Date of Defense

12-12-2025

Date of Graduation

12-2025

Department

Theatre

First Advisor

Kathryn Wagner

Second Advisor

Julia Kisanovich

Abstract

The opportunity to design Cats the musical at Western Michigan University taught me a lot about costume design as a whole. I had to use a vastly different process than I am used to for this. To start designing any show, the first step after reading the script is design meetings. In the first design meeting, you discuss the show and the director’s overall concepts, and based on that concept, each area designer creates their own concept based on the director’s. The vision as far as costumes, was human clothing with cat-like embellishments. After setting my concept and reading the script again, I started the research process. Research for this show was different than any other show I have done. Instead of thinking of characters and characteristics, I was thinking about real-world cats and personalities. For my research, I asked my friends, peers, and mentors to send me a picture of their cats and a little bit about their personalities. Then came the challenge of translating cat coat colors and textures as well as fur on everyday human clothing. After internet research, I created a presentation to share at the next design meeting. Here, designers can share their research and get feedback from the director and the other designers. While presenting, each designer takes notes and returns with revised research or implements their revised research in the next step of their process. The next step for costume design is to make rough sketches. At the following design meeting, I presented my sketches and got critiques. I was also shown the cast list and was able to then create my final renderings. Renderings are the final-colored costume designs. The media I used was an alcohol marker and then also various yarns, threads, and feathers to create the fur texture I was looking for. After the rendering was approved by the director, the costume shop had the performers in for measurement, then I was able to pull or buy the clothing and supplies necessary. Once clothing comes in, the performers are called back for fittings. Once the clothing is fitted to the performers, embellishments such as paint, fur, or yarn are added. The show opened on October 24th and closed on November 9th.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

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