Our M.F.A. Costume Technology program is a three-year program primarily focused on draping, pattern-making skills, dressmaking and tailoring. The exploration of pattern development technique is at the core.
Our Costume Technology students are treated as equals in design and production meetings and collaborate with their team from concept meetings through to the stage. In the final year, you complete either a research-based or production-based thesis project.
The M.F.A. in Costume Technology is a 60-hour curriculum including costume technology courses, costume history, costume design, dramatic literature, and history and criticism courses. You will complete the three-year M.F.A. degree program with an extensive and diverse portfolio of realized production work as well as class project work in all genres of theatre, exploring various scales and scope of productions.
Additionally, you will demonstrate a comprehensive portfolio of skills. Emphasized skills include: costume production techniques, productive methods of research, effective collaborative and communication, a mature professional process, and a rich understanding of the breadth and depth of costume technology, both historical and current.
Our Costume Technology students are assigned as cutter/draper on at least four productions during their tenure in the program. Our students also receive production experience by being first hands, stitchers, or crafts people on the departmental productions.
Our graduates are well prepared for a career in either the professional or academic environment. The goal of the program is to prepare you for participation in professional theatre and associated disciplines.
Our M.F.A. Costume Technology students must successfully complete a thesis project that is defined by the student and faculty advisor. The thesis project may be either production based, or research based.
Production based projects involve written documentation of two productions in the third year designated as the M.F.A. thesis project. Research based thesis projects could involve new applications of existing materials and technology, exploration of new materials or technology, creation of a specific solution to a problem, or other topics that clearly show original thought in costume technology.
To ensure a deep understanding of related fields, our students may also take classes in Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Theatre Technology, fiber arts, education, or museum studies.
Heather Milam has been at IU since 2013. She also serves as the department’s Director of Undergraduate studies, the Professor of practice representative on the Bloomington Faculty Council, on the College Policy Committee, on the BFC Faculty affairs committee and BFC Budgetary Affairs Committee. Ms. Milam serves the national organization of USITT as a vice commissioner of history and Heritage for the costume commission, as a jurors and editor for the Costume Commission Poster Session and as also a juror for the Prague Quadrennial through this organization.
A native New Yorker, Heather obtained her Bachelor’s degree in theatre from Ithaca College and her M.F.A. from University of Idaho. After undergrad, she worked in NYC where she made Broadway costumes at Barbara Matera Ltd. working on such shows as Mama Mia, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard, many ballets, several operas, the finale costume for Cher’s 2003 Farewell Tour, and more. Heather has also worked with many theatre companies around the country, some of which are Utah Shakespeare Festival, National Dance Institute, Playmakers Repertory Theatre, and Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre Company.
You are admitted to the program after proving competency as shown by your portfolio, statement of goals, and required interview. The Design and Technology Faculty Committee selects candidates based on judgments of portfolio, writing quality, and professional potential.
The College of Arts