Are there puppets?
Yes! Shadow puppets!

How long is the performance?
45 minutes

What ages is this performance for?
Hannah and Halmoni Save the World’s design, text, original music, and vibrant storytelling will appeal to all ages, but the show has been specifically focused on reaching ages 5+. All ages are always welcome at Filament.

When should we arrive?
Filament encourages you to arrive 20-30 minutes before show time to participate in pre-show activities.

Where will we sit?
The audience is invited to sit on chairs or floor cushions. To request accommodations for your party, please email boxoffice@filamenttheatre.org

Will we move during the performance?
There will be some light moments of interaction between the performer and the audience, but you will remain seated throughout the performance.

What is your health and safety plan?
Please refer to the health and safety tab of our website, linked here.

Are group sales and/or birthday party packages available?
Yes, please contact boxoffice@filamenttheatre.org to purchase tickets for a group of 10 or more. All performances are public and private parties are not available for this production, but your group may book our party room following the performance.

Now booking Monday – Thursday, from April 1 – April 25, 2025

Running time: 45 mins

Designed specifically for ages 7+. 

Theatre seats ~60 when some students sit on cushions.

Flexible pricing by classroom or per student. Sliding scale based on free/reduced lunch.

Schedule a complimentary pre-field trip meeting (20 min) to prepare for your field trip and to learn more about Filament’s unique child-centered practices. 

• • Field Trip Request Form

press & media inquiries please contact jstemper@filamenttheatre.org

CREATIVES

Juliet Kang Huneke (Playwright) is a playwright and performer who is passionate about theatre that is larger than life. In 2023, she was awarded the ReImagine: New Plays in TYA grant to develop HANNAH AND HALMONI SAVE THE WORLD with Filament Theatre. Juliet is also a 24 Hour Plays Nationals alum. Other Chicago writing credits include: ECHO’S INFERNO (The Understudy), HOME FOR THE SUMMER (Theo Ubique, American Music Theatre Project), MYCELIUM (Playground Chicago), and MECHANICALS (Impostors Theater Co Footholds Vol. 4). Northwestern 2022!

Karina Patel (Director) is a director and dramaturg originally from London, UK. She is currently the Literary Associate at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and New Works Manager at Jackalope Theatre Company. She is thrilled to be working on this incredible play with Filament! Karina has developed new and devised work with The Story Theatre, The Understudy Chicago, APIDA Arts, TimeLine Theatre Company, Avalanche Theatre, Token Theatre, 24 Hour Plays, and more. Most recently, she directed the United States premiere of DUMMY IN DIASPORA at Jackalope Theatre Company. She has also served as an assistant director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, and the Repertory Theatre of St Louis.

Marisa Langston (Stage Manager) is a director, stage manager, & teaching artist from West Palm Beach, Florida. She recently graduated from DePaul with a major in Theatre Arts + minor in Screenwriting. Within the Theatre School, she worked on Birds Aren’t Real the Musical (Director/Choreographer), Unaccompanied (Assistant Director), Las Wavys (Alien). She has stage managed for Twisted Playfest 2024 (Redtwist Theatre), Playmakers Laboratory, Shed Light on the Subject (Dovetail Studios), & Arcana: A Fool’s Errand (Steppenwolf’s Lookout Series). Currently, she’s a Teaching Artist with Playmakers and working on a documentary theatre project about people’s relationship with church/church trauma.

David Rhee (Co-Producer for Hannah and Halmoni-Token Theatre)

Wai Yim (Co-Producer for Hannah and Halmoni-Token Theatre)

Jazmin (hahz-meen) Aurora Medina (Costume Designer) is a xicana interdisciplinary artist based in the midwest, but is a frequent adventurer with her design work! With a focus in costume design, Jazmin believes in the magical power of empathetic, transformative storytelling through her practice. She is thrilled to be returning to Filament Theatre after previously costume designing Think Fast, Jordan Chase! Current design credits include, Go Dog Go!/Ve Perro Ve! At Chicago Children’s Theatre and Esperanza Rising at First Stage Children’s Theater–with more to come! Jazmin has also previously received the honor of being selected as one of thirty-four US ‘young emerging costume designers’ for the 2019 Prague Quadrennial for Eurydice (UW-Waukesha).  Jazmin wouldn’t be here without the constant support of her family, friends and community, and would like to continually honor them through her work. Check jazminaurora.com or @jazminnauroraa for more! Bendiciones!

