Biography
Frances Coordinates the Costume Design program in the Theatre Department and works with costume design students designing in Theatre, Film and Television. She teaches Costume Design, Rendering, Foundations and Period Styles. Frances believes that a combination of classes,work on productions and internship will ready a student for work or Graduate school. She works closely with her students to meet their individual goals.While the Costume Design program has only 15 students, mentoring them effectively takes a great deal of time.Frances is a Costume Designer who has has a robust career, primarily in Chicago. She finds herself at odds with her profession at present. Many shows, because of the necessity of hiring an assistant are not gainful employment. Many are severely under budgeted. Young designers who can sew, drive, etc. are more suited to the current climate and she is happy to sponser her students.Recent designs include Macbeth by the Sea which performed at the Edinburgh festival, Invitation to a Beheading at the Steppenwolf and Chopin Theaters, The Producers, The Addams Family Musical and The Color Purple (each Jeff Nominated, Best Costume) at The Mercury Theater in Chicago, The Goat: or Who is Sylvia (Jeff award, Best Production) at Remy Bumppo, Four Monologues, a short film, Speaking in Tongues, the History of Babel for Impact Theater Ensemble, The Photographist an independent film, Gee's Bend, Permanent Collection, and The Retreat from Moscow at Northlight Rep, the debut of Year Zero at Victory Gardens and Continental Divide at Pegasus. Frances has designed for The American Players Theater, The Gift Theater, Eclipse Theater, Court Theater, Steppenwolf, The Milwaukee Rep, American Players Theater, The Mystery Writers Festival of Kentucky, and The Madison Rep. She served as the resident designer for The National Jewish Theater and The Immediate Theater. Frances is a founding member of The Michael Merritt steering committee and The Carol Cohen Scholarship committee. She is a member of United Scenic Artists and The Costume Society of America. Frances received an MFA from the Theater School/DePaul University and a B.A. in Communications and Theater from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Instructional Areas
Crafts including, millinery, gloves, neckwear and surface embellishments. Textile Painting and Dying. Painting and drawing as communