Thea Wigglesworth is an educator, administrator, director, and designer. She works across performing arts disciplines in theatre, opera, and dance to innovate old and new works. Born in Kentucky, Thea first began her arts career as a dancer with the School of the Lexington Ballet. Upon graduating from Mount Holyoke College, with a BA in African and African American Studies, she worked in many theaters throughout the Eastern United States, including Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, back stage, in administrative roles, and occasionally on stage. Thea co-founded Cutout Theatre in New York City with her sister, Avery Wigglesworth. She serves as Producing Director for the small company, currently an informal think tank for new play development. She holds an MFA in Stage Direction from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. 

Thea directs and designs in music theatre, most frequently in collaboration with the School of Music at the Ohio University. She also serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Opera Steamboat and is a member of the Hayden Arts Council, and can be found teaching the occasional acting class at Perry-Mansfield, or music class at North Routt Community Charter School. When she’s not in the office, you can find her hiking or baking (altitude style) at her home in Hayden.