Through this course, I learned a lot of new skills. I was given the opportunity to sew, distress and dye fabric, create several different types of braids in hair and wigs, and organize the costume shop. 

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I really enjoyed working in the costume shop for Southwestern Universities production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I was given two major tasks on this show: building the showgirl headdresses and braiding the actors' hair.

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Not only were the showgirl headdresses built custom for each actor, but I was given the challenge of adding colorful lights to them. I really enjoyed being able to incorporate my passion for lighting into my education in the costume shop.

 

In addition to working on the showgirl headdresses, I was also given the opportunity to braid most of the actors' hair so that it was easy to hide under their wigs. The costume shop manager assigned me this task when he found out that I often braid horses' manes at equestrian competitions. 

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Another show that I really enjoyed working on was Southwestern University's production of A Bright Room Called Day. I was given two major tasks on this show: build Die Alte's dress and style Die Alte's wig. 

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Working on Die Alte's dress was an intimidating task that I was excited to attack. An old wedding dress was pulled from our stock and used as a skeleton. I cut and  distressed fabric and pulled plastic flowers that I later sewed onto the wedding dress, gloves, and corset. Once all of the piece was built, I dyed the fabric with several shades of purple and brown.

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Styling Die Alte's wig was probably the most enjoyable task I was given in the costume shop. I have always enjoyed styling horses' manes. Through this process, I found that I also enjoy styling people's hair as well. I was given a lot of creative freedom with this project. I was able to incorporate seven different types of braids into this wig and weaved small plastic flowers in to match the dress.