CEDAR HILL, Texas — In June 2021, Cedar Hill Theatre received “Best Costume Design” at the Dallas Summer Musical Awards for its January 2021 production of “The Wiz.”
“They faced strong competition from high school theatre programs from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” said Cedar Hill Theatre Director Bethany Kennedy.
Now, Cedar Hill Theater students will have even more opportunities to work in costume design, with the addition of a formal class that started this school year.
“Our Award-Winning Theater Department moved its costume shop into a classroom this year after spending the last five years in a small office in the back of the Performing Arts Center (PAC),” said Kennedy. “For the first time ever, Theatre students will be enrolled in a costume design and construction class where they will learn costume, makeup and wig design along with sewing and pattern making skills.”
Kennedy said the goal of the class is to give students hands-on experience they’ll be able to use in college as design majors and the theatre business.
Senior student Celeste Garza is taking advantage of the class and will graduate in May with a full-ride college scholarship to study theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Garza served as Lead Costume Designer for the high school’s January 2022 production of “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.” Garza handled the design and construction of a lot of the costumes on stage while also bringing the show’s character of Mr. Krabs to life.
Every one of the show’s over two dozen young actors displayed colorful ocean-inspired costumes.
“Having the opportunity to bring these well-known characters to life has been so much fun,” said Garza.
When Garza wasn’t on-stage singing and dancing during the show, they helped their fellow actors during quick changes between scenes.
“This show is so fast-paced,” said Garza. “I’m so proud of how far this cast has come.”
Kennedy is especially proud of Garza’s accomplishments.
“Watching Celeste grow not only as a designer, but as a well-rounded human has been really inspiring for me as a teacher,” said Kennedy. “I’m really excited for their future to see what they do with their passion.”
Kennedy also studied at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
“I’m even more excited they’re going to my undergrad,” she said
Kennedy showed professors at the university pictures of Garza’s work, and it impressed them.
“Being able to take someone’s vision and bring it to life it just makes me really happy,” said Garza. “That’s what I appreciate most about designing.”
Garza has aspirations of one day creating the costume design for a character with a cult-like following, like Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice.
“My dream would be to create an iconic horror movie character,” said Garza.
When asked what Broadway show she would like to work on, Garza was quick to respond.
“Well, I would love to create my own,” exclaimed Garza. “I’m a sucker for horror, so I would have to go with "Sweeney Todd,""Beetlejuice: The Musical," or "Little Shop of Horrors." I would love to do Little Shop.”
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