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Bump in the Night
October 3 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
What’s the best way to celebrate the scary season? Ghost stories by firelight, of course! TAMS is proud to present a presentation of increasingly creepy tales for all ages. Come and go as appropriate!
Act One: Silly and spooky sweet stories for the under-10 crowd.
Act Two: Slightly scary tales for tweens and up.
Act Three: Truly scary chills and thrills.
Performers: Gary Ambler, David Butler, Chelsea Collier, Jace Jamison, JW Morrissette, Libya Pugh
Directed by Joi Hoffsommer
As opposed to a fully-staged production, a reading features actors reading from scripts with minimal staging. The purpose of the event is to allow audiences to hear the text read aloud and fully experience the dialogue, while relying on their imaginations to fill in costumes, lights, and scenery.
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman – JW Morrissette, Libya Pugh, Gary Ambler, Jace Jamison, Chelsea Collier, and Joi Hoffsommer
The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani – Gary Ambler, JW Morrissette, Chelsea Collier, and Libya Pugh
The Bloody Vampire campfire tale – JW Morrissette
The Ruby Red Lips campfire tale – Jace Jamison, Chelsea Collier, and Joi Hoffsommer
The Night Wind by Eugene Field – Gary Ambler
Mary’s Ghost by Thomas Hood – Chelsea Collier
The Paper Airplane campfire tale – JW Morrissette, Libya Pugh, and Joi Hoffsommer
The Door With No Number campfire tale – Jace Jamison
A Mother’s Call campfire tale – Chelsea Collier and Libya Pugh
The Cabin campfire tale – Joi Hoffsommer
Under The Bed campfire tale – Libya Pugh, Gary Ambler, Jace Jamison, and JW Morrissette
The Strangers by Tennessee Williams – Jace Jamison, Gary Ambler, Libya Pugh, and Chelsea Collier
The Scariest Story Ever Told by Colin Nissan – JW Morrissette, Libya Pugh, Gary Ambler, Chelsea Collier, and Jace Jamison
Musical Accompaniment by David Butler
Gary Ambler has been making theatre for over five decades in Illinois, the midwest, and the east coast. Locally, he is known for his long association with the fine, fierce work of the Celebration Company at the Station Theatre under the artistic direction of Rick Orr.
David Butler has been part of the C-U theatre scene for 35 years on stage, in the tech booth, and in the pit for dozens of musicals. Next month will find him providing (probably) not-so-creepy guitar sounds for “Dear Evan Hansen” at Parkland’s Miner Theatre. Thanks to TAMS, and especially Joi and Justin, for the opportunity to help usher in the spooky season!
Chelsea Collier has been a member of the CU theater community for 15 years, appearing onstage in Pride and Prejudice, Blithe Spirit, and It’s a Wonderful Life, and directing Young Frankenstein, The Last Five Years, and White Christmas, among others. She recently completed her third master’s degree, an MS in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Illinois. She is an avid crafter, and enjoys trivia, escape rooms, and board games. Thank you to Abby and Joi for this opportunity, and to Kathy and Charlie for their love and support.
Jace Jamison has been in community theatre for nearly 20 years now, and is excited to be joining this fantastic group of local stars for a delightful reading.
JW Morrissette is the Associate Head of the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has served in the Department of Theatre for 30 years. He has served as chair of the BFA Theatre Studies Program, the Assistant Head for Academic Programs, as well as the Assistant Program Coordinator for INNER VOICES Social Issues Theatre. He worked for Stuart Howard and Associates Casting in New York, interning as a casting assistant for many Broadway productions and television commercials. Morrissette taught and directed for 23 years with the summer Theatre Department at Interlochen Center for the Arts. In 2025, Morrissette received the King Broadrick-Allen Award for Excellence in Honors Teaching.
Libya Pugh an actor, educator, and yoga instructor with over three decades of experience in theater, television, and film. Her recent stage credits include Richard III (Chicago Shakespeare) This Land Was Made (Vineyard Theatre) and How to Catch Creation (Geva Theatre). She has appeared on television in FBI, Law & Order, and Jessica Jones. She has an MFA from the University of Illinois and a BFA from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. She is currently a Professor in Acting at U of I.
Joi Hoffsommer is pleased to be a founding board member of TAMS and thrilled to participate as director for the Halloween reading, Bump in the Night. Retired from her job as the Artistic and Theatre Program Director for Parkland College Theatre, she now has time to devote to other theatre endeavors and life adventures. Teaching classes with Tom, her husband of 46 years, for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and travel have been features of her life lately. Traveling around the country to festivals to perform in Tom’s adaptations of works by Tennessee Williams has filled many days and weeks. Caring for her two beautiful grandsons, Sawyer and Jack, however, is the highlight of every day. Joi expresses her deepest gratitude to all who support the arts in this community.
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