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Vitae

 

Education

 

The University of Edinburgh, College of Art   2011-2013

Masters of Fine Art in Performance Costume, Pass with Distinction

Activities: Postgrad College Representative, MFA/MA Performance Costume Rep.,

University Art Committee Lead Coordinator

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham      2004-2008

BA with Honors in Theatrical Design and Technology

Summa Cum Laude

Minors: Studio Art, Japanese Language and Culture

 

Personal Summary

 

An exemplary artist, working designer, and creator, who is dedicated to innovative and classical approaches. A committed professional with a proven ability to collaborate, work quickly, and to the highest level of finish. Effective communicator with excellent planning, organizational, and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to lead, reach consensus, establish goals, and make deadlines.

 

Career Statement

 

“I feel that my greatest strength is my ability to collaborate and effectively communicate my vision with my design team. I strive to create performance and media pieces, which show a high degree of historical knowledge, as well as texture and tactile responses through textile manipulation.”

~Amanda Mattes

 

 

Professional Work

 

Costume Design

 

International

 

Androcles and the Lion, Cristor Dahl (Dir.), Swedish Children's Theatre, Stockholm, SWE, 2015

Century Heights, Henry Murray-Smith (Dir.), Short Film, North Berwick, UK 2015

 

Heavenly View, Chris Kidd (Choreo.), Royal Scottish Conservatory, Edinburgh Festival, 2014

 

Colours, Vincent Hantam (Choreo.), Royal Scottish Conservatory, Edinburgh Festival, 2013

 

Digital Alice, Miya Shen (Dir.), Music Video, Edinburgh, UK 2013

 

Ilgu, Yulia Maximova (Dir.), Short Film, Edinburgh, UK 2013

 

Imoseyama Onna Teikin, Megan Baker (Dir.), Scottish Royal Opera, University of Edinburgh, 2013

 

 

United States

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Topher Payne (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2019

Theatre for the Very Young 2019, Jennifer Adams (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2019

Elf: The Musical, Matthew Swindell (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Kudzu: The Musical, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Amazing Grace, Keith McCoy (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Mamma Mia, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

The Jungle Book, Ixchel Samaniego (Dir.), Springer Opera House Children's Theatre, Columbus, GA 2018

Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Perfect Arrangement, Topher Payne (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Jackie and Me, Keith McCoy (Dir.), Springer Opera House Children's Theatre, Columbus, GA 2018

West Side Story, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

The Great Gatsby, Katie Underwood (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

Theatre for Young Audiences 2018, Heather McClendon (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA 2018

A Tuna Christmas: The Next Generation, Ed Howard (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

Disney's Newsies, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

Million Dollar Quartet, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Sally Baker (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

Dreamgirls, Keith McCoy (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

The Stinky Cheese Man, Jim Pharr (Dir.), Springer Opera House Children's Theatre, Columbus, GA, 2017

Avenue Q, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

Ace: The Eugene Bullard Story, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

The Giver, Sally Baker (Dir.), Springer Opera House Children's Theatre, Columbus, GA, 2017

Grease, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

Of Mice and Men, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera House, Columbus, GA, 2017

A Tuna Christmas, Ed Howard (Dir.), Springer Opera house, Columbus, GA, 2016

Disney's Little Mermaid, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera house, Columbus, GA, 2016

Route 66, Paul Pierce (Dir.), Springer Opera house, Columbus, GA, 2016

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sally Baker (Dir.), Springer Opera house Children's Theatre, Columbus, GA, 2016

Sister Act, Shane Hall (Dir.), Springer Opera house, Columbus, GA, 2016

Aladdin, Jr., Autumn Brown (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre (Young Actor's Theatre), 2016

Dear Edwina, Jr., Autumn Brown (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre (Young Actor's Theatre), 2016

 

Pinocchio, Leah Luker (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2016

 

Seussical: The Musical, Leah Luker (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

 

Dear Santa, Roy Hudson (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

The Dance of the Grizzle, Roy Hudson (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, (Young Actor's Theatre), 2015

 

The Reluctant Dragon, Leah Luker (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

The Gingerbread Boy, Nikki Wahl, (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

 

Robin Hood, Sarah Norris (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

Play to Win, Jen Nelson Lane (Dir.), Birmingham Children's Theatre, 2015

 

Everyman, Bill Barclay (Dir.), Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2011

 

