Costume Construction

Opera Colorado
The Flying Dutchman
-First Hand/Pattern Maker-

Costume Designer: Madison Booth

Draper: Ted Stark

Stitchers: Andy Bruening and Amanda Bouza

Crafts: Domino Douglas

Performer: Olafur Sigurdarson

Photos: Matt Staver

Due to some scheduling issues and not having a full-time draper in our shop, I took on a more substantial role on this project than I had originally expected. Our designer first presented me with a commercial pattern she had found, which I built a mockup of and then made changes to. In addition to significant fit issues that needed to be modified, the original pattern did not entirely fit our designs. I did most of the patterning independently for this project with support from my draper over the phone and when he came in for fittings.

After fitting the first mockup, my team and I had one week to make all of the necessary revisions to the pattern, cut, and assemble the fashion layer and facings so the piece was photo-ready. These photos were crucial because they would serve as the reference image for the painting of the Dutchman, which is integral to the plot. After that, we had one more week to make final adjustments and insert the lining.

"The Dutchman himself is a wonderful opportunity for me to explore the many layers of his journey, musically and emotionally. Perhaps, I see myself in this character....Whatever it is, I am a lucky boy getting to put his coat on."
Olafur Sigurdarson, The Dutchman, Opera Colorado 2024

Original Commercial Pattern

Patterning and Mockup

Fitting Revisions

Finished Product

Glimmerglass Festival
La Calisto
-Stitcher-

Juno

Costume Designer: Carlos Soto

Juno
Draper: Julia Kosanovich
First Hand: Olivia Dilworth

Photos by Sofia Negron and Brent DeLanoy

The cutout on this gown was created by stay-stitching the silk velvet layer, cutting back the lightning bolt, and then carefully stitching in the bolt. It was constructed of a tan layer of four-way stretch spandex and blue power mesh, which was cut slightly smaller than the cutout so that it would stretch into place on the body. Sandwiched between the stretch in the shoulder was a silk chiffon cape.

Fury Doublet and Capes

Draper: Jacqui Pomeranski
First Hand: Eileen Thoma

This piece was built by carefully lining up the folds and pleats of fabric and attaching them to a coutil base. I built one of the doublets and made all four of the silk chiffon capes, which were hemmed with fishing line.

Diana Corset

Draper: Jacqui Pomeranski
First Hand: Eileen Thoma

On this piece, my job was to carefully tack the accordion-pleated material to the coutil corset base and hand sew in the piping. Around the spiral, the material was cut along the selvedge so it wouldn't unravel, and the inside edge was stay-stitched and covered by the next layer.

Glimmerglass Festival
Romeo and Juliet
-Stitcher-

Wing Collar Cape

Show Photos: Evan Zimmerman
Costume Designer: Loren Shaw
Draper: Elisabeth Roskos
First Hand: Olivia Dilworth
Apprentice: Sky Sandner

Removable Cuffs and Wrist Ruffs

Lace Applique Apron

Glimmerglass Festival
Pirates of Penzance
-Stitcher-

Costume Designer: James Schutte
Drapers: Jacqui Pomeranski, Julia Kosanovich, and Aryn Murphy
First Hands: Eileen Thoma, Olivia Dilworth, and Max Cotman

Photos by Sofia Negron and Brent DeLanoy

The majority of my work on this package was spent patching and mending the silk taffeta dresses worn by the sisters, which were beginning to dry rot. Since we did not have matching fabric for all of the pieces, I did my best to make the patches as seamless as possible.

Glimmerglass Festival
Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children
-First Hand-

Costume Designer: Erik Teague
Assistant Designer: Sky Sandner
Draper: Eileen Thoma
Other First Hand: Jacob Galos
Stitcher: Natalie Saint-Rossy

Photos by Sofia Negron and Brent DeLanoy

TASCO Couture
Commission for Light in the Piazza
at Central City Opera
-Stitcher-

After graduating from the University of Colorado in May of 2022, I had the pleasure of spending the first part of my summer working with my mentor and former professor Ted Stark at his business TASCO Couture. We created a number of costumes for the Central City Opera and the Spoleto Festival. These are some of the pieces I had the greatest hand in creating.

TASCO Couture
Commission for La Bohéme
at Spoleto Festival
-Stitcher-

1830s Dress
University of Colorado
Costume Patterning and Construction Class

For this course, we were tasked with creating a gown by taking it through the draping and patterning process to the finished product. The dresses we created were in the style of the 1830sm, based on our research, and made from a fabric assigned by our instructor.

Rigoletto
Opera Colorado
Stitcher

Regency Era Dress
University of Colorado

Made in quarantine in my apartment as supplemental stock for future productions of a Broadway Christmas Carol. The piece was made for quick changes with a boned, corset-like under layer and and built-in petticoat. It has yet to be fit on a model due to the pandemic.

Vest and Coat
University of Colorado
Tailoring Class

For this course we patterned a pair of trousers and cut and assembled a vest and a coat. We learned skills such as tailors' basting, welt pockets, and creating structure with collar and hair canvas. This course was completed in Fall of 2020 and the coat project was moved to my parent’s house in California halfway through completion.

Broadway Christmas Carol
University of Colorado
-First Hand/Pattern Maker-

Broadway Christmas Carol is a modern, musical take on the classic Christmas Carol story by Charles Dickens. For this show I was tasked with the creation of the costumes for Fred’s Christmas Party which were designed as a cross between traditional Victorian, and an ugly Christmas sweaters.

Costume Design By Ted Stark

In addition to the Christmas sweaters, I sized and modified for all the men's pants for the show. This process included comparing the measurements of the actors, and then modifying the pattern for each size created.