Costume Construction

Twelfth Night: Olivia

For the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's 2026 production of Twelfth Night I built the purple dress that Olivia (played by Nisi Sturgis) wore in the second act. The bodice is made of a silk crepe de chine and the skirt is made of silk crepe backed satin.

Costume designed by Meghan Anderson Doyle. Performance photos by Jennifer Koskinen.

on lining layer in order to add structure to underbust point

Bodice lining and fashion fabric pin basted together. The entire bodice is one pattern piece.

Interior of sleeve before pressing and clipping

Exterior view of gathered shoulder seam after epaulet is added

Interior of sleeve after pressing and clipping

Exterior view of gathered shoulder seam before epaulet is added

Creating pleats at the end of the sleeves

Center front skirt panel pinned to bodice, clip at the point to release tension

Waistline of center front skirt panel with staystitching

Discussing construction steps with our draper, Becky. Photo by Sarita Narayanswamy.

Something Rotten: Ensemble

I was lucky enough to be able to construct the dress that I wore on stage during the CU Theatre and Dance production of Something Rotten. I did the majority of basic construction of the dress, and the finishing touches and alterations were done on by our Costume Shop Assistant, Veronica Dewey.

Costume designed by Ted Stark. Performance photos by Rachel D Graham.

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress (photo by Rachel D Graham)

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - bodice back pannels

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Stomacher

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - back, side front, and strap

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Bodice pieces with fleece lining

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Bodice pieces with fashion fabric

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Initial try on of all pieces

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Bodice stomacher with piping

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Bodice back with zipper installed

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Bodice stomacher with spiral bones

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Cut out petticoat pannels

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Cutting out petticoat pannels "Stack and Whack"

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Petticoat pannels cut out

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Petticoat pannels sewn together

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Adding horsehear to petticoat

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Petticoat ruffle

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Petticoat hem

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Skirt pannels sewn together

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Skirt placket

Something Rotten - "Welcome To The Rennaisance" ensemble dress - Skirt

The Tempest: Prospera and Ariel

For the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's 2025 season I built the pants and shirt worn by Ariel (played by Jordan Coughtry), and the cloak worn by Prospera (played by Ellen McLaughlin. All of the pieces were ice dyed by hand by Jillian Gregory.

Costumes designed by Sarah Zinn. Performance photos by Jennifer Koskinen.

Prospera's cloak panels all stitched together and seams pressed flat.

Collar and front placket on Areil's peasant shirt

Working on Ariel's pants in the costume shop. Photo by Sarita Narayanswamy.

Unique shoulder seam on Prospera's cloak

Ariel played by Jordan Coughtry, and Prospera played by Ellen McLaughlin.

Prospera's cloak hood pinned in place at the neckline.

Back view of trying on Prospera's cloak before it was dyed

Front view of trying on Prospera's cloak before it was dyed

Sleeve cuff for Areil's peasant shirt with interfacing for structure

Working on Ariel's costume in the costume shop. Photo by Sarita Narayanswamy.

Richard II: Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke

For the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's 2025 season I built Richard II's (played by Kevin Rich) grand ermine cloak that he wore at the beginning of the show, as well as Henry Bolingbroke's (played by Jordan Coughtry) shimmery black and gold cloak with fur trim.

Costumes designed by Sarah Zinn. Performance photos by Jennifer Koskinen.

Richard II's ermine capelet laid out on table

Henry Bolingbroke played by Jordan Coughtry, and the Duke of York played by Brik Berkes.

Back of Richard II's ermine capelet before attaching it to the white brocade cloak

Front of Richard II's white brocade cloak before ermine capelet is added.

Henry Bolingbroke played by Jordan Coughtry, Richard II played by Kevin Rich, and Thomas Mowbray played by Matt Zambrano

Back of Richard II's capelet lining before being sewn into the ermine layer.

Front of Richard II's capelet lining before being sewn into the ermine layer.

Back of Richard II's white brocade cloak before ermine capelet is added.

Front of Richard II's ermine capelet before attaching it to the white brocade cloak

Henry Bolingbroke played by Jordan Coughtry

Stitching the lining into the ermine layer of Richard II's capelet.

Closer look at neckline of Richard II's white brocade cloak before ermine caplet is added.

Henry Bolingbroke played by Jordan Coughtry, and Thomas Mowbray played by Matt Zambrano

The Merry Wives of Windsor: Slender

For the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's 2024 season I built these fabulous ombre bedazzled jeans for Slender, played by Christian Tripp. The design concept for this show was 1970s sitcoms, which resulted in a lot of fun costumes.

Costumes designed by Sarah Zinn. Performance photos by Jennifer Koskinen.

Anne Page played by Ilana DeAngelo and Slender played by Christan Tripp

Fully installed waistband and back pockets

Interior of adding a small dart to the back of the pant leg

Exterior of adding a small dart to the back of the pant leg

Constructed pants before waistband is added

Waistband with interfacing for stability and structure

Attaching the zipper to the interior fly placket

Christian Tripp (Slender), Matt Schneck (Pistol), Devi Reisenfeld (Bardolf), Ryan Omar Stack (Nym)