The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Dennis Krausnik (Dir.), Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2011

 

Twelfth Night, Kelly Galvin (Dir.), Artist Residency, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2011

 

Hamlet, Josh McCabe (Dir.), Fall Festival of Shakespeare, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2010

 

Henry VJennie Burkhard Jadow (Dir.), Fall Festival of Shakespeare, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA 2010

 

Words Upon The Window PaneSiouxsie Easter (Dir.), Wells College, East Aurora, NY, 2010

 

Sleepy HollowSiouxsie Easter (Dir.), Wells College, East Aurora, NY, 2010

 

Amorous QuarrelJenna Ware (Dir.), Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, 2010

CabaretKarla Koskinen (Dir.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 2008

 

Film and Television

 

Costume Painter/DyerHowl, Starchild Pictures, Glasgow, UK, 2015.

Tailor, Into the Woods, Lucamar Productions, London, UK, 2015.

 

Costume Breakdown/DyeingOutlander, Series 1, STAR's, Glasgow, UK, 2014.

Costume Buyer, Kick, Nadiawala Grandson Productions, Glasgow, UK, 2014.

Costume Breakdown/Costume BuyerSherlock, Series 2, BBC Wales, London, UK, 2013.

Costume Armorer47 Ronin, Mid Atlantic Pictures, London, UK, 2013.

Set CostumerThe Escape Artist, Endor Productions, Edinburgh, UK, 2013.

Costume AssistantThe Railway Man, Archer Street Productions, Glasgow, UK, 2013.

Costume BuyerUnder the Skin, Film 4, East Lothian, UK, 2013.

Costume BuyerFinal Prayer, Metrodome Distribution, Devon, UK, 2013.

Costume BuyerKick Ass-2, Universal Pictures, London, UK, 2013.

Set CostumerExhibition, Wild Horses Film Company, London, UK, 2013.

Costume BuyerSkins, Series 6, E4, Bristol, UK, 2013.

Costume BuyerFast and the Furious 6, Universal Pictures, London, UK, 2013.

 

Wardrobe Assistant, Dr. Who, BBC, Swansea and Cardiff, Wales, UK, 2013.

 

Costume Breakdown Assistant, Atlantis, Urban Myth Films, Chepstow, Wales, UK, 2013.

 

Costume Consultant, Ilgu, Yulia Maximova (Dir.), Short Film, Edinburgh, UK (Post Prod.) 2013.

 

Costumes Armorer/Armor Painter, Game of Thrones, Generator Entertainment/ HBO, Belfast, UK, 2012.

Costume AssistantDoors Open, Sprout Pictures, Edinburgh, UK, 2012.

 

Art Department Assistant, The Café, Series 2, JellyLegs Productions, UK, August 2012.

 

Costume AssistantThe Café, Series 2, JellyLegs Productions, UK, August 2012.

 

Costume Prod. Asst.World War Z, Plan B Entertainment, Paramount, Glasgow, UK, 2011.

 

Costume ArmorerYour Highness, Universal Pictures, Belfast, UK, 2011.
 

Wardrobe Prod. Asst., The Blind Side, Warner Bros. Studios, Atlanta, GA 2009.
 

 

Theatre and Dance Technical Work

The Springer Opera House- Columbus, GA

Resident Costume Designer/ Costume Shop Manager

                                               August 2016-February 2019

Designing costumes for each production of the 13 show season, which includes musicals, classic americana, southern classics, new works, children's theatre, theatre for the very young, and farces.

 

The Birmingham Children's Theatre- Birmingham, AL

 

Resident Costume Designer/ Costume Shop Manager

                                               December 2014-June 2016

Designed costumes for at least three shows per season. Draping and Pattern Drafting; hired Costume Technicians; oversaw of the Costume Shop's daily schedule; instructed College and High School Interns; Supervised Wardrobe activity; Wig & Hair Master.

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham- Birmingham, AL

 

Interim Costume Shop Manager   Fall 2014

Scheduling fittings, fitting garments, draping and cutting show garments, instructing Stipend and Costume Studio Lab students. Shows worked on: Clybourne Park, Women of War, In the Next Room.

 

The Santa Fe Opera- Santa Fe, New Mexico

 

Cutter/First Hand                      2014

Cut garments from patterns, instructed stitchers and apprentices on garment construction, and assisted in fittings for Carmen, Don Pasquale, Fidelio, Le Rossignol, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.

