I always say, ‘Where there’s a Whilden there’s a way.’
Kristy talks about her passions!
Hi! I am Kristy Whilden Hard of Hearing Late deafened adult, mother of 6, Founder and CEO of Hands Up Silent Theatre, teacher and author! My passions right now include American Sign Language theater, Deaf Culture and Deaf History, re-learning the piano, adult coloring books, reading and writing.
I was on top of the world, or so I thought. In 2014 I learned that I was losing my hearing from progressive sensorineural hearing loss. I slipped into a massive depression.
Kristy’s Leadership philosophy
Kristy is a powerful leader who strives to inspire everyone to think outside of the box.
Here’s what Kristy has to say about her leadership philosophy:
How can we make this world accessible to everyone? Think bigger. We can do anything. I always say, “Where there’s a Whilden there’s a way.” When someone tells you no, just remember, there’s always another way.
Hands Up Silent Theatre
I was a music educator for 10 years and owned a music academy. My biggest claim to fame was that five of my students were invited to play at the great Carnegie Hall in NYC. I was on top of the world, or so I thought. In 2014 I learned that I was losing my hearing from progressive sensorineural hearing loss. I slipped into a massive depression. I went back to school and got a degree in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies. My amazing teacher allowed my then 13 year old daughter to join me in my classes to learn alongside me so I would never lose communication with my children. After I graduated I looked at my daughter and said, “Now what?” She said, “Mom, you can’t lose your love of the performing arts forever. Let’s create a theater!” That evening I went to my daughter’s honors society induction. I did not register as deaf for the evening so there was not enough space for me near the interpreter. I sat on the bleachers crying as my beautiful daughter walked across that stage because I could not understand what they were saying about her. Not long after we were at a play. I was watching the interpreter that was on the floor in the corner. I thought to myself, I paid the same amount as the man sitting next to me who gets to have his eyes on the stage.
I had every right to have my eyes on the stage too. I was missing some of the biggest aspects of theater such as costumes, lighting, emotions of the actors, and sets. I said to my daughter that night, “Yes! Let’s create a theater where the actors are the interpreters. Everyone signs.” Hands Up Silent Theatre was born. We ran it as a pilot under the umbrella of my music academy for a few years. During the pandemic I decided it was time to shut down my school. I pulled Hands Up out and created it as a separate entity. I’m proud to say since November 2021 Hands Up Silent Theatre has been operating as a 501c3 nonprofit.
Encouraging the Deaf and hard of hearing communities
Our nonprofit Hands Up Silent Theatre’s mission is to encourage the d/Deaf and HOH communities to learn more about and participate in the performing arts and encourage the hearing to learn American Sign Language and interact with d/Deaf peers. Our vision is to create accessible performances for the d/Deaf, HOH, and hearing to enjoy as one! Every actor we have signs and voices at the same time which is called SIMCOM (Simultaneous Communication). If there is an actor who cannot voice or chooses not to we would supply a voice actor for them.
Impacting lives through example, community, and ASL
I pray that Hands Up Silent Theater impacts the lives of others in a few ways. I hope to encourage members of the d/Deaf and Hard Of Hearing communities that have always dreamed of stepping on a stage or on a TV set that anything is possible. The answer is yes you can! Come hang with us and we can show you how fun it can be! Also, I encourage the hearing to look at things from my point of view as a Hard Of Hearing late deafened adult. How can you do your part and make any aspect of your world accessible to not only just the d/Deaf and HOH but to any differently abled person.
Hands Up is located in Cumberland County NJ where there are a lot of underserved communities. I want to give everyone in my community the chance to learn this valuable skill of American Sign Language. There are many different jobs available for someone who is fluent in ASL such as interpreting, deaf education, deaf advocacy, and more.
The Benefits of Kristy’s Work
I think those who benefit most are my students. Some have come to me very shy trying to figure out where they belong. But when they step out on that stage I can see their true selves. The confidence in a few in particular has grown exponentially over the past 4 to 5 years. My group of students is very diverse and they come to our program because it’s a safe place for them to shine. What the students learn in the course of a year is extraordinary. They learn their lines in English, then re-learn them in a language most don’t know, then add professional choreography on top of that. There are also life skills that come out of our class such as responsibility.
In regards to our audience, there really is a depth to what they see. I set the stagework about how these students
are not professional actors or interpreters. But the shows go off without a hitch. I want my audience to see that it is not difficult to be inclusive to the d/Deaf and HOH community. Just put more thought into it. I also want the hearing community to acknowledge that there is a gap between the hearing and the d/Deaf in regards to the arts. But overall they are in for a really great show. Something most people have never experienced before. My favorite feedback was, “I didn’t know what to expect, but I certainly was not expecting that! Wow!” (Shane Pettit, father of the student who has been with us the longest, 6 years, Lily Pettit.)
