2008 Woodie Awards
Spotlight on theater department's costume collection
Abbey Tinker
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Arts & Lifestyle
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Denise Ehren is the go-to girl for costumes for each of the nine productions the theater department at UW-Whitewater puts on each year.
Ehren has been the costume shop manager at UW-Whitewater for four years. She does everything from shop for items, design costumes, teach students how to sew, and figure out the budget for each production.
Ehren loves her job, despite having to do multiple tasks to make everything come together for opening night.
"It takes a lot of time and effort to make costumes and pieces for a production," Ehren said. "A lot of people don't think about that when they watch a play."
Each production has its own theme. The department runs everything from period pieces, dance shows, musicals and children's theater.
They like to mix up the themes each year to avoid repetition. The shows are chosen a year in advance so the budget can be set and research can begin on costumes and settings.
This year is no exception. The productions that are set to open range from ancient Rome to the 1950s, with a few stops in between. The first play, "Terra Nova," set to open in October, is about an early 1900s expedition to the South Pole. Other shows this year include "Peter Pan," "Chanticleer & The Fox," "The Desk Set" and "Miles Gloriosus."
According to Amber Hayes, a senior and costume design major, this year is going to be full of challenges and excitement.
"Some of the costumes for the plays are going to be a little different because we want to try something new, especially for the children's theater play," Hayes said. "There is going to be a lot of fun colors, shapes, textures and silly styles. Everyone in the department is really excited about the plays we get to work on this year."
The costumes for each production can vary from one costume per character to a possible 28 costume changes in a single play. Each costume is either made in-house, bought, rented or pulled from the huge storage room located on the bottom floor of the Center of the Arts building.
Ehren has been the costume shop manager at UW-Whitewater for four years. She does everything from shop for items, design costumes, teach students how to sew, and figure out the budget for each production.
Ehren loves her job, despite having to do multiple tasks to make everything come together for opening night.
"It takes a lot of time and effort to make costumes and pieces for a production," Ehren said. "A lot of people don't think about that when they watch a play."
Each production has its own theme. The department runs everything from period pieces, dance shows, musicals and children's theater.
They like to mix up the themes each year to avoid repetition. The shows are chosen a year in advance so the budget can be set and research can begin on costumes and settings.
This year is no exception. The productions that are set to open range from ancient Rome to the 1950s, with a few stops in between. The first play, "Terra Nova," set to open in October, is about an early 1900s expedition to the South Pole. Other shows this year include "Peter Pan," "Chanticleer & The Fox," "The Desk Set" and "Miles Gloriosus."
According to Amber Hayes, a senior and costume design major, this year is going to be full of challenges and excitement.
"Some of the costumes for the plays are going to be a little different because we want to try something new, especially for the children's theater play," Hayes said. "There is going to be a lot of fun colors, shapes, textures and silly styles. Everyone in the department is really excited about the plays we get to work on this year."
The costumes for each production can vary from one costume per character to a possible 28 costume changes in a single play. Each costume is either made in-house, bought, rented or pulled from the huge storage room located on the bottom floor of the Center of the Arts building.
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