 

The Birmingham Children's Theatre- Birmingham, AL

 

Draper/Cutter/Garment Construction  2014

Patterned, cut, and constructed garments for "The Secret Garden."

 

Sergio Tosoratti, Couture and Tailors, Inc.- Edinburgh, UK

 

Junior Tailor                             2013

Creating toilles and tailoring for couture garments, sold in the UK and Milan, based in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh.

 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland- Edinburgh University

 

Costume Supervisor                  2013

                  

Designed and created costumes for the modern dance piece “Colours,” choreographed by Vincent Hantam.  This piece was based around the life work of Margaret Morris, and was part of the New Works Oxygen Performances at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival. As designer, responsibilities included creating designs and maintaining communication with the choreographer and producer, developing a budget, and illustrating costumes as well as technical renderings. As Costume Supervisor, responsibilities were to manage a team of three, and instruct them on costume making, cutting six out of the ten costumes, hand dyeing each piece, fitting them to specified dancers, and dressing and running wardrobe while in performance.

 

Whole Hog Theatre- London, UK

 

Cutter, Costume Making             2013

Cut and constructed costumes for the world stage premier of "Princess Mononoke," which performed in London in April of 2013. It then toured and performed in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, in May of 2013, returning for more performances in London in June. As Cutter, responsibilities included communicating with the Costume Designer and cutting and constructing costumes as specified by illustrations.

 

Le Espaces du Moulin Rouge- Paris, Ill de France, France

 

Costumier (Work Experience)     2012

Hand stitched beading and sequins to corsets and dancewear, as well as helped with alterations. I occasionally picked up shopping items from various shops in the city.

 

Shakespeare & Company- Lenox, Massachusetts

 

Cutter/First Hand                         2008-2011

Worked as a Costume Designer for several Shakespeare productions, as well as other classical works. Also assisted other designers, worked as a Cutter/Draper, and textile dyer and painter, along with mask and costume construction. Also ran Wardrobe for several productions, and worked as a Costume Designer for Educational Residencies and the award winning Fall Festival of Shakespeare. Please email Amanda.Mattes@gmail.com for a complete list of productions designed.

 

Wells College- East Aurora, New York

 

Costume Designer                      2010

Designed Costumes for The Words Upon The Windo Pane and Sleepy Hollow, Directed by Siouxsie Easter. Acted as mentor to student assistants and helped maintain the Costume Shop.

 

Alabama Shakespeare Festival- Montgomery, Alabama

 

Cutter/First Hand                        2008-2009

Assisted the Menswear Draper by cutting costumes for A Christmas Carol and various other shows, as well as instructed the costume construction staff.  Oversaw finished costume work and building, as well as assisted the Designers in fittings.

 

The Alabama Ballet- Birmingham, Alabama

 

Assistant Costume Director         2009

Assisted the Costume Director with fittings, costume maintenance, wardrobe responsibilities, and inventory, as well as cut and created dance costumes and dyed and painted textiles and dance shoes.

 

Romantasy Exquisite Corset Company- San Francisco, California

 

Cutter/Intern                                2007-2010

Began as a Corset Construction Intern, and quickly moved to patterning and cutting corsets for men and women. Corsets were built and customised according to client’s measurements, and in a variety of historical silhouettes.

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Costume Designer, Cutter, et al   2004-2008

As a Student Assistant on stipend, Cut/patterned costumes for theatrical productions throughout the year. Assisted the Costume Shop supervisor with helping students in the Costume and Makeup Technology classes with building garments. Designed Costumed for main stage productions of Cabaret and Largo Desolato. Ran Wardrobe, maintained costumes with repairs, and acted as Painter/Dyer on several productions.

 

Barbara Matera, Ltd.- New York, New York

 

Cutter/Intern                                Summer 2007

Cut and constructed tails for The Little Mermaid on Broadway, and was directly responsible to the Costume Director and Senior Women's Cutter, whom I assisted in fittings.

 

Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center- Birmingham, Alabama

 

Wardrobe/Dresser                        2005

Dressed chorus members and performed wardrobe maintenance for the National Broadway Tour of Disney's "the Lion King," among other touring Broadway shows.

