Emily Heilig started her theatrical career as an actress receiving a BFA in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. Having learned how to sew from her mother, Emily found solace in the costume shop. She took extra courses focused in costuming and volunteered whenever possible. After graduating, Emily worked in Richmond, VA for two years as a Theatre for Young Audiences actor with Theatre IV On Tour. To make some extra money, she worked overhire in their costume shop and found her life’s calling. After becoming Assistant Director of Costumes (eventually Interim Director), Emily knew her draping/patterning skills were lacking and decided it was time to pursue an MFA in Costume Production.

In 2008, Emily received her MFA in Costume Production from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While attending, she created costumes for PlayMakers’ Repertory Company and Carolina Ballet; including working with multi Tony award winner, William Ivey Long. At Chapel Hill, she focused in costume crafts honing her skills and passion for millinery, armor, and fabric manipulation. From Chapel Hill, Emily moved to NYC for a dream job; working for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Her career progressed from there; working on Duloc wigs for the Broadway premiere of Shrek the Musical, creating hats and dressing a production with Cirque du Soleil Special Events, and managing the costume shop at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD.

Emily then married her husband, Todd Heilig, and moved to Chattanooga, TN for the role of a lifetime; being stepmom to Todd’s three boys. She put her career on hold for awhile but eventually started teaching at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Living there also allowed her the opportunity to work on the film, 42, and become a proud member of IATSE Local 492 - Studio Mechanics in Wardrobe. The film starred, then unknown, Chadwick Boseman, before he became Black Panther. Working on 42 is one of Emily’s most treasured experiences both as a costumer and as a trained actor. She deeply believes in the life changing effects of sharing others’ stories through art, be it stage or film, verbal or physical.

From there, the Heilig family moved home, to North Carolina, where Emily was a Fulltime Lecturer in Costume Production and Costume Crafts Supervisor for The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She had the joy and honor of mentoring students while creating diversely creative costumes alongside them. These are six precious years to Emily as she has a passion for sharing theatrical knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Emily stays in contact with numerous students and cheers them all on, she always will. Since then she has worked for Santa Fe Opera, Maine State Music Theatre, Charlotte Ballet, and Cedar Fair Parks’ Carowinds.

Emily is, currently, enjoying freelance costuming and commission work while living in Charlotte, NC. She also owns a children’s clothing company, Emelye Nichole Couture.