Teresa M. Leggard is a Brooklyn-born, Jersey-raised, Midwest transplant. She earned a B.A. from Spelman College and an MFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Teresa came to theatre through poetry and to performance through directing. Most recently she originated the role of Oletha Smithfield in ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR at the Coterie Theatre. Her directing credits include: AKEELAH AND THE BEE and ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR (Coterie Theatre), ONTARIO WAS HERE (Lied Center of Kansas – University of Kansas); PIPELINE (The Unicorn Theatre); PASS OVER (Olathe Civic Theatre); THE GREEN BOOK WINE CLUB TRAIN TRIP and SINGLE BLACK FEMALE (KC Melting Pot Theatre); EVERY 28 HOURS (Fishtank Theatre); GUMBO HOUSE (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, independent production); as well as staged readings for The Unicorn Theatre, Midwest Dramatist Center, Westport Center for the Arts, Olathe Civic Theatre, and Johnson County Heritage Center. She is happy and grateful to be participating in the William Inge Theatre Festival.