Costume Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a concentration in costume design/technical production

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students performing on stage

About the Program

Students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a concentration in costume design/technical production program have many opportunities to work nationally, regionally, on our mainstage and in our student theater. Under the supervision of 10 faculty and staff, you will receive individualized attention in small studio classes and lectures. VCUarts is rare amongst college and university training programs in that it provides opportunities for accomplished undergraduate students to actualize their designs on the mainstage.

Our theatre faculty have won awards for producing, directing, and designing including Tony Awards, Bay Area Theatre Critics’ Circle Awards, Hollywood Drama-Logue Awards and many others. You’ll meet guest artists and directors at the top of their fields and build contacts in the industry.

Theatre students and faculty have worked on AMC’s Turn: Washington’s Spies, Lincoln and Loving. Our department also has a partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond’s leading professional theatre company. Students have landed positions with The Public Theater, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre (D.C.), and Santa Fe Opera, and on-screen performances in productions from Netflix, FOX, Disney and Paramount.

Some classes you might take in this major:

  • Figure Drawing: Superficial Anatomy
  • History of Costumes
  • Costume Construction
  • Draping for the Theatre
  • Patternmaking for the Theatre

Our alumni are:

  • Costume Designers for stage and film
  • Costume Technicians for stage and film
  • Hair, wig and makeup designers
  • Illustrators
student with costume sketches

Theatre Foundation

All freshman and transfer students entering the department are initially classified as Theatre Foundation students. After successfully completing the first two years of core theatre courses in their foundation areas of emphasis, students apply for admission to a specific degree program (B.F.A. or B.A.). The department offers B.F.A concentration areas in performance, including musical theatre, and stage management, as well as three areas of design/technology: scenic, lighting and costume. 


Top header image by Aaron Sutten