Thomas Schultheis

As a performer, teaching artist, choreographer, and arts education advocate, Thomas Schultheis has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for himself and others, bringing people together, encouraging connection and reflection while celebrating individual uniqueness. 

Thomas performed on Broadway in the revival of Grease! as well as tours of Grease!, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Chicago, and South Pacific. Off-Broadway he was an original cast member of the musical, Bed, Boys, & Beyond (Original Cast Recording). 

He is a teaching artist, adjudicator, and keynote speaker for numerous academies, competitions, festivals, intensives, invitationals, and showcases. He has created the “Aspiring Artist Crash Course”, “Creativity & Inspiration Workshop”, “Let Me Try That Again”, “Musical Theatre Exploration Clinic”, “Signs & Synchronicity”, and “TikTok Musicals: Exploration & Activation.”

As a choreographer, his credits include off-Broadway productions of original work with the cast of Broadway’s [title of show] at Performance Space 122, Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Peck, Doodle, Hallelujah! at the All American Melodrama Theater, Goldirocks at the Golden State Theatre, and productions for over a dozen high schools & colleges.

As an arts education advocate, Thomas is Dean of Admissions with The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, on the Creative Team with the Musical Theatre Competitions of America, Theatre Consultant for the REACH (Race, Equity, Arts and Cultural History) Grant, and Teaching Artist with Dramatic Results®. 

He is a Board Member of the Arts Schools Network, California Educational Theatre Association, and is part of the Actors Equity Association, Educational Theatre Association, Teaching Artist Alliance, and the Teaching Artist Support Collaborative of California.

Thomas also worked for The Walt Disney Company for 15 years, primarily as the Disney Youth Programs Sales Manager for Disney Performing Arts at the Disneyland® Resort. Under his award-winning leadership, his team created “Disney Performing Arts presents: An Educators Summit: Inspiring Brilliance”, a 2-day Summit that hosted educators from around the world. He also developed the first individual workshop opportunity for students at The Walt Disney Company called “Disney Performing Arts Open Enrollment” and the first “Disney Performing Arts Conservatory.” 

He received his Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from National University and his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from James Madison University.

As foster parents, he and his spouse were recognized as Outstanding ISFC Resource Parents for the County of Los Angeles as well as honored by Raise a Child Organization’s Let Love Define Family Award.