Where are you from?
I grew up in Bloomington, located in central Illinois. I moved to Dallas, Texas at age 21 to pursue a costume designer internship and moved to Austin at the start of the pandemic to finish my college education.
Were you involved in theatre when you were in high school? Any past theatre experience on stage or behind the scenes?
Yes, though I got into theater by accident. When I was 12 years old, I was pressured into auditioning for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and was cast as Augustus Gloop. I continued acting for the local summer theater in Bloomington throughout Junior High and High School, in addition to performing in school productions.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in Costume/Makeup Design?
It has always been my dream to be a costume designer, with a goal of working in either film, television production, or theater. Obtaining a degree in this field is a way to set myself up for success and achieve my lifelong goals.
Can you tell us a bit about your design process?
I love to first dive into research to become inspired by my findings. I enjoy employing pattern, texture, and color into my designs that are meaningful, and evoke emotion. My favorite kind of design abstract work, for example, creating dinosaurs or animals out of everyday wardrobe.
What were the reasons you decided to enroll in the AAS Degree program at Austin Community College?
I was astonished how fast paced the program is and that it combines a lot of upper classman style classes from a major university into 2 years. There are minimal gen-ed requirements, and a huge emphasis providing students with the tools needed to succeed in the theatre or film business. The flexibility provided by this program has allowed me to come closer to fulfilling my aspirations, while also being employed full-time.
Any favorite classes in the Drama Department and why? Important things you have learned so far?
My favorite classes have been Collaborative Design and The History of Theater Tech. Collaborative design, although challenging at times, has taught me to work better as a collaborator and helped me with the administrative aspect of working on productions. As for The History of Theater Tech, I was fascinated to learn where different aspects of theater derive from such as special effects, the evolution of costumes, and the histories of various design movements.
What designs have you been currently working on in class this semester?
This semester has been project heavy. Currently, I am working on a 12-panel corset for Flat Pattern class, building prosthetics based on an ominous Tooth Fairy in Character Makeup class, using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to bring my costume designs to life, and finishing my “Makeup Morgue” with past work from this semester.
