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.