Dean Jutras marks a first year of listening and planning for the...
August 1, 2025
CCM Dean Peter J. Jutras shares a message with the college community ahead of the 2025-26 academic year and performance season.
A member of U/RTA, CCM offers both a BFA degree in Theatre Design and Production (TD&P) with an emphasis in Costume Design and Technology, as well as a three-year highly concentrated MFA degree in Costume Design and Technology.
The design of a successful theatrical costume involves an insight into the dramatic character's development, an ability to blend with the visual style of the scenic design, a recognition of the director's vision of the staging and a special individual flair or style that is the costume designer's alone. The costume designer enhances the actor's physical and expressive ability through the cut, draping, choice of fabric and ornamentation, creating an appropriate effect with silhouette, line and color.
The artistic skills of sketching and color rendering, a strong sense of historical period and style, a comprehensive knowledge of the practices and techniques of costume technology and good communication, interpersonal and organizational skills are essential to augment the designer's natural talent.
Costume technology involves the realization of the costume designer's sketches, samples, notes, research and fabric swatches into practical, effective and affordable costumes for a theatrical production on stage, television or film. Knowledge of the design process, historical periods and styles and familiarity with the dramatic or lyric work are also required.
Pattern drafting, cutting, draping, stitching and dyeing form the core of the craft, with additional craft work in fabric painting, millinery, weaving, leather and mask work. Knowledge of fabric characteristics from traditional cottons, silks and wools, to contemporary synthetics, plastics and even metals is essential.
Responsibilities for the costume management of productions range from the costing, construction and fitting phases, to material, equipment and costume inventory control, to fast changes backstage and wardrobe maintenance during the run.
This program emphasizes the dual importance of design and technology no matter in which area one's strength may lie, as knowledge and communication skills in both are critical in this collaborative art, and especially valuable for professional entry-level positions.
513-556-5803
513-556-5803
CCM's admissions process begins on August 1 (undergraduate) and September 1 (graduate) for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 1 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.
Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 in order to be considered for admission and invited for an audition.
Applicants must submit a graduate application by March 1 and the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before March 3 in order to request an interview with the faculty and be considered for admissions.
If you’ve participated in U/RTA you must submit the required materials (listed below) to Acceptd to be considered for admissions into CCM.
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.
The Costume Design and Technology Program at CCM is a demanding, intensive educational experience for the highly motivated individual seeking a professional career. Few programs or institutions can offer as wide a range of opportunities, experiences and exposures as we are able to give students. And, few programs or institutions expect as much from their students as we must, and do. As frightening as this intensity sounds, a most creative and challenging environment exists within, as The New York Times has described, "One of this country's leading conservatories". We're extremely proud of our accomplishments and hope that you may become a part of them.
August 1, 2025
CCM Dean Peter J. Jutras shares a message with the college community ahead of the 2025-26 academic year and performance season.
July 7, 2025
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators this fall.
June 30, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras recently announced the appointment of Maggie Perrino as the college's new Assistant Dean of CCM Prep and Community Engagement. In this role, Perrino will lead a team of faculty and administrative staff at CCM Prep, which offers a wide variety of programs in music, dance and the theatre arts throughout the year for people of all ages and abilities. She will also oversee CCM’s Summer Programs for youth, teens and adults. Perrino's appointment begins on June 30, 2025.
June 4, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras recently announced the appointment of Jessie L. Grant, PhD, as CCM's new Assistant Dean of Student Services. In this role, Grant will coordinate CCM’s academic advising program, connect students with college and university-level resources, and evaluate CCM policies and processes to better serve the college’s undergraduate and graduate students. Grant's appointment officially began on June 2, 2025.
Event: April 24, 2025 8:00 PM
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) invites audiences to experience a bold and joyful revival of "HAIR," the groundbreaking rock musical that defined a generation. Directed by Vincent DeGeorge with musical direction by Steve Goers, CCM's production of "HAIR" brings the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s to life for a new generation.
April 3, 2025
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) invites audiences to experience the timeless charm and comedic mischief of "Coppélia," a family-friendly ballet filled with magic, mistaken identity and joyful romance.
Event: March 6, 2025 12:00 AM
Step into a world of enchantment as the UC College-Conservatory of Music's Opera Series presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream." This opera fuses William Shakespeare's beloved romantic comedy with Benjamin Britten's stunning musical score. This captivating production, directed by CCM Opera Professor Robin Guarino, offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale, exploring themes of love, transformation, and the power of the natural world.
Event: March 13, 2025 6:00 PM
UC College-Conservatory of Music is proud to introduce “In The Spotlight,” a new event showcasing the talents of graduating students from Musical Theatre, Acting and Theatre Design and Production (TDP)! Hosted by CCMpower, a dedicated group of friends and alumni fueling the future of the arts, this inaugural showcase extravaganza offers audiences an exclusive opportunity to experience the work of CCM’s next generation of performing and creative artists.
Event: February 13, 2025 12:00 AM
UC College-Conservatory of Music's Play Series presents "Emilia" Feb. 13-15 in Patricia Corbett Theater. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.