Holly Thomas

Holly is honored to be a part of the Trap; Chicago’s triumphant purveyor of all that is obscure, out of this country, and rather “out of this world”. She has worked as an actor and company member at Trap Door Theater since 2004 and has been Trap’s Grant Manager since fall of 2007 ever striving to put food on the artistic table. Trap Door credits include The Sheep in The Garden of Delights, Emma in Amerikafka, Babushka in The Fourth Sister, Eva in Eva Peron, and most recently as the wife in both the Chicago and touring produciton of Horses at the Window. Holly is also an accomplished cellist and has performed and composed in three of Trap Door’s productions. A Chicago resident of ten years, Holly has had the pleasure of working with many progressive theatre companies throughout the region, such as Redmoon, Defiant, The Factory, The Griffin, Chicago Dramatists, Utopia Train, UFISH, and Ludicrous. Holly has also appeared in several films and particpated various local readings; she is a commited advocate for the arts community. Education credits include a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon and a Masters in Library Science from Domincan University.

"a gutter-regal central performance by Holly Thomas as Eva"
-Time Out Chicago


"Holly Thomas' Eva is a regally demanding, humorously wicked creation...she anchors the production with a statuesque grace and haughty sense of amusement"
-Chicago Free Press

"Beata Pilch, Nicole Wiesner, Carolyn Shoemaker and Holly Thomas anchor and carry the frantic absurdist farce...Trap Door Theatre's ensemble has so much fun it becomes contagious."
(The Fourth Sister)
-Tom Williams, Chicago Critic

"the third one—featuring tour de force performances by Trap Door company members Holly Thomas and John Kahara—comes closest to conveying some emotional stakes"
- Fabrizio O. Almeida, New City Chicago

"In a play full-to-bursting with striking visual metaphors, the pas de trois among Kahara, Thomas and a cello is first among equals"
- Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago

Holly Thomas’s inclusion of live cello music to her characterization renders lovely additional depth and melancholy
- Venus Zarris, Chicago Stage Review

"A counterpoint to all of them is wan, delicate Holly Thomas, half naked and bowing her rich-toned cello while John Kahara's husband raves about the creative power of war"
- Tony Adler, Chicago Reader