Kristy the Starter
I am a starter. I don’t care how crazy the idea is. Bring it to me and I can help you get it started. I built a preschool with $100 in my pocket and an idea. The incredible women I sold it to duplicated it and now own four! I’m so proud of them. I owned a music school and taught so many talented kids. I started an ASL after school program. I’ve taught well over 500 students basic ASL. I started an ASL theater program at a school I worked for. Most of all Hailey and I started our beautiful nonprofit.
From challenges to wins
What is the biggest challenge you faced in your business?
The first challenge is within myself. Rejection is a very scary thing. I’ve been afraid for so long to be me. I was never ashamed of my hearing loss. However, There has been a time where I felt I was standing between the Deaf World and the hearing world being told I’m not Deaf enough nor hearing enough to be in either. I decided I was standing in the Kristy World which is exactly where I needed to be. I want to build bridges connecting the Deaf and hearing worlds through mine. I’ve decided to step out on the stage and show both worlds who I am and that Hands Up Silent Theatre exists.
In the physical world our biggest challenge by far is funding. There are so many things we can do with more money. We could put on more shows in a year’s time. Hold more d/Deaf/HOH Events. Most importantly create scholarships for those families that cannot afford to have their children in activities. Also to increase our Hands Up For College scholarship program. Hands Up For College is open to any of our d/Deaf, HOH, or CODA (Child Of a Deaf Adult) in any degree track and any hearing student studying Interpreting, Deaf Studies, ASL, or Deaf Education. Last year we gave a $500 scholarship to a wonderful young lady that deserved so much more.
What are you most proud of regarding your business?
My students. Every single one. I have one in particular who would like to share with you all her story. Bella was a division one swimmer with a full ride scholarship to nursing school when she learned she has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and POTS. Her joints could no longer handle the stress of swimming and the demands of nursing school. She had to withdraw. She was lost just like I was when I could no longer teach music. I see me when I look at her. Her mom signed her up for my choir class. She just fell in love with ASL. I took her under my wing and talked through options for her. I told her she can still be a part of healthcare and suggested she become a medical interpreter. She gave me an unforgettable look of hope. She joined my theater and signed up for classes at my alma mater Rowan College of Burlington County. She recently graduated with my same degree my daughter and I both have. This is where the student passes the teacher. This amazing girl was accepted to Gallaudet and Bloomsburg for interpreting! Proud is not even the word.
But if I were to choose one thing that I am most proud of? That would be my daughter Hailey. She is my right hand man, our co-founder and COO, our show translator, our teacher, my interpreter, my sound board, and most of all my best friend. Hands Up Silent Theatre would not be what it is today without her. It does not matter what crazy idea I bring to her she is always so supportive. The past two years watching her grow and step into her role of COO and stand by my side at the age of 19 is a feeling that I don’t think even has a name. Proud and beyond.
What you need to know about Kristy Whilden
Kristy is a woman who never gives up, no matter what the circumstance. She looks into the face of adversity and says, “I will not back down.” Kristy loves herself, her children, her family, her students, and the d/Deaf HOH community. She absolutely loves it when her friends come to her excited that they learned a new sign or tag her in posts from the d/Deaf community. It makes her feel seen.
Kristy is known as a person who pushed equality in the theater and literature space. She learned to be proud of herself, and will not allow her anxiety to win anymore. She encourages you all to step out of your comfort zone and do the, “Thing,” whatever that may be for you. Kristy truly believes in P. T. Barnum’s quote, “Comfort is the enemy of progress.” What she does at Hands Up is different. Why? “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” -P. T. Barnum.
Learn from and connect with Kristy
Kristy Whilden is a mother of six, teacher, entrepreneur, former nurse, and music educator with a BA from Rutgers University who owned a music school for over ten years. In 2014, Kristy was diagnosed with progressive sensorineural hearing loss. She went back to school and obtained a degree in Deaf Studies and American Sign Language from Rowan College at Burlington County. At this time her focus turned from music to musical theater. She wanted all d/Deaf eyes on the stage and not always having to rely on the interpreter on the floor. Hands Up Silent Theatre nonprofit was born. With Kristy as founder and CEO and her daughter Hailey as co-founder and COO, they encourage the d/Deaf to learn more about the performing arts and encourage the hearing to learn ASL and interact with d/Deaf peers. Together they create performances for the d/Deaf and hearing communities to enjoy as one!
Miss Whilden is now back in school earning her MFA in creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University. Although her life is d/Deaf theater, her real love is d/Deaf history and writing. As an aspiring author, published journalist, and playwright, Kristy is hoping to write novels with d/Deaf characters and representation of all abilities. It is also her goal to encourage everyone to learn ASL to help bridge communication gaps between the d/Deaf and hearing cultures and to promote inclusion and access in every aspect of life.
Find Kristy Online
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: handsup-theatre.org
If you want to meet Kristy in person, please come to an upcoming show! Check out her website or send her an email for more details.
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