BIOGRAPHY
Thess Holloway is a sound designer, sound engineer, and musician. He is a current student at Oklahoma State University studying for his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Design and Technology and his Bachelor of Science in Music Industry.
“The mission of the theatre, after all, is to change, to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities.” – Arthur Miller.
Holloway’s philosophy of theatre revolves around this quote, to discover and heighten human possibility. He cares about his work because he wants to make a difference in the industries he works in no matter what project he is a part of. Thess’ influences include his family, friends, and previous instructors of his education.
Thess currently works at the McKnight Center of the Performing Arts as a stagehand. In his work, he assists in the construction of various audio setups with names or organizations such as Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He works with the Oklahoma State University Greenwood School of Music as a stage manager leading a team of stagehands in working various recitals and concerts.
For sound, Thess has worked on musicals, operas, and jazz concerts across the midwest. He has designed for Oklahoma State University's production of Small Mouth Sounds and Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's production of The Lion in Winter. He has been an audio engineer on musicals with OSU Theatre including Urinetown, Alice by Heart, and Ride the Cyclone. He has mixed voice and instruments for multiple concerts at the Greenwood School of Music. Thess worked at Tent Theatre in Springfield, MO, as the A1, setting up audio equipment and live mixing their Summer 2025 Some Enchanted Evenings Season.
Thess has also partaken in lighting projects which include design and programming for OSU Theatre Council’s productions of 24 Hour Play Fest, Freshman Showcase, and No Exit. He has designed lights in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall for Varsity Revue, produced by OSU Panhellenic and Stillystock produced by OSU Music Industry Association. Thess has been a spotlight operator for performances at the McKnight Center of the Performing Arts.
Thess enjoys writing his own music and creating sounds in his home studio. Aside from technical work, Thess has performed in musicals such as Little Women, Bright Star, and Godspell. In his free time, Thess plays video games or performs live music at local spots in his hometown, in his college town, or in his studio.
Theatre is a way to convey lessons of life to generations for the sustainability of our culture, community, and existence as we know it. The work I put into creating art is a statement that creativity and passion for the arts is an essential profession whether it is on stage, behind the scenes, or managing the entire craft. I engage in many areas of theatre to conglomerate the idea as a whole. The lighting designs I have created affect how I perform onstage. The music I analyze influences how I mix or create soundscapes. Society deserves the creativity we as a community can share. Theatre is not merely an entertainment form, it is a form of life.