Imagine a costume designer hunched over a sewing machine, stitching a gown destined to shimmer under stage lights, or sculpting a foam headpiece for a fantastical character.
In Oklahoma, this isn’t a mere pastime; it’s a vibrant career path shaped by institutions like the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oklahoma City University (OKCU). Through programs such as UCO’s Theatre Design and Technology, OU’s Drama BFA with an Emphasis on Costume Design, and OKCU’s Theatre Design and Production, Oklahomans are honing skills that secure them jobs at high schools, colleges and cultural hubs like Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Some even catapult their talents nationwide – from Broadway stages to cruise ships, or a UCO grad now painting scenery at Universal Orlando Resort.
These programs extend far beyond costume making, offering a rich array of specialties: lighting design, sound engineering and production management. At UCO, the Theatre Arts Department, housed within the College of Fine Arts and Design, aligns its mission with the university’s broader vision. Becky McGuigan, associate professor of costume design and technical program head, says the program emphasizes educating students holistically through transformative experiences, a process enriched by participation in live theater production.
Faculty mentors shepherd students through costume, scenic, lighting, media and sound design, collaborating on productions spanning creative mediums like theater, opera, musical theater and dance. This interdisciplinary grind equips students with practical expertise and connections to diverse performers and directors.
OKCU mirrors this hands-on ethos. Alyssa Couturier-Herndon, professor of costume design and technology, explains that their BFA in costuming hones in on design and production, distinct from broader theater degrees. Students master collaboration, drawing, painting, sewing, pattern-making and administrative skills, then are put to work assisting designers, crafting costumes or designing shows for OKCU’s operas, musicals and plays. Partnerships with Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and OKC Ballet further expand their scope.
Couturier-Herndon dismantles a persistent stereotype: “I think there is a misconception that the only thing you can do with a degree in costuming is to become a designer.”
She points out that for every designer role, ten technical positions exist alongside – like costume shop manager, draper, wardrobe crew or craft artisan. These craftspeople might mold accessories from thermoplastics or forge bespoke jewelry, showcasing the field’s breadth. McGuigan reinforces this, noting UCO grads land regional, national and international gigs in live theater, theme parks, cruise lines and film, often joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
OU’s impact shines just as bright. Lloyd Cracknell, associate professor of costume design at the Helmerich School of Drama, shares that recent grads have served as costume designers for live performance, including Broadway, film and TV, including the television series The Gilded Age and New Amsterdam, adding, “there are many other backstage jobs, including wig design and maintenance, dressers and many summer stock jobs all over the country. Then we have had many students go on to M.F.A programs and form their own companies or give back by going into teaching.”
Oklahoma’s theater programs aren’t just degrees, they’re springboards. Whether through UCO’s transformative collaboration, OKCU’s practical precision, or OU’s far-reaching influence, these institutions forge professionals ready to illuminate stages or weave magic backstage.
Costume design, it turns out, is a craft of boundless horizons.
