Hookman Digital Program

Hookman
by Lauren Yee

Directed by Garrett Michael McCann

When:
May 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th, & 30th at 7:30pm
May 17th & 24th at 3:00pm

Where:
Bramble Arts Loft

CAST
(In order of apperance)

Valerie Martire ... Lexi
Madelyn Strasma ... Jess
Elizabeth Yang ...Yoonji
Ava Pirie ... Chloe
Ben Sanchez ... Sean/Adam/Hookman
Anuoluwa Awolola ... Kayleigh

Understudies:
Anika Flores ... Jess, Chloe
Rachel Herriges ... Lexi
Jensen Hill ... Sean/Adam/Hookman
Tina-Kim Nguyen ... Yoonji, Kayleigh



CREATIVE
Director ... Garrett Michael McCann
Playwright ... Lauren Yee
Stage Managers ... Dita Frank & Taylor Cook
Special Effects by Arthouse Asylum Productions
Costume Designer ... Holly Osborn
Lighting Designer ... Chelsea Strebe
Fight Director ... Anika Flores
Dramaturg ... Isabelle Cheng
Scenic/Sound Designer ... Garrett Michael McCann
Stage Crew... Logan McCann
Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

Artistic Director: Garrett Michael McCann
Artistic Advisory Board: Amy Carter, Taylor Cook, Dita Frank, Daniel King, Morris McLennan, Hannah Ottenfeld,
 Nathan Shelton, & Chelsea Strebe 
This production uses extensive strobe effects, loud noises and smoke. This production contains depictions of violence, blood, discussions of sexual violence, & death.

CAST

Valerie Martire (Lexi) is absolutely thrilled to be making her Bump in the Night Theatre Company debut! Valerie is a recent graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University where she received her BFA in acting. Since then, she has spent the last two summers at the Utah Shakespeare Festival where you might’ve seen her as Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Annelle in Steel Magnolias, Bianca in Taming of the Shrew, or Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing. You may have also caught her as Lucy Westfeldt in Lazy Susan Theatre Company’s recent production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors. If you want to keep up with Valerie you can find her on Instagram @valeriemartire. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!
Madelyn Strasma (Jess) is frighteningly excited to be making her Bump In The Night debut! She’s absolutely loved this scary romp of a play since the first time she read it, and is beyond thrilled to have the chance to share it with you. Recent credits include The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Self-Produced), Merchant of Venice (Prague Shakespeare Company), March! (Yas, And! Comedy), Shakespeare’s R+J (PrideArts), plus a variety of Children’s Theater shows with GreatWorks. Madelyn is also currently in the Conservatory program at Second City, and is a The Theatre School at DePaul grad ‘25! You can keep up with them on Instagram @madelynstrasma. 
Elizabeth Yang (Yoonji) is so excited to be making her debut with Bump in the Night! She recently graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in theater. She has had an incredible time  throughout this process and cant wait to share this fun and bloody show with you! 
Ava Pirie (Chloe) is thrilled to be returning to Bump In The Night in this cryptic little masterpiece! Favorite Chicago credits include Dressed Up (Annoyance), Jump Scares (Bump In The Night), and Shakespeare’s R&J (PrideArts). She is a member of Chicago-based sketch comedy group Slip Dress and the Literary Manager of Next Life Theatre Company in NYC. (she/her)
Ben Sanchez (Sean/Adam/Hookman) is a Chicago based actor. He recently performed in the North American premiere of Taken at Midnight at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, Laugh at Playhouse 38, and Pussy Sludge at Facility Theatre (understudy?). 
Anuoluwa Awolola (Kayleigh) is a Chicago native and a 2025 graduate of Spelman College, where she earned her degree in Theatre & Performance. She knew from a very young age she wanted to be on stage. She has been performing since elementary school, getting her start in school and community theatre. She is thrilled to take on the role of Kaleigh in this production of Hookman and looks forward to continuing to grow her career. She would like to thank God, her family & friends, and the cast and creative team of Hookman for making this possible!
Rachel Herriges (U/S Lexi) (she/her) is an actress and playwright originally from the West Coast who is always diving into new theatre projects in Chicago, and she is beyond stoked to make her debut at Bump in the Night Theatre! Rachel got her Bachelors from Westmont College in California, double majoring in Theatre and Religious studies. Her roots are now laid in Chicago as A Short Leap Ensemble Member and an Emeritus Ensemble Member of MicroChicago. Recent performance credits include Mind the GORK (No Dogs in the Kitchen), It’s a Wonderful Life (Athenaeum Center), The Subtle Sublime Transformation of Benny V (A Short Leap), Milking the Beast and Going to Hell (Runaways Lab Theatre), and several other stages throughout Chicago. As an author, Rachel enjoys writing works exploring grotesque, unusual, and captivating aspects of humanity or unexpected gods with poetic prose. Notable works include No One Will Save You (Odds&Ends), I LOVE CHESS! (Freshly Brewed), The Blood Eagle (A Short Leap), How a God Sheds Their Skin (Stovelight Productions), Hot Yoga for Women’s Bodies (Chicago Dramatists), and Straw Hats in the Sand (Artery Theatre). Her most recent endeavors have led her to producing A Short Leap’s first Intimate Anarchy PlayFest, and stage managing A Short Leap’s inaugural production of Clearing!is currently a proud ensemble member of Do Process Theatre. She absolutely loves her classmates and is honored to share the stage with them!
Anika Flores (U/S Jess & Chloe) (Fight Director) is so excited to be making her BITN debut! Her previous credits include Doctor/Bosola (Duchess of Malfi), Mistress Ford (Merry Wives of Windsor), and working on various shows at National Theatre for Children. This experience has been so fun for her and she is so thrilled to share this story with you all. Anika would also like to thank her friends, family and most of all her partner Marcus for all their love and support. 
Jensen Hill (U/S Sean/Adam/Hookman)
Tina-Kim Nguyen (U/S Yoonji & Kayleigh) (she/her) is a Chicago-based theatre artist. She has a BA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago, where she also studied stage combat and dramaturgy. Recent credits include Disney’s Winnie the Pooh (Rockefeller Productions), Among the Dead (Jackalope Theatre), and Water by the Spoonful (NEIU). Tina is also the host/co-host of BATSU!, an ongoing improv show. Special thanks to mom, dad, and Boba T. www.tinakimnguyen.com

