Rising Stars

Elmhurst brothers shine on the big screen

BY ANNA HUGHES

From behind the scenes to the big screen, the McCracken family knows a lot about show business.

Michael and Becca McCracken have been in the entertainment industry for decades. Michael, an actor himself, is the founder and artistic director of Vagabond School of the Arts — the area’s leading film-acting school with locations in both Chicago and Elmhurst. Becca has worked in TV, film, and live theater casting for over 20 years. She currently works full-time at the Court Theatre in Hyde Park, the proud recipient of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre.

“I truly feel like I’m a professional cheerleader, like I love the actors and my passion is to really celebrate and create opportunities to help build their careers,” Becca said.

Becca had no idea that her ultimate cheerleading role in the industry would be for her two sons, 11-year-old James and 9-year-old Hayes.

“As someone who had spent many years in auditions with kids and watched sort of the process, it was definitely something I was planning to avoid as a parent,” Becca said.

When the pandemic hit, the boys watched their parents work daily from their Elmhurst home. James watched attentively as Michael coached another Elmhurst student, rehearsing alongside them. He voluntarily read the audition sides, and eventually asked if he could try out for a role of his own.

“The likelihood of finding opportunities as a six-year-old kid is slim to none, especially right now,” James’ new agent told the parents.

They decided to give it a shot anyway.

Soon after, James booked his first audition, which earned him his first movie.

“It was for a Disney movie…and he was one of the supporting leads,” Becca said. “We jumped right in, and he loved it.”

James has done three feature films, two of which were theatrical releases in the fall of 2025 — Adult Children and Soul on Fire. He even shared the screen in Adult Children with his younger brother, Hayes, who played his onscreen sibling.

“They’re different in almost every sense of the word, and it’s been really fun to watch them sort of both be creative, but not follow the same path,” Becca said.

Hayes, she said, has been creating and staging his own basement performances since before he could read or write.

“He studies theater in a way that is extremely advanced for kids,” Becca said. “He watches it and pays attention to the lights and the set and the design elements and the direction and is really excited about the idea of being able to not only direct and act, but write… I think Hayes will spend the rest of his life creating theater. I think he loves it.”

Hayes on set with Martin Short while filming Only Murders in the Building.

During the past year, Hayes earned a leading role in Porchlight Musical Theatre’s production of Fun Home, and he was cast as the young Martin Short in the hit Hulu TV series Only Murders in the Building.

The show stars Short alongside Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, and Selena Gomez. Hayes and Michael were able to watch Short and Streep rehearse in between scenes.

“It was pretty phenomenal,” Michael said. “It was really just great to watch [Streep] discover what she wanted to do with [a monologue]. It was just so cool to watch a master at the craft… They make it look easy.”

Michael described watching his son act in the same room as legendary film stars as “mind-blowing.” Both boys have been fortunate to work on high-level sets with elite actors, which is an experience not many performers — especially young ones — ever get.

“That is unusual,” Michael said of their high-profile castmates. “Just because we’re in the industry… we had no connection to either of those casting offices, it’s not like we did anything to make it happen. We auditioned blindly, and they got the work.”

Despite their growing resumes, James and Hayes remain grounded. Both have endured long workdays, yet manage to balance acting with sports, school, and play.

“It has been crazy to watch them navigate this professional adult space with such grace and maturity that I didn’t even know they had within them,” Becca said.

When people ask what’s next for them, Becca laughs.

James, a sixth grader at Churchville Middle School, balances. days on set with school, sports, and everyday life in Elmhurst.

“They’re in school. James is playing soccer and baseball. That’s what he spends most of his time doing,” Becca said. “Hayes is writing his own shows at home and writing stories and playing make-believe with his friends… They are just regular kids who are lucky to have this awesome childhood experience in Elmhurst.”

Their sons’ experiences have also shifted the way the McCrackens approach their own careers.

“Now that I’m watching it in real time with my kids and paying for it as a mom, it’s really given me an appreciation for which… I’m trying to be even more present and more careful and thoughtful and intentional about what I’m asking actors to do as they’re preparing for auditions,” Becca said. “[I’m] making sure that… the experience is as good as it can be in this business.”

Both Becca and Michael will support their sons in whatever they choose to pursue, so long as it brings them joy.

“They are not competitive, and they don’t fight,” Becca said. They are best friends. They love each other very much. They take care of each other, and they support each other, and we do not take that for granted. We know how lucky we are.”

For more information about the Vagabond School of the Arts, visit www.vagabondschool.com.