Above: Left to right:
Bingo caller design sketch.
Bingo caller inspiration.
Mr. Antrobus, act 1 inspiration.
Can you tell us about your journey towards becoming a costume designer?
I’ve been interested in costumes all my life. I grew up watching all the 1970’s variety shows, particularly The Carol Burnett Show and even at a young age I could see that the clothes were part of what made it all work. I mean, the classic ‘Went With the Wind’ dress did so much storytelling and provided an amazing laugh before Carol said a word!
I was around theatre a lot. My parents helped to run a community theatre, and I caught the bug. I did everything throughout my teen and college years—Acting, Costume Design, Stage Management and Directing. In college I really focused on Design and Directing, it could have gone either way but I ended up in graduate school at West Virginia University for Costume Design. I love designing characters and their wardrobes. And I think that Directing and Design are so intertwined—you have to know the play, how it works, how it’s constructed in order to do both jobs well.
What were your initial design ideas after reading The Skin of Our Teeth for the first time?
It’s been a long time since I had read the play but upon re-reading it, I was struck by how timely it is. It could have been written this year. How did Thorton Wilder conceive of this show in 1942 that speaks so clearly to our current state of affairs?
Which character are you the most excited to design in this show?
I would have to say Sabina. I’m not even sure why I say that but in my mind she’s a survivor, an every-person who is just trying to get from day to day, and she struggles with the big questions. Plus, she speaks out against injustice, there are things she will not do and actions she will not repeat. She is in control of her destiny... well, until she’s not. Although I think all the characters are interesting and complex, they all have nuances that are fun to think about and visualize.
