Costume Design and Technology

CCM's admissions process begins on August 1 for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 3 (for BFA applicants) and March 3 (for MFA applicants) to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.

Our philosophy for the Costume Design and Technology Program is best simply stated: costume designers communicate better with costume technicians when they have a working knowledge of the elements and areas of costume technology; costume technicians communicate better with costume designers when they have a working knowledge of the process and elements of costume design. Therefore, both the BFA and MFA degrees emphasize the dual importance of design and technology. As an individual artist, your strength may lie in one area or the other, yet knowledge of both is critical in this collaborative art. And, as is often the case, entry-level positions in professional costume shops and theaters frequently tend to be in technology (cutting, draping, crafts, paint/dye) and wardrobe and less frequently in design. Our program recognizes this fact and addresses it honestly.

CCM offers a wide range of theatrical experiences for students. During each academic year we produce two major musical, opera and play productions on our two main stage theaters as well as several studio productions in our flexible space studio theater. And, with the recent re-structuring of our division, we have begun incorporating support for dance, expanding learning opportunities in both design and construction to this fourth area.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are given opportunities as design assistants, first-hands, cutter/drapers, crafts persons and studio designers as well as wardrobe and maintenance personnel on all productions. Faculty, staff and graduate students most frequently design the six main stage productions although exceptional undergraduates may also have the opportunity. The studio productions are usually student designed even though faculty from the Opera, Musical Theatre and Acting programs direct. The relationship between faculty, staff and students is a professionally demanding one within an equally demanding educational setting.

CCM undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to seek summer employment at one of our nation's many outstanding summer opera, musical theatre or drama institutions.

The CCM costume shop is a modern, moderate size space excellently equipped to produce the most challenging designs. It includes a separate paint/dye studio, toxic spray room, laundry and maintenance facility, fitting areas, offices, excellent and organized large costume stock and more. Some of our equipment includes industrial and domestic sewing machines and sergers, blind hemmers, walking foot, Omni-Stitch, stainless steel industrial dye vat and steam cabinet, etc. Our costume stock includes more than 25,000 costume pieces including the Broadway and touring production of The Scarlet Pimpernel (designed by Ms. Jane Greenwood) and the Tony-nominated Cyrano! The Musical (designed by Mr. Yan Tax of the Netherlands).

Regular course offerings include beginning and advanced costume construction, costume design for plays, musicals, operas and dances, the history of costume and pattern development, character figure drawing and rendering, advanced rendering, millinery, fabric painting and dyeing, mask-making, patterning, draping, tailoring and costume shop management. Seminar and Special Topics classes are added as needed.

CCM is continually recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for its high quality productions and professional training programs. Our TD&P students, staff and faculty have, and continue to, receive numerous awards and citations for outstanding design and technological achievements from the National Opera Association Opera Production Competition to USITT (regionally and nationally) for both productions at CCM and elsewhere. Students occasionally assist faculty designers with their off-campus professional positions, thus gaining valuable experience.

Undergraduate and graduate costume students of CCM have recently been, or are now currently employed in costume technology, crafts, wardrobe and/or design with The Washington Opera, The San Francisco Opera, The Denver Theatre Center, Cirque du Soleil, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Chicago Lyric Opera, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, American Players Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the Shakespeare Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, The Houston Ballet, Glimmerglass Opera, English National Opera, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Ballet, Disney, Broadway and national tours, as well as with commercial and independent film companies.

For the MFA applicant, the Graduate Incentive Award (GIA) may be available to help with partial tuition while the Graduate Assistantship (GA) helps with most tuition and includes a stipend for hours worked (usually ten hours/week).

For the BFA applicant, we encourage participation in the university-wide Cincinnatus Scholarship Competition. Also available may be scholarship support from CCM and TD&P. Please refer to our websites for updated information.