Clothes Make the Character: A Masterclass in Costume Design at Circle Players

Circle Players will hold a masterclass in costume design, "Clothes Make the Character."

The class will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 7. Registration is $25. The class will be instructed by Stefanie Genda.

Costumes tell us a lot about the characters of a play or musical, but putting actors into costumes involves a lot more than just raiding their closets for anything that looks nice. That’s why there are costume designers. In the masterclass, this field will be discussed. Participants will look at script and character analysis, some costume history, and practical applications like taking actors’ measurements. In addition, they will cover the design process, meetings with directors and actors, and the reality of finding the costumes. During the class, there will also be a small design project. The class will focus on how to be an effective part of the design team and bringing the show to life. The class will not cover sewing or costume construction.

Stefanie Genda is a New York area based costume designer. She has designed at regional theaters across the country, including Florida Repertory Theatre, American Theatre Group, and the Ohio Light Opera. Her designs have appeared on Circle’s stage in the recent productions of "The Fantasticks" and "39 Steps." She has also worked on and off-Broadway for venues such as Manhattan Theatre Club, MCC Theatre, the Public Theatre and Lincoln Center Theatre. She has shopped for the FX television show "The Americans," and is a member of the United Scenic Artists union for professional designers. She holds a BA in Theatre from the College of Wooster in Ohio and an MFA in Costume Design from the Mason Gross School of the Arts.