MAY 6 - MAY 28

adapted for the stage by JOHN GLORE
based on the book by ABBY HANLON
music by DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA

directed by RANDY WHITE
movement by MATTHEW WEIDENBENER
musical direction by SAM SHANKMAN
stage managed by JORDAN LARGE

IT’S TOUGH BEING THE YOUNGEST!

A MISCHIEVOUS AND IMAGINATIVE 6-YEAR-OLD BATTLES WITCHES AND BEFRIENDS MONSTERS IN AN UNFAILING AND HILARIOUS EFFORT TO WIN WHAT SHE WANTS MOST: HER FAMILY’S ATTENTION!

MEET THE CAST

  • Teagan Earley

    Violet

  • Tamsen Glaser

    Mother / Mrs. Gobble Gracker

  • Maya Lou Hlava

    Dory

  • Jin Park

    Mary

  • Alex Benito Rodriguez

    Luke / Mr. Nuggy

  • Harry Belden

    u/s Luke / Mr. Nuggy

  • Caitlyn Porayko

    u/s Dory, Mary

  • Jackie Smook

    u/s Violet, Mother/Mrs. Gobble Gracker

Teagan Earley (Violet) is a Chicago-based storyteller. Stage credits include Connie in Come Blow Your Horn (New Theatre), Sing Out! & Queer Eye (Second City), Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream (NDSF), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Stadium Concert), Lucille in Parade (Theatre Nebula), and Hershel (Strawdog). She can be seen on S9 of NBC’s Chicago Fire, and her voice is featured as Athena on the OCA of the viral musical, EPIC. Gratefully repped by Gray Talent. www.teaganearley.com

Tamsen Glaser (Mother/Mrs. Gobble Gracker) is pleased to return to YPT Chicago after her bus engine debut in Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus! Chicago credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Victory Gardens, Northlight Theatre, Haven Chicago, Red Tape Theater, & Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Company. Regional credits: Seattle Repertory Theatre. TV credits: Shining Girls (Apple TV), neXt (Fox), Chicago Med & Chicago Fire (NBC). Film credits: A Christmas Winter Song (Lifetime). She holds an MFA from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program and degrees in Acting & Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University. She is proudly represented by DDO Chicago. www.tamsenglaser.com

Maya Lou Hlava (Dory) is thrilled to make her YPT debut! Other Chicago credits include Shrek, White Christmas and Bye Bye Birdie (Drury Lane Theatre); Other Chicago credits include Spring Awakening (Porchlight Theater); The Killing Game and The Nether (A Red Orchid Theatre); Zurich (Steep Theatre); Oklahoma (Marriott Theatre); Violet (Griffin Theater); Trevor (Writers Theatre); Jake's Women (Spartan Theatre Company); The Secret Garden (Court Theatre); The Talking Cure (Idle Muse Theatre Company); Jane Eyre (Lifeline Theatre); The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre); Film and Television credits include: The Perpetrator, Chicago Med, The Chi, and The Big Leap.

Jin Park (Mary) is grateful to make her YPT debut! Previous credits include: Aubergine (Theatreworks Colorado Springs); Among The Dead (Jackalope Theatre); First Love Is The Revolution, Red Rex (U/S) (Steep Theatre); Spirits To Enforce (The Passage Theatre); You For Me For You (Sideshow Theatre); Don't Look Back/Must Look Back (Pivot Arts); and Really Really (US) (Interrobang Theatre). TV/Film credits include: Chicago PD (NBC), Waiting For The Light To Change, and Sun King.

Alex Benito Rodriguez (Luke/Mr. Nuggy) is thrilled to be joining YPT. Chicago credits include: Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor Theater) The Brink!, A Persephone Pageant, Monuments, Mother of Smoke (Walkabout Theater Company). Regional Theatre: Gruesome Playground Injuries, The Crucible, Noises Off, Our Town, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Asolo Rep). Film: The Hairy Ape, Left to Live, Hits n’ Clips. Television: Chicago Fire. He is represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Harry Belden (u/s Luke/Mr. Nuggy) is a Chicago native, hailing from Ravenswood on the north side of the city. Most recently, he has performed in Hansel & Gretel, Le Comte Ory, and Fiddler on The Roof at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. His on camera credits include NBC's Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, Proven Innocent on FOX, Adult Swim's Joe Pera Talks With You, and the Disney Channel Original Movie Christmas... Again?!  This is Harry's first show with YPT. A lover of all things outrageous and fantastical, Harry is delighted to be joining the cast of Dory Fantasmagory as an understudy. He is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Caitlyn Porayko (u/s Dory, Mary) is thrilled to be making her Chicagoland debut with YTP! A fresh transplant from Nashville, her previous credits include Allison in Cry Baby: The Musical, Alice in Lizzie: The Musical, Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, Natalie in Next to Normal, Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act, and Wednesday in The Addams Family. Caitlyn also spent 3 years in Hong Kong Disneyland singing “Let It Go” and “When Will My Life Begin” in Mickey and the Wondrous Book. When not onstage, she narrates audiobooks and commercials as a voice actor, teaches voice lessons, spends too many hours watching Gilmore Girls, and snuggles with her pup! Proudly repped by Gray Talent Group.

Jackie Smook (u/s Violet, Mother/Mrs. Gobble Gracker) is an actor, singer, comedian, writer, and puppet maker. She has written and produced multiple TV shows featuring puppets and focuses much of her time writing original one woman shows. Smook has worked on TV shows such as Chicago Fire as a co-star, Marvelous Ms. Mazel, and emerging comedy pilots for Netflix. Smook made her 54 Below Debut earlier this year with The Jackie Smook Program of De-dumbification. In the same weekend, this show was presented to the patrons of United Solo Theater Festival where they were presented with BEST EMERGING ARTIST AWARD at the Spring Gala. Smook was a contestant on the last season of American Idol: Season 6 which aired Feb 19th. She has written many solo shows and holds a residency in Chicago at the Famous Davenport's Piano Bar and has been reviewed by multiple magazines. Currently, Smook acts in multiple commercials and is featured with Doordash with her funtastic puppets. She is signed with Big Mouth Talent inc. Instagram: @Smookerstition jackiesmook.com