Creatives

Garrett Michael McCann (Director) is a queer director based in Chicago. He is attracted to work that embraces the theatrical and uses the shared space to create dynamic moments. He pursues the magical, visceral, and emotional in his storytelling with an eye to the power of narrative. His work has been described as "enthralling and captivating," - Let's Play Theatrical Reviews. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of Bump in the Night Theatre, Chicago's Horror theater. His recent credits with the company include directing Hookman by Lauren Yee & Squeamish by Aaron Mark. His work has also been seen at such Chicagoland institutions as City Lit, PrideArts, Playhouse 38, Three Brothers Theatre and others. He previously served as Assistant Artistic Director of Stage Left Theatre Company in Myrtle Beach, SC from 2013-2020. www.garrettmichaelmccann.com

Ethan Smith (Assistant Director) (they/them) is a queer nonbinary intimacy professional, director, and dramaturg with a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Recent directing credits include The Moors (Armory Free Theatre) and It’s Getting Dark (Bump in the Night Theatre Co.). Intimacy credits include Kubrickian (Factory Theater), Next to Normal (Madison Street Theater), and Three Sisters (Sandbox Theatre Collective). Endless gratitude to their family and friends for their support. For Latrelle, always. 
Dita Frank (Stage manger) is a creative textile artist originally from New Mexico and now based out of Chicago. A jack-of-all-trades, Dita sits on the Advisory Board for Bump in the Night, and has costumed previous Bump in the Night shows such as Jump Scares, Medea, and The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide. 
Taylor Cook (Stage Manager) has worked with Bump in the Night on Medea, Jump Scares, and The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide. He’s glad to be back!
Holly Osborn (Costume Designer) is a costumer, sewist, and all-around horror fan. Holly has previously worked with Bump in the Night on their production of Squeamish, and is glad to be back! Previous work also includes Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Lazy Susan Theater Company), Little Women (Mudlark Theater), Hello from the Children of Planet Earth (Rhinoceros Theater Festival), Lines (Hollywood Fringe Festival). More on all that at www.hollyosborndesign.com!
Chelsea Strebe (Lighting Designer)
Isabelle Cheng (Dramaturg) is a dramaturg, archivist, and librarian. Other dramaturgy credits include Among the Dead (Jackalope Theatre Company) and Savior Complex.
Special effects designed and constructed by Nathan Shelton of Arthouse Asylum Productions
Scheduled Understudy Performances:
Wednesday, May 20th: The role of KAYLEIGH usually played by ANUOLUWA AWOLOLA will be played by TINA-KIM NGUYEN.
Thursday, May 21st: The role of JESS usually played by MADELYN STRASMA will be played by ANIKA FLORES.
Friday, May 22nd: The role of LEXI usually played by VALERIE MARTIRE will be played by RACHEL HERRIGES & the role of CHLOE usually played by AVA PIRIE will be played by ANIKA FLORES.
Saturday, May 23rd: The roles usually played by BEN SANCHEZ will be played by JENSEN HILL.
Sunday, May 24th: The role of YOONJI usually played by ELIZABETH YANG will be played by TINA-KIM NGUYEN.

HOOKMAN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com