Costume design and small world connections.
You have worked on many shows with SDMT but how did get into the industry?
I began costume designing as a way to be involved with my kids theater productions and help out! I started with youth shows at our church and continued with other youth community productions. My first Hairspray my daughter played Penny and I was asked to assist designing several of the costumes and I loved it! In a short time I was offered to be paid for my costume design of youth shows and was thrilled! When the Welk Theatre was looking for a new designer, my experience from Hairspray opened the door.
A little known fact about me is that I was a Tupperware manager for 9 years. My last few years I was with Party Plastics. I ran into the Lewis’s at the San Diego Performing Arts League awards where they discovered I was involved in costume design. They were looking for a new designer, so it was a small world connection!
What was the first show you designed?
My first professional production was How to Succeed in Business at Welk Theatre. My first SDMT show was Chicago! With a short break while moving I have costumed most productions at SDMT since 2013!
How do you design a show that has been done many times, and still have it be uniquely your design?
Every show is different, and we don’t always have the luxury of designing and building all of our costumes. This is my fourth time costuming Hairspray and it is different every time. I take my design cues from the director, choreographer and other designers on the team. We select the best of what is available at rental houses and build and/or edit other costumes to bring the look we want to the stage. Of course, there are also some iconic looks included in Hairspray which audiences look forward to seeing, such as Welcome to the 60’s. We have edited some existing costumes to make them even more spectacular all the way down to the shoes!
What is the most challenging part of collaborating with production designers, costume designers, or other production staff to discuss and execute costume design details?
That is probably the easiest part of my job! I love the collaboration process, working with the other designers the artistic team and the actors to help bring the characters to life!
What has been the biggest challenge working on Hairspray?
The most difficult challenges will be the quick changes in Hairspray! There are many quick changes from one character to another and onstage changes too! the biggest and most fun is Welcome to the 60’s with Edna and Tracy in 30 second transformations!
What is your favorite character to costume in this show and why?
Edna is the best! Costuming men in women’s costumes is my favorite. Seeing Edna come to life is so much fun! It takes input from the entire team- actor, director, costumes, makeup and wigs to bring Edna to life! And every Edna I have worked with has had their own way of approaching her. This is a fun one!
