Born and raised in Virginia, to parents who met while performing in an opera, it was no shock that my family (who often quotes movies and musicals in normal conversation) would have a child who pursued the arts. Looking back, my first introduction to musicals was the tape of Pirates Of Penzance with Kevin Kline and Rex Smith that my parents recorded, which my sister and I played over and over and over again.
My costume design journey began a tad bit differently. My older sister began Figure Skating when she was younger, and because my sister was doing it, I HAD to do it to! At 4 years old my parents signed me up for classes and I began competing shortly after.
Figure skating is NOT a cheap sport. Luckily, I have a very talented mother who took it upon herself to make our competition dresses, which eventually turned into an entire business (Sacks N’ Brand Ice Designs) where she is still creating amazing dresses for skaters around the world. For many years I was her human dress form, I became immune to pin stabs at a very young age. Slowly, I moved from dress form, to helper, to designer, to seamstress. The whole way, my mother teaching me everything I know today about sewing.
While pursing my ACTING degree in Undergrad at Longwood University many of my classmates were discussing plans for the summer. As everyone rattled off what internship they had and what professional companies they were going to work for, I was still looking. A friend of mine had met a representative from Dogwood Dell’s Festival of the Arts in Richmond, VA and suggested I look into it. I lived in Richmond, it was PERFECT! The only position they were still interviewing for was for the costume staff member. I had done some wardrobe work in undergrad and some sewing for theatre but, at that point, my resume was VERY short. I went ahead anyways and interviewed with them. A week later, I had a job lined up for the summer (and for 4 summers after that)! At Dogwood Dell, everyone did everything. I was a painter, a carpenter, an electrician, a security guard, on top of being a costume artist.
My first season with Dogwood Dell, I was promoted quickly and by the time the musical came around in late summer, I was promoted to assistant designer. Spamalot was my first time as any kind of designer for costumes and that show is entirely to blame for my costume design career!
FUN FACT! During the build process for Spamalot, I had to create the flying cow for the show. He was constructed entirely of pillows, and his name is Carl the Cow
After one summer of being a costume designer, I changed course in undergrad and started teaching myself costume history and began looking closer at how garments were made. I was still performing but when I was not on stage, I was in the costume shop.
After graduating from Longwood University, I was hired with the Richmond Ballet. My first year with them I was the Assistant Company Manager, responsible for the day to day schedules for the professional dancers. My second year, I was a costume artist in the Costume Shop. Where I learned all about costuming for ballets, and I learned more and more about sewing with fabrics that were not spandex. I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of Ballets, from new works to established story ballets like Cinderella, and The Nutcracker (wings courtesy of the Sugar Plum Fairy) If it was not for the amazing mentors I had in the shop at the Ballet, I would not be half of the costume technician I am today. With the support of my family and my co-workers, I decided Graduate School was the next step!
In the Fall of 2019, I drove from Virginia to San Marcos, Texas and began my graduate career at Texas State University. Prior to my graduate career, I had not taken an art class since elementary school. Now I have over 5 portfolios full of sketches, renderings, and studies. Even with the Covid 19 Pandemic hitting during my time in Graduate School, I was still a part of some incredible productions and met so many talented people.
My thesis project, Father Comes Home From The Wars Part 1 & 2 (cool action shot right?) was an experience I will NEVER forget. The design team, the cast, the final product, all of it still gives me chills when I think about it. I presented my designs for this show at South Eastern Theatre Conference in 2022 and placed 3rd in the Graduate Design Competition and received the Ready to Design Award.
Life post graduating has been full of many different adventures! I am a dog mom to TWO pit bulls, a self-proclaimed corporate Barbie, and a workout enthusiast. I even got to meet my idol, Edna Mode on a recent pilgrimage to Disney (NO CAPES!). I have worked across MANY different professional companies such as Firehouse Theatre, Virginia Children’s Theatre, Chamberlayne Actors Theatre, and more designing costumes for plays and musicals. I am the resident designer for Sacks N’ Brand Ice Designs (remember that from earlier?) and working with them on individual skaters, theatre on ice teams, and synchronized skating teams (including my own team!). In 2023 I even designed for my very first film project and shortly after, my second film project!
What’s next? It is still being designed!
Jeopardy clues about Katherine!
I am a HUGE Star Wars Fan
I even have my own lightsaber!
I have Two Rescue dogs, Piper & Bella
And if you ask me about them, I will NEVER shut up.
I am still a Figure Skater
My sister and I even skate together on the local Synchronized team!