 

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark- Birmingham, Alabama

 

Metal Arts Apprentice                  2003-2004

Molding sculptural pieces for commission and sale for the National Historic trust, as well as cast molds out of iron. Skills acquired: Wax melt out and parted molds, iron ore breakdown, iron casting and pouring, welding: mig, tig, arc.

 

Academic Work

Columbus State University- Columbus, GA

Adjunct Faculty                           August 2017-Present

Teaching Intro. to Theatrical Design and Theatre Appreciation.

Sitka Fine Arts Camp- Sitka, Alaska

 

Guest Artist                                 June 2015-July 2016

Taught Costume Design, Costume Craft Making, and Textile Painting and Dyeing classes to Alaskan Native students.

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Guest Lecturer                             2014

Lectured 4 classes in Costume Design, 2 for Intro. to Theatrical Design, 4 for Costume and Makeup Construction.

 

Ted-Ed- New York, New York

 

Educator                                       May 2013-Present

Currently writing lessons in various costume related fields, such as Japanese Costumes and Kimono, and the History of Kabuki, which will premier in September 2013.

 

The University of Edinburgh, College of Art, UK

Teaching Assistant, Lecturer      September 2011-May 2013

Assisted in teaching Life Drawing & Foundation Costume Design to 1st year undergraduate students during the first year of my MFA. Acted as Lecturer for those courses the second year of my MFA.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Guest Lecturer                               2008-2012

Gave various lectures for the Theatre department, including the Costume Design portion for Introduction to Theatrical Design, as well as Makeup Design and Application for the Introduction to Costume and Makeup Technology class. Served as the Teaching Assistant for Costume History and Intro. to Theatrical Design in Autumn of 2007, and presented several lectures for each.

 

Wells College- East Aurora, New York

 

Guest Lecturer                               2010

Developed and presented a lecture for the 4th year Theatre students based around Costume Design. Lead Student Assistants in Costume Shop Supervision, as well as Design Assistantships.

 

Exhibitions & Publications

A History of Kabuki

Writer/Researcher/Designer

Researched and wrote a lesson for Ted-Ed, part of the TED network, and then helped develop the look of the video in collaboration with the animator. 

New York, NY 2014

Edinburgh College of Art, Speaking in Tongues

Mask Installation in Collaboration with Graphic Designer, Pushpi Bagchi

Edinburgh, UK August 2013

 

Prime Cuts at New Designers, Graduate Showcase

Costume Design Exhibit

London, UK July 2013

 

Edinburgh College of Art, Graduate Showcase

MFA Costume Design Exhibit

Edinburgh, UK May 2013

 

Victoria & Albert Museum, Shakespeare in a Suitcase

Group Leader

Group Collaboration in the construction of King Lear's Storm.

London, UK  April 2012

 

 

Professional Development

Costumes from the Fringe: Presenting Your Passion- USITT Design Review Panel, Lexington, KY 2019

Illustrator 2: Fashion Design- FIT Continuing Development Courses, New York, NY 2017

Illustrator 1- FIT Continuing Development Courses, New York, NY 2016

 

Patchwork Quilting & Japanese Notan-­‐ Workshop with Dorothy Russell, North Anglesey, Wales. 2012

 

Synthetic Indigo & Shibori-­‐ Workshop with Annabel Wilson, Sherborne, Dorset. 2012

 

Procion Dyeing & Shibori-­‐ Workshop with Clarissa Cochran, White House Arts, Cambridge. 2012

 

Pitt Rivers Museum-- Appointment to examine and research Japanese clothing, etc. Oxford, UK. 2012

 

Free Motion Machine Embroidery & Natural Dyeing-­‐ Sarah Keith, Edinburgh College of Art. 2011-­‐2012

 

Couture Sewing Techniques & Tailoring-­‐ Ginger Robertson, Mentor. Lenox, Massachusetts. 2008-­‐2010

 

 

Professional Affiliations

 

United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Member, 2005-Present

 

Costume Society of America, Member, 2010-Present

 

Alpha Psi Omega, Psi Beta Cast: President (2006-2008), Member 2005-Present

Volunteering

Girls Rock Birmingham- Community Volunteer, Birmingham, AL, March 2016-August 2018

Arts N' Autism- Arts and Crafts Elementary School Volunteer, Tuscaloosa, AL, August 2006-May 2009

Children's Hospital- Neo-Natal ICU, Weekend Volunteer, Birmingham, AL, September 2002-May 2004

 

 

References are available upon request.

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