to be working side by side with long time friend Cara Greene Epstein on her beautiful creation of Dragonfly. Anything is possible.
as Young Tim Brody
When Cole was very little, he could be heard mimicking commercials, then came his self-made videos, and now he is actually acting in a “real” film. Cole is 12 years old and a sixth grader in Shakopee, MN. He has appeared in the film Rosie, several episodes of the web-series Superhuman, and various videos such as "Wipeout: In the Zone: and "Cabela’s® Big Game Hunter." He is thrilled to be included in the Dragonfly project. In addition to acting, Cole has taken up the guitar and saxophone and is actively involved in baseball, football, and wrestling. He spends his free time hanging out with his siblings, keeping up with the latest social media craze, and watching Netflix.
as Bree
Minnesota gal Kathryn Wind graduated from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program in 2007, and since then she's lived and worked in the Twin Cities, and loved calling them home. Kathryn is so thankful for all the adventures she's had in the biz, from stage to screen. Highlights include sharing the screen for a brief moment with Greg Kinnear in Thin Ice, living her childhood dream of performing on the Guthrie stage (A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Christmas Carol, Arsenic and Old Lace), and performing for hundreds of students (for six years!) as Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre. Writing is also an interest of Kathryn's, and in 2012 these passions collided as she had the privilege of presenting as keynote speaker at the Bethel University Young Author's Conference in collaboration with Park Square Theatre's production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Forays into the education world like this helped Kathryn discover a new passion in teaching, and she's currently working toward a Master of Arts in Teaching at Hamline University, so she can share her passion for arts and literature with a new generation!
as Michael
John Riedlinger will be playing Michael. He’s a triple threat, working in acting, directing, and music. His film credits includeEmbrace the Vampire (look for it on Netflix), Joe Somebody, andVernie, of which he played the lead role and produced. He started acting in the Twin Cities in 1989, but most recently was seen in Lasso of Truth at the Martin Theater Company in Mill Valley, CA. You may have heard is voice in commercials for Coke, Holiday Inn, LL Bean, and even a Super Bowl spot for GM. His musical talents are currently featured in the local band Annie and the Bang Bang. He plays the guitar.
as Motorist
Chip Brookes is a filmmaker and actor based in Los Angeles, California. He is the creator of the independent pilot Rutherford State Park, and last year wrote and directed two short films, Dark Horses and Separate Ways. Additionally, he's appeared in a bunch of obscure television shows like Law & Order: SVU, Gossip Girl, Blue Bloods, Rake, and several others. His feature screenplay Mercury Descending is currently in development at ShowKat Films, and he spends his time lurking around film sets as much as possible. He is a graduate of The Old Globe/University of San Diego, a former classmate and bestie-for-life of Cara Greene Epstein, and so thrilled to be a part of this project.
as Realtor Tammi
Kim Greene will be playing Realtor Tammi, but off-camera she is a professional problem solver. She designs and facilitates creative thinking sessions for large corporations and other organizations. Kim studied acting as a student resident at the Guthrie Theater—a one-year conservatory experience for 18 high school students—and was a member of JFCS Players, a local role-play improv group. Formerly a practicing lawyer, she has returned to her interest in acting and improv through classes at the Guthrie Theater and Brave New Workshop. In what spare time she has, she loves to dance, travel with her husband, and play with her grandchildren.
as Nurse Jennifer
Megan Burns is excited to get the chance to work with the amazing cast and crew of Dragonfly. A rising senior in the University of Minnesota Guthrie BFA Acting Program, she is making her film debut with this project. She has been in a number of shows at the University of Minnesota, most recently Don Juan, and Burial at Thebes. This past fall she spent a semester living and studying in London, where she played Perdita in The Winter’s Tale on Shakespeare’s Globe Stage. This summer she has been a part of two Fringe Festival Shows and every now and then can be found performing a puppet show for kids at the Minnesota zoo. In addition to performing, Megan writes, sings and practices yoga.
Executive Producer
Writer/Co-Director
Cara is a professional actor, writer, director, producer, and teaching artist. Her film and TV work includes They’re Out of the Business, As The World Turns, Chaos Theory, and Fishy Business, among others. A passionate teacher, Cara works with adults with early stage Alzheimer's through the Memory Ensemble, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer's through the intervention of improvisational theater. She holds an honors degree in Theater Arts from Cornell University, an MFA in Acting from The Old Globe/USD, and is a member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA. Cara has worked with numerous theater companies across the country including Steppenwolf, Epic Theater Ensemble, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and The Old Globe of San Diego. A Minnesota native, Cara now lives in Chicago with her husband Ben and children Eliana and Micah.