Hot People Island

Playwright (she/her). Deana is so excited to be making her Annoyance debut with the remount of her original play, Hot People Island. After a nearly sold-out run of its world premiere run at Cornservatory this past fall, Deana can't wait to share the laughs with audiences here at The Annoyance. She has been a company member and contributing writer at Cornservatory since 2019. Previous original full length productions at Cornservatory include We Should Kill Him (2024) and To Save a Lake (TYA, 2025). You may have also seen her on the Corn Stage in sketch shows like Death Toll, Happy Holly-daze, and Off the Paddy Wagon. Deana has also produced/developed original works with Stage Left Theatre Company, Avalanche Theatre Company, Jackalope Theatre Company, and The Tecumseh Players. You can find more of her writing by looking her up on New Play Exchange, and following her on Instagram @deanavelandra . When Deana's not in the theatre, she's at the beach. She would like to thank her parents, Mike and Brenda, for being her biggest fans.

Jake is stoked to be returning to the island for this season of Hot People Island! Recent credits include Elton (The Beautiful City Project), Sheldon J. Plankton, Charles Condomine, Kevin u/s Barry Glickman (DUPAC), Chad (Schaumburg Summer Theater). You can catch Jake this April as Harry in Stephen Sondheim's Company with DUPAC. Jake would like to thank the village of people around him who make his dreams come true, and a huge thank you to all the Hot People who choose to spend their evening with us. This performance, as always, is dedicated to the memory of Tim Filliman. Enjoy the show!

Maximillian Valdez is an actor from southwest desert dancing to make his way. He performs/hosts Freeform improv every Saturday night at the Comedy Club House with house team BRANDONS STAND-INS. He is also apart of of a film sketch group on YouTube called High tv, through FunkyGreen Productions. “Act well your part, for there all the honor lies.” Milly would like to thank his Family and friends for all their support and love.

Trisha Stigge (they/them) is a choreographer, dancer, actor and writer based out of Chicago. Originally from Nebraska, Stigge studied Theatre Performance/Directing and Dance at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Recent performance credits include Corn Production's "Drink: Arcade" and "Hot People Island", Nonsense Theatre Company’s “As You Like it”, Concrete Palm Trees’ “Much Ado About Nothing”, Dominican University’s ”Midsummer Night Cirque." Stigge’s current independent project “Searching for Sera Until 9:00”, explores themes of anachronism of the self and its societal recourse through absurdist language and movement. Trisha is a teaching artist with Yvonne's Dance Academy, St Benedict Preparatory School, Paramount School of the Arts, Children’s Theatre of Elgin, Fox Valley Theatre Company, and Niles Park District as well as a member of Corn Productions and Nonsense Theatre Company. Trisha believes that the arts are for everyone, be that as a participant, creator or consumer; a sentiment they strive to bring to every class, camp, rehearsal and performance. Learn more about Trisha at www.trishastigge.com

Tyler is very excited to remount Hot People Island at The Annoyance! He is a new actor to the city whose recent credits include 420 Shakespeares’ Baked Hamlet. He would like to thank his cast and his partner, Ella, for their support.