Curriculum – Costumes
Curriculum
During the first year, the course work and production assignments are designed to give the student a basic core of information and techniques. The production assignments as part of the Costume Laboratory offer a chance to serve as assistant to the designer or craftsperson, stitch for or first hand for a fellow student, and supervise undergraduates during their shop hours.
First Year:
First Semester – 12 hours total
Drama 470H – 3.0 hours — Survey of Western Costume History Honors – A survey of historic costume forms from ancient Egypt to the present. The honors section meets for an additional class and has additional requirements.
Drama 473 – 2.0 hours — Beginning Flat Pattern – Pattern drafting for theatrical costume.
Drama 587 – 2.0 hours — Seminars in Professional Practice: Millinery and Wigs. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on millinery, headdresses, and wigs
or (in alternate years)
Drama 589 – 2.0 hours – Seminars in Professional Practice: Craft Accessories. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on gloves, footwear, parasols and other period accessories, padding techniques, and macro puppet construction.
Drama 650 – 2.0 hours — Couture Methods – Construction techniques used in theatrical costume.
Drama 790 – 3.0 hours — Costume Laboratory I. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.
Second Semester – 12 hours total
Drama 474 – 2.0 hours — Beginning Draping. Patternmaking by modeling on the dress form for theatrical costume.
Drama 586 – 2.0 hours — Seminars in Professional Practice: Dyeing. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on dyeing, distressing, fabric printing and painting
or (in alternate years)
Drama 588 – 2.0 hours – Seminars in Professional Practice: Masks and Armor. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on creating masks and armor.
Drama 752 – 2.0 hours – Tailoring. Advanced construction techniques producing various style pants and a classic tailored jacket.
or (in alternate years)
Drama 667 – 2.0 hours — Design for the Body. Study of structures that reshape the body and how they can be used to change a person’s proportions.
Drama 766 – 3.0 hours –Digital Applications. Investigation of digital applications as applies to professional development for costume makers.
Drama 791 – 3 hours — Costume Laboratory II. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.
Second Year:
By the second year students begin to have their show assignments tailored to their area of concentration: management, draping or costume crafts.
First Semester – 11 Hours
Drama 587 – 2.0 hours — Seminars in Professional Practice: Millinery and Wigs. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on millinery, headdresses, and wigs
or (in alternate years)
Drama 589 – 2.0 hours – Seminars in Professional Practice: Craft Accessories. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on gloves, footwear, parasols and other period accessories, padding techniques, and macro puppet construction.
Drama 760 – 2.0 hours — Advanced Patternmaking, Part 1. Advanced techniques in flat pattern and draping, including pants, tailored jackets, bias, knits and stretch.
Drama 774 – 2.0 hours — Period Pattern: 20th Century. Study of women’s fashion in the 20th Century.
or (in alternate years )
Drama 776 – 2.0 hours – Period Pattern: Men’s Wear. Study of the sartorial arts with emphasis on the 19th and 20th Century.
Drama 784 – 1.0 hour –Costume Management. Overview of tasks encountered in shop management: sourcing and budgeting, hiring practices, conflict/resolution management, production calendar and workload.
Drama 792 – 3.0 hours – Costume Laboratory III. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.
Second Semester – 10 hours
Drama 585 – 2.0 hours — Seminars in Professional Practice: Dyeing. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on dyeing, distressing, fabric printing and painting
or (in alternate years)
Drama 588 – 2.0 hours – Seminars in Professional Practice: Masks and Armor. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on creating masks and armor.
Drama 752 – 2.0 hours – Tailoring. Advanced construction techniques producing various style pants and a classic tailored jacket.
or (in alternate years)
Drama 667 – 2.0 hours — Design for the Body. Study of structures that reshape the body and how they can be used to change a person’s proportions.
Drama 762 – 2.0 hours — Advanced Patternmaking Part 2. Advanced techniques in flat pattern and draping, including undergarments and boned bodices.
Drama 770 – 2.0 hours — Period Pattern: Pre-Victorian. Advanced study of men’s and women’s historical pattern from the 14th through the 18th Century
or (in alternate years)
Drama 772 – 2.0 hours – Period Pattern: Victorian. Advanced study of women’s historical pattern during the 19th Century.
Drama 793 – 3.0 hours — Costume Laboratory IV. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.
Third Year:
By the third year the number of class hours have decreased allowing the student more time to work exclusively on production projects for the professional company.
First Semester – 8 hours
Drama 750 –3.0 hours — Advanced Couture. Advanced construction techniques with an emphasis on corsets, reproducing a historic garment and strapless foundations.
Drama 774 – 2.0 hours — Period Pattern: 20th Century. Study of women’s fashion in the 20th Century
or (in alternate years )
Drama 776 – 2.0 hours – Period Pattern: Men’s Wear. Study of the sartorial arts with emphasis on the 19th and 20th Century.
Drama 992 – 3.0 hours –Graduate Final Practicum. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.
Second Semester – 8 Hours
Drama 764 –3.0 hours — Creative Draping. Production of unusual shapes in theatrical costume using a combination of patternmaking and dressmaking techniques.
Drama 770 – 2.0 hours — Period Pattern: Pre-Victorian. Advanced study of men’s and women’s historical pattern from the 14th through the 18th Century
or (in alternate years)
Drama 772 – 2.0 hours – Period Pattern: Victorian. Advanced study of women’s historical pattern during the 19th Century.
Drama 992 – 3.0 hours –Graduate Final Practicum. Show assignments for PlayMakers Repertory Company and the Department of Dramatic Art and costume shop support.