Jennifer R. Wolff
Costume Technician
Professional Experience
Alley Theatre, Houston, TX Fall 2021 - Present
Draper - Create patterns for garments according to the Designer’s renderings and research. Supervise a small team through the process of garment construction from mock-ups to cutting through stitching and finishing, as well as oversee garment alterations. Conduct fittings with the actors and discuss fit and design changes with the Designer and actor as needed. Designers Include: Linda Cho, Helen Huang, Alejo Vietti, Raquel Barreto, Hunter Kaczorowski, Ásta Bennie Hostetter
-Periods range from stylized Elizabethan, through Regency era, Mid 19th Century, to contemporary clothing, ladies lingerie, and Fantasy garments. Predominantly women’s clothing and occasional men’s and children’s garments as needed
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, OR Fall 2017 - March 2020
Master Stitcher - Lead stitcher for a primarily menswear team. Occasionally asked to do pattern alterations or corrections and assist with cutting. Drapers: Rachel Parks, Cathy Stump, Vivienne Friedman. Designers Include: Fabio Toblini, Susan Tsu, E.B. White, Leah Piehl, Melissa Torchia
- Early 19th century men's and women's tailoring, stylized Elizabethan doublets, contemporary garment alterations, tailoring with leather, 20th century men’s tailoring, couture fantasy garments
Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM Summers 2013-2021
First Hand - Assisted the draper in cutting, fitting, overseeing construction and alterations for five mainstage productions per year. Drapers: David Arevalo and Sarah Barbour. Designers include: Emily Rebholz, Nicky Gillibrand, Ashley Martin-Davis, Gary McCann, Christianne Meyers, Laurent Pelly, Gabriel Perry, Rita Ryack, Camelia Koo, Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko, Netia Jones
-Tailored menswear Late 18th and Late 19th Centuries, 1930s Bias dresses, women's tailoring, tyvek garments, Medieval quilted gambeson
Stitcher - Staff stitcher primarily on the tailoring team for five mainstage productions per season. Drapers: Jerome Schram and Sarah Lankenau. Designers include: David C. Woolard, Jon Morrell, James Schuette, Kevin Knight, Adrian Linford, Fabio Toblini
-Tailored menswear periods 1600s-1930s, including Rococo, late 16th Century, and 1850s; garment construction (mens and womens), and alterations.
Alley Theatre, Houston, TX Winter 2016, Summer 2016
Stitcher- Stitcher on the tailoring team for mainstage productions. Tailor: Jerome Schram. Designers: Jennifer Caprio, Judith Dolan
-Tailored 1960s menswear, fantasy garments
B.D. Weger Tailoring, New York City, NY Winter 2016
Stitcher for a bench tailor producing menswear for stage and film. Tailor: Daniel Weger.
-Tailored late 18th Century military and civilian coats, some womens tailoring, and alterations.
Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles, CA Seasons 2010-2013, 2017
First Hand – Cut out and prepared garments for construction, supervised stitchers, assisted in fittings. Draper: Lisa Logan. Designers: Karen Perry, Andrew Boyce.
-Edwardian womenswear
Master Stitcher - Worked mostly on men's tailoring, some cutting, and alterations. Tailor: Swantje Tuohino. Designers include: Ann Closs-Farley, Denitsa Bliznakova, David Zinn
-Edwardian Military Uniforms, 1940s Zoot suits, contemporary mens and womenswear
Stitcher - Constructed a variety of both period and contemporary garments for women and men, alterations and repairs. Drapers: Kathy Christensen, Swantje Tuohino. Designers include: William Ivey Long, Alex Jaeger, Ilona Somogyi, Leah Peilh
-Periods/ styles include 1950s, late Victorian, contemporary, and children’s garments.
Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles, CA Fall 2012
Stitcher- Stitcher for two repertory operas; one new opera and one remount. Drapers: Laina Babb, John Bishop. Designers: Mattie Ullrich, Moidele Bickle.
-Worked on the team that built unique, non-traditional garments and principal men. Periods/styles include fantasy and mid-18th Century
Educational Experience
Ohio University, Athens, OH Fall 2013 – Spring 2016
Draper – Draper for nine mainstage productions, five studio productions, one dance show, and one film.
- Worked in small teams with a first hand and three to five stitchers over a typical build period of five weeks. Periods/ Styles include high concept Greco-Roman, 1930s – 1950s, contemporary, late Victorian, military Baroque, Mid-Century Americana, and Japanese inspired.
Additional Skills
Draping, Tailoring, Flat patterning, Bias draping, Smocking, Fabric modification, Stretchwear, Specialized forms, Proficient with industrial sewing machines and sergers, Hand embroidery, Pulled and patterned buckram and felt hats, Strip straw millinery, Proficient with thermoplastics, Hot and cold process dyeing, Distressing, Fabric painting, Screen printing, Brazing, Oxyacetylene welding, MIG welding
Education
-Ohio University, M.F.A in Production Design & Technology, Costume Technology, 2016
-Duke University, B.A. in History, Minor: Physics, 2010
References Upon Request
