Photo Provided by Mia Kennedy ’24

Lauren Carlin ’24, who’s been doing shows since fall of last year, is now costume crew head!

When going to see a production from Trinitas Arts Conservatory, most people will only ever see those on stage, yet there’s a whole other group of people who help put the show together: the crew. With a main focus on the production’s clothing and how it will look on stage, costume crew is a vital part of Trinitas’ productions. Lauren Carlin ‘25, who’s been on costume crew since “Sense and Sensibility,” knows a bit more about how it works than I do, so I decided to ask her a few questions!

Q: What made you decide to be a part of costume crew?

A: I would say I’ve always been really interested in fashion. When I found out there was a costume crew, I assumed that they would teach us how to sew and hem, and I’ve always wanted to learn how to do both! I wanted to try something new and get out of my comfort zone, and I didn’t know much about the other crews, so I figured, why not costume crew? It was crazy how something as simple as thread and needle could hem and fix so many different types of clothes.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory of doing costumes?

A: I would say my favorite memory was “Cinderella” pre-tech and tech week. It was so amazing getting to hang out with everyone on costume crew. We were just sitting on a table bejeweling Makayla Palos Rodriguez’s ‘24 Cinderella shoes. It was so good hanging out and bonding knowing we were going through it together. And when we got to the final makeup and costumes, it was amazing seeing the whole process finally come together and seeing all of our growth as a crew!

Q: This is your first time as costume crew head. Is there anything extra that comes with this leadership?

A: Compared to being on costume crew my first time, I didn’t know how to sew, hem, or organize. As time has gone on, I have learned so much, and now, being costume crew head, I get to share my love and passion for costumes with other people and emphasize how fun costume crew is and how much hard work goes into it. It’s helped me speak up and grow in my confidence and leadership skills, as well as communicate with the directors. I’m also able to learn from the other members of costume crew, and I ultimately am happy to share my passion for costumes.

Q: What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to actors and their costumes?

A: My biggest pet peeves are when actors don’t turn in their costumes or when they pin their costumes wrong. My other ones are when they complain about their costumes or they don’t like a part of their costume. I always tell them that I’m sorry, but there’s honestly not much that I can do about it.

Q: What are you most excited about when it comes to “The Diary of Anne Frank”?

A: I’m so excited for tech and for the actors to come together to create one beautiful production because actors are spending months rehearsing and learning their lines, and we came around in October for tech rehearsals. It’s so exciting to bring our ideas to make the show as best as it can be. And I’m really excited to see how it ends up, as well as for all the memories the cast and crew will make during performance weekend and hearing the audience’s reactions to the production!

Q: Do you have any final words or advice for anyone interested in being a part of costume crew for future shows?

A: If you’re interested in doing costume crew, do it! It’s such a fun and amazing experience. You don’t have to have prior costuming experience; we’ll be able to teach you how to navigate it all. And if you’re looking to try something new and get out of your comfort zone, it’s really great! I think costume crew is a fun overall experience since we can hang out with tech while still interacting with the actors.

Overall, costume crew is great for anyone with an interest in fashion and anyone without an interest in being on stage. Make sure to check out “The Diary of Anne Frank” this weekend, and tech applications are due Dec. 8 for anyone interested in being a part of the next show’s crew!