Michael Hooker

Michael Hooker is a Professor of Sound Design and Head of Sound Design at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Drama Department. He holds affiliations with the Claire Trevor School of the Arts and has over 29 years of educational service. His professional work spans theatre, opera, and themed entertainment globally.

Education:

• BFA in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, University of Arizona
• MFA in Performing Arts Design/Technology, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

Research & Creative Work: Hooker's expertise includes sound design for theatre, music composition for live performances, and themed entertainment projects. Notable works include Broadway's Looped, Disney's Aladdin's Magic Lamp Theatre, and interdisciplinary projects like The Sacre Project with Pacific Symphony and UCI Dance. He has designed over 120 productions worldwide, blending technical innovation with artistic vision.

Awards & Recognition:

• Two Thea Awards for Disney Imagineering projects
• Leadership roles in USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology)

Advising & Collaborations: Collaborated with playwright Bryan Reynolds on international festival productions (Lumping in Fargo, The Green Knight) and with Professor Eli Simon on Clownzilla: A Love Story. His work extends to academic leadership, including developing MFA/BFA sound design programs at UC Cincinnati and CalArts.

Labs & Teams: Involved in USITT SoundLabs development and served on steering committees for 2012–2018. Active in global theatre festivals, including Gdansk Shakespeare Festival and Sibiu International Theatre Festival.