Graduate Studies: Costume Production: Alumni
Graduates
Reina Alirez has been privileged to work as a Tailors Assistant for the San Francisco Opera and as a Second Hand for the Los Angeles Opera for full-time work. For side projects, she has been involved with the construction of entertainment productions designed by Bob Mackie for Holland America Cruise Lines, has built and constructed garments for national commercials for such products as Absolute Vodka and Virgin Mobile, and has been involved with costume work and styling for musical artists such as Robin Thicke, Ne-Yo, and Barry Manilow’s latest Las Vegas production. Reina was also able to work of various items for the most recent Black Eyed Peas domestic concert tour. She is happy to be a part of such a full array of projects and has used every morsel of knowledge she learned from her graduate scholastic career at UNC.
Jacki Blakeney Armit, a Mississippi native, is the Professor of Practice – Costume Technology at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. After grad school, Jacki served as the Costume Studio Coordinator for the Department of Theatre at Auburn University. Jacki’s work as a Draper, First Hand, Stitcher and Crafts Artisan has been seen on the stages of Utah Shakespearean Festival, The Alley Theatre (Houston, TX) and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Jacki also holds the distinction of Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. She has been an instructor at North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Session – Introduction to Stage Combat, High School for Performing and Visual Arts (Houston, TX), Georgia Shakespeare Festival (Atlanta, GA) and the Atlanta Stage Combat Studio.
Jade Bettin teaches Western Costume History in addition to Costume Design for the Technician and Psychology of Clothing at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Jade has designed Blue Door and was the assistant designer for Nicolas Nickelby. She will serve as assistant designer for the upcoming Angels in America. She has designed the Summer Youth Conservatory shows for the last three years.
Brooks Ann Camper worked for several years in New York City as a milliner for Broadway and other theatrical productions (including Mama Mia1, Wicked, and Radio City’s Rockettes) at Lynne Mackey Studios. She also spent her summers during graduate school working at Costumes and Creatures on Jim Henson’s Muppets. Brooks Ann has since moved back to the Chapel Hill area where she is the owner, designer and dressmaker of her own custom couture wedding dress business: Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture. She works individually with each bride to design and create a one-of-a-kind ensemble perfect for her unique figure, personality and wedding day. You can visit her website at: www.brooksann.com
Lisa Davis is teaching technology at University of Florida.
Randy Handley has most recently been the Head of Wardrobe for Banana Shpeel for Cirque du Soleil. He has also worked at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival as Costume Shop Manager. Randy has spent many summers over the past 10 years working at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He has also created the Computer Aided Paperwork System (C.A.P.S.) used to help track the progress of costumes during the production process. www.randyhandley.com
Spencer Henderson has been an instructor and costume shop manager for the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC since 2008. He also has been the costume shop manager for Williamstown theatre Festival for the ’09 & ’10 summer seasons. Spencer has designed two shows for Workshop Theatre in Columbia and is also an advisory board member for SC Pride.
Hui-Lin (Lydia) Huang is on leave from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts. She is recently married and living in Holland with her husband. She is planning to start a millinery business in her new location.
Jennifer Jacob recently was an assistant on Addam’s Family Musical and is now working at Carelli Costumes on Elf.
Iisha Lemming worked at Corelli Costume in New York and Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey before moving to Nashville TN and starting her own business. One of her clients is Dolly Parton. http://stitchedllc.com
Marcy Linton has just received tenure at University of Virginia, teaching Costume Technology.
Kerri Martinsen has returned to North Carolina to become the new Costume Director at Carolina Ballet
Kara Monroe has recently moved to Nashville TN to work with Iisha Lemming at http://stitchedllc.com
Amy Page is currently an Assistant Professor of Costume Technology at Oklahoma City University.
Amanda Phillips is currently working for John Kristiansen as a first hand. Previously this year she worked at Parson-Meares on Shrek: the Musical tour.
Erin Korey Proud is a firsthand/draper at John Kristiansen’s studio in New York City. Most recently she has worked on the Broadway shows Hair, American Idiot and Fences, staring Denzel Washington. She has previously worked at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Tricorne, Boston Ballet, Huntington Theatre Company and Santa Fe Opera. Erin is also a mother to the cutest baby in the world, Amos Leo.
Denise Wagner is a draper at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.
Daniel Weger is a first hand and junior tailor at Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, DC.
Laura Wigginton is currently the Education Program Director for the Virginia Opera Association in Norfolk, VA. She is currently heading an Education Partnership with Richmond CenterStage in Richmond, VA. When time allows she has done some design work at Generic Theatre and Little Theatre of Norfolk. www.vaopera.org
Undergraduates
Laurie Bailey graduated with a double major in Music History and Dramatic Art in 1997. She worked as a stitcher/first hand at the Alliance from 1998-2000 and moved to L.A. She worked freelance for both theatre and film from 2000-2002 and part-time 2002-2005 while she was in graduate school. Laurie got her MLIS from San Jose State University in 2005 and worked as the Costume and Textiles Librarian at the L. A. County Museum of Art from 2005-2006. Laurie is currently the Youth Services Librarian for the San Diego Public Library.
Grier Coleman designs regularly at the Juilliard School, assisting Anne Kennedy and Clint Ramos. She has also done crafts at the Public Theatre and New Jersey Shakespeare. She has also worked as a painter/dyer for Hair on Broadway and the London tour.
Jean Devine has been working for Ralph Lauren for the past five years designing children’s sweaters, but has recently moved to the Home Department as a textile designer. She feels fortunate to be part of a company that has so many divisions. She expects her career to transition between clothing and fabric—all expanding her knowledge of the industry as a whole.
Eleanor Fluharty graduated from UNC in 2001 and moved to Montgomery, AL to work for Alabama Shakespeare Festival. After her first year as a stitcher, she moved up to first hand. She has worked as first hand and draper for Utah Shakespearean Festival and California Musical Theatre. She is currently the draper for Sacramento Theatre Company in CA. Though she received her MFA from the University of Texas, she will always be grateful for the skills she gained while at Carolina.
Pei Lee received her MFA from University of Connecticut and was a costume designer for the Olney Theatre. Pei has recently moved to Seattle.
Nora Pedersen graduated in '01 with a BA in Dramatic Arts. She worked in New York for one year at The Juilliard School as an assistant designer through their Professional Internship Program. She then packed up and headed to Los Angeles to work in costumes for film, where she continues to work. She is now a member of both The Costume Designers Guild and The Costumers Union which support union film, tv, and commercial work in Los Angeles.
Tiffany Verch is the set costumer for Blood Done Sign My Name and other film/TV work based in Wilmington, NC
Marion Williams has designed both sets and costumes for PlayMakers Repertory Company. Her website tells it all: www.MarionWilliamsDesign.com
