Meet the Founders

Hands Up Silent Theatre is inspired by the personal life experiences of Kristy Whilden and her daughter Hailey. Hands Up Silent Theatre located in Millville New Jersey has produced many theatrical productions along with several dozen community events and educational programs over the past 6 years. The program has taught over five hundred students basic ASL through theater and reached thousands through its annual productions, shows, and classes.  

Kristy is the Co-Founder-CEO-Director of Hands Up Silent Theatre, #1 International Bestselling Author (buy here), Editor, Playwright, Published Journalist, a former Music School and Preschool Owner, Teacher, Vice President of the Société Laurent Clerc, and Nurse. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Rutgers University, Degree in Deaf Studies/ ASL from RCBC and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at SNHU. 

Hailey Whilden is the Co-founder-COO-Head Teacher of Hands Up Silent Theatre. She holds an Associates in Applied Science in ASL/Deaf Studies from Rowan College at Burlington County, and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at Rowan University set to graduate in August 2024.

Kristy was a music educator for 10 years until 2014 when she learned that she was losing her hearing due to progressive sensorineural hearing loss. She was absolutely devastated as she thought this meant she would lose her music and ability to enjoy the performing arts forever. She was scared of what it meant to lose her hearing and become part of the d/Deaf community. She spiraled into a massive depression that landed her and her children in a shelter. She went back to school and obtained a degree in Deaf Studies/American Sign Language. Her amazing professors allowed her to bring Hailey to class to learn ASL right alongside her so she would not lose communication with her children. Hailey then encouraged her mom to co-create a theater where everyone signs so she does not lose her love of the performing arts forever. Right then and there Hands Up Silent Theatre was created.

When Hailey was 12 years old, she found out her mother Kristy Whilden was losing her hearing. At that time she had little to no knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) or Deaf Culture. Hailey was afraid she would one day completely lose the ability to communicate with her mother. When bringing up this concern, Kristy explained that her professor would allow Hailey to attend the ASL course she was taking because he knew how important their communication was. Hailey was shy at first going from her 7th grade classroom to a classroom full of college students. Kristy’s professor Elias helped Hailey come out of her shell and become more confident in learning a second language. A couple years passed and Hailey entered high school. She started struggling with her mental health and about a month into her sophomore year she decided to withdraw from school and get her GED. At 18 she graduated with her Associates of Applied Science in ASL/Deaf Studies, the same degree her mother received. She is now working on her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Because she struggled with her own mental health issues as a teen, she strives to make Hands Up a safe place where everyone feels welcomed into the “Hands Up” family.

Kristy and Hailey promote equality in everything they do with a passion for enhancing the lives of those that enjoy theater by creating for her audience an experience that allows everyone's eyes d/Deaf and hearing alike to be on the stage enjoying the acting/dancing/props/lighting etc. together as it is meant to be. The program also changes the lives of those on the stage by building confidence and life skills as most of the students have never signed, acted or danced until they joined Hands Up Silent Theatre. The program today has students with varying degrees of hearing loss. The goal of the Theatre is to reach an equal 50 d/Deaf / 50 hearing student participation. Some of their students are now off to college studying to be Deaf Educators and Interpreters!

With vision and a great passion for the performing arts as the foundation, Kristy and Hailey lead a team of industry professionals that bring choreography, dance, and American Sign Language interpretation to life through its students and productions.