ABOUT
Please click here to view my resumé.
I graduated in 2018 from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Technology, and I have since been employed by the Walt Disney Company in Creative Costuming. Throughout my time as a Disney Cast Member, I have learned many techniques for working with various specialty materials that require unique forms of handling and construction. I have also been able to use my strong communication skills as a member of a large team, many from different international backgrounds. I collaborate with them effectively across cultural and linguistic barriers in order to create products that meet the Walt Disney Company’s high standards for quality.
During the COVID-19 shutdown of Walt Disney World and its Creative Costuming department, I was furloughed between March and December 2020. In that time, I supplemented my income and filled my free time by taking sewing commissions, and making cotton face masks to help keep my community safe. I was also fortunate to be able to continue to grow my skills from home, many examples of that work can be found on my Personal Projects gallery page. In Fall 2020, I also decided to take advantage of my extra time by pursuing an online certification in Graphic Design from Wilmington University. Through this program, I learned to use a wide range of Adobe products including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator; which are invaluable my skills as a designer so that I can more effectively express my visions and ideas.
Prior to my work with Disney, as a student employee of Illinois Wesleyan’s Costume Shop, I learned valuable skills pertaining to costume history, alterations, repairs, draping, and construction that will benefit me in my future work as a well-rounded theatre technician and designer. It was often my responsibility to not only to design and build the costumes for many of our productions, but also to generate the various procedural documents that served to ensure the smooth and efficient execution of every show.
In Spring 2018, I held the role of Assistant Costume Designer for Illinois Wesleyan University's production of Rhinoceros, under Costume Designer Kyle R. Pingel. This was an educational experience for me, as it was my first time working under a guest artist who had done so much high-level professional work outside of my university setting.
Hi there, I'm Hannah
Fall 2017, I designed the costumes for South Pacific, under the direction of Scott Susong, and supervision of Curtis C. Trout. This was a large show, with thirty-two people in the cast. Through the process, my work as a designer was strengthened as I found creative solutions to all sorts of questions that my designs had to answer.
In summer 2017, I was employed as a Stitching and Wardrobe Intern at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, under the supervision of Candace Hughes. I was hired for both their Shakespeare Festival and Summer Camp season, where I worked on all costuming aspects for King Lear and Evita. I was given tasks on these shows such as planning and executing multiple alterations, crafting headpieces, and building full costumes; I then facilitated the changes of each of these during every run of the performances.
In spring 2017, I was the Costume Designer for Ladyish, a new play by Chelsea Marcantel, under the direction of Lisa Gaye Dixon. In fall 2016, I held the position of Associate Costume Designer on Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone, as well as Makeup Designer for The Boys From Syracuse, both under the supervision of Marcia McDonald.
Aside from working as a Costume Designer and Assistant Costume Designer, I have been on multiple Wardrobe crews, including positions on shows such as A Lie of the Mind and Where in the World is Frank Sparrow?. I was also on Crafts Crew for Giant and Where in the World is Frank Sparrow?, and Head of Crafts for Hamlet, which helped me to better my skills in time management and balancing of projects, and provided opportunities for me to pay close attention to detail in my projects, which I have always greatly enjoyed.