Kyle Anthony Cortés, M.M. (He/Him)(Sound Designer), is an Afro-Latino composer, singer-actor, music director, and sound designer based in Chicago. He is excited for Heart Strings and Hannah and Halmoni Save the World to be his first collaboration with all the wonderful people at Filament Theatre. Passionate about educating in historically underserved communities, he is a teaching artist in the Greater Chicago Area. An emerging artist on the Chicago scene, his credits include working with companies such as the Goodman Theatre, The Second City theatre, Definition Theatre, Forevermore Dance and Theater Arts, Citadel Theatre, ChiArts Educational Theatre, Chicago Summer Opera Theater, and Wagner Summer Musical Theater Intensive, in various roles.

He is a resident teaching artist for the music conservatory at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) (Humboldt Park), and has partnered with Chicago Music and Acting Academy (Jefferson Park) and Forevermore Dance and Theater (Elmwood Park), giving private studio lessons in various vocal and instrumental areas.

Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer who seamlessly blends artistry and technical precision across theater, opera, and dance. Originally from South Korea, she earned her MFA in Lighting Design from Northwestern University in 2024, where she worked on productions such as The Tempest, The Aliens, Working: A Musical, The Revolutionists, Foreshadows of the Flesh, Me Jane, and MuLan. Her recent works include 13 Suits and The Love Object. In 2025, Seojung was honored with the USITT YDMT The Barbizon Lighting Company Jonathan Resnick Lighting Design Award.

Mara Ishihara Zinky (Scenic Designer) is thrilled to be back at Filament, after painting clouds for (who else?) Cloud Man last year. Recent Chicago credits include Arcadia (University of Chicago), The Porch on Windy Hill (Northlight Theatre), Native Gardens (Buffalo Theater Ensemble), and Nightwatch (Raven Theatre). In addition to scenic design, Mara is a props artisan and her work has been seen onstage at Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman, and Steppenwolf.

Michele Stine (Puppetry Consultant and Designer) is an actor, clown, and puppeteer.  They spend their time digging through trash and alleys for materials, much to her mother’s dismay. Michele has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rough House Theatre, Filament Theatre, Chicago Puppet Studio, Lifeline Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, Theatre SUMM, and some other companies too. They are a part of the 2024/2025 Puppet Lab Cohort through the International Puppet Theatre Festival. They like cheese-its and ice cream and talking about theatre audience experiences.  Michele thinks that “bios” are strange because it’s short for biography but we were given a word count of 150 words or less. Seems like not enough, but here we are.  Are we at 150 words, yet? Oh, and Michele has spent over fifteen years working as a theatre educator in Chicago, Illinois; working with young people to develop strong storytelling skills and creating dreams out of cardboard and glue. Exciting!  Word count: 154.

Krissi McEachern (she/her)(Props Designer/Filament Managing Director) is Chicago-based arts administrator, nonprofit leader, and maker of silly things. Krissi holds an MFA in Arts Leadership from DePaul University and 10+ years’ experience in the nonprofit performing arts and has been Filament Theatre’s Managing Director since 2020. She was drawn to this work because of a belief that artists and audiences deserve organizations that center the same humanity, vulnerability, curiosity, and innovation in their administrative practices as they do on their stages. Krissi’s passion for TYA is driven by a belief that creativity and play are a fundamental human right.

Caroline M. Watson (she/her)(Audience Engagement Designer/Filament Associate Director of Engagement) is a Chicago-based theatre artist and educator. She was born and raised in Texas and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Caroline serves as Filament Theatre’s Associate Director of Engagement, as well as being a performer and teaching artist. Caroline has devised new work and toured nationally performing at such venues as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The Arden as a company member with Theater Unspeakable. ​When she isn’t acting or teaching, Caroline is the producer and host of Grandma’s House, an award-winning monthly poetry show and open mic. Above all, Caroline has a passion for creating spaces for artists, young and old, to find their voices and thrive.

