Students enrolled in the Theater Design and Production “prime” at Baltimore County Public Schools’ Carver Center for Arts and Technology gain an impressive amount of knowledge about and exposure to the world of musical theater in their four years of learning through the magnet program. Carver student Olivia M. filled me in today on what she and her classmates learn: basically “anything behind the stage,” including lighting and sound design, scenic design, costume design, props design, stage management, and even marketing. With only one “prime” course per year, however, their knowledge and skills acquisition at school remains relatively general.
The Costume Design intensive series offered through the Hippodrome Foundation’s Career Pathways program provides a level of specificity few high school programs can. Olivia and her cohort of classmates have gathered as a group six times through the 2025-26 academic year to receive instruction from two industry professionals who specialize in costuming; Suzanne Herbert-Forton and Angelina Kline Burgess. Suzanne was busy preparing costumes for the opening night of SUFFS at the Hippodrome Theatre today, so I got to chat with Angelina about the expertise they both share with the students.
Angelina is a member of two unions through which she gains contractual work (including stints as a tailor on the sets of “We Own This City,” “Lady in the Lake,” and for Beyonce’s concert wardrobe!): Local 913, the wardrobe union for live entertainment (theater and concerts), and Local 487, the wardrobe union for film, television, commercials, and social media production. Thanks to her varied experience, the program participants learn about careers beyond theater, and how to build both a network and a work ethic that will support a career that requires a little hustle and a lot of responsibility!
Careers in costuming can begin immediately after high school, Angelina explained to me as she does to the students early on in their Career Pathways experience, and additional training gained through one’s career. Local 913 and Local 487 specialists will fill roles including dressing actors, laundry, stitching/tailoring, organizing wardrobe, and shopping. A strong work ethic and punctuality are must-haves, and the ability to sew will especially boost one’s value on-set or behind the scenes.
Those interested in becoming costume designers typically seek higher education, as Olivia plans to do. She’s set her sights on a Bachelor of Fine Arts at New York University, and she’s optimistic that the work she did through the Career Pathways program will boost her portfolio and application. In creating her final scaled-down costume inspired by the musical, SUFFS, Olivia drew her design, then moved it from flat to three dimensions as a first draft in a simple muslin fabric. She learned to drape the fabric on a form, and was afforded the use of professional sewing machines to piece it together. Then, she and her cohort chose their “fashion fabrics” to ensure that their designs would be historically accurate and, if they were full-sized, would hold up to the heavy use of a touring Broadway show. All along the way, Angelina and Suzanne served as a “knowledge resource center,” on hand to spark creativity, teach specific skills, and answer questions about both the craft and the industry.
This afternoon, Olivia and the group set up their designs to share with patrons of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center during the Baltimore run of SUFFS; they’re on the first floor of the lobby. And tonight, they’ll sit in the audience and see the original costumes in all their splendor on stage as the history of the women’s suffrage movement comes to life through SUFFS.
Olivia gave a lot of thought to additional details she would have included in a full-size design – a hat, and strategic distressing to show the deep wear of oft-worn garments of her working class character. I invite you to keep coming back to the Hippodrome Theatre because one day, we might see Olivia’s ideas come to life on our very own stage!
Many thanks to Olivia and Angelina for this conversation, and to all of the students, educators, industry professionals, and donors who make this interactive and in-depth learning possible. Theater can open students’ eyes to new possibilities, and create opportunities they’d never dreamt of!
To help us reach more students through Career Pathways and other programming, donate today.