CAST

Debbie Kim (Mom/Halmoni u/s) is excited to make her Filament Theatre debut in Hannah and Halmoni Save the World. Debbie is no stranger when it comes to the performing arts. Her credits include Allie in She Became Visible, Mae in Sun King, and performed in To Love and to Be Loved with Artemisia Theatre. Debbie wants to thank her family and friends for their support and encouragement.

Suzanne Glover (they/she)(Hannah/Superfriend u/s) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Chicago. They studied the Porter method at Long Island University Post and are now an ensemble member and managing director of Fowl Play.

Miriam Lee (Mom/Esther) was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She can be seen on NBC’s Chicago Med, Fire and PD universe and most recently on the Emmy award winning show “The Bear ” and soon will make her Starz debut as Emma Tsang on Power Book IV: Force. She is also working as a public interest lawyer representing indigent clients in criminally charged cases at Cabrini Green Legal Aid. She is excited for the opportunity to get involved with Filament and hopes to continue to combine her two passions of public interest and acting.

Ginger Leopoldo (Halmoni) is an actor currently bringing the character of Tutu to life in Heart Strings! In addition to her acting, she is also a dynamic educator, director, and community organizer. As the founding Artistic Director of the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA) and Executive Director of CIRCA Pintig, Ginger is passionate about inspiring creativity and cultural understanding through the magic of theater.

With over 20 years of experience, Ginger creates exciting theater productions and fun workshops for kids and adults alike. She designs special programs that help young people explore their stories through art, mixing learning with creativity. Ginger also teaches English around the world and helps teachers make their classrooms more engaging.

Currently pursuing a doctoral degree, she’s diving deep into the world of theater and education. Ginger holds both a B.A. and M.A. in theater from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and she’s recently helped launch a program called WAANT, which encourages wellness through Asian American stories.

As a proud 1.75-generation Filipino American, Ginger embraces her cultural heritage and shares it with her family. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three adventurous children, who inspire her every day. Join Ginger on this exciting journey in Heart Strings, where she spreads joy, creativity, and the power of storytelling to everyone around her!

Keimon Shook (Superfriend) is a Queer Blasian Actor, Writer, and Director from Jacksonville, Florida , and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2021 he graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University with his BFA in Acting. Recently he directed a Reading of a New Works Titled “ The Hottest Fall” As part of an incubator cohort! Keimon also Wrote , Starred in ,Directed ,and Self produced “Let’s Never Talk About This” a pilot episode for a TV series he hopes to release soon.

Emily Zhang (Hannah) is a Chicago based actor and is excited to be working with Filament! It means a lot to her to work on plays that highlight AAPI stories. Some favorite Chicago credits include Flush at Campfire Repertory, Blood of My Mother’s and RACECAR RACECAR RACECAR at Bramble Theatre Company, Woo Girls at The Factory Theater, and Among the Dead at Jackalope Theatre. She is also a proud member of Asian Takeout Improv, with shows the second Sunday of every month at Kamehachi! She is a Northwestern graduate and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Review our SAFETY PLAN before your visit.

Not sure what your family’s schedule looks like yet? You can still give the gift of Filament fun by purchasing a Filament Gift Card. Gift Cards are good for Filament’s Spring shows or other upcoming Filament Fun.

Gift Cards

Bringing a group to Hannah and Halmoni Save the World?
We offer a group ticket discount. $10 tickets for groups of 10 or more.

Celebrating a special occasion? Our Party Room is available for small celebrations following afternoon performances for up to 45 minutes. ($50 per 15 minutes)

Please email BoxOffice@filamenttheatre.org to purchase tickets and reserve the party room.

Payment for group sales and buy-outs will be due at the time of booking. Payment for party room rentals must be made on site on the day of your event. We ask the party’s hosts to leave the room tidy and clean. Failure to clean up after your party or exit by the agreed-upon end time will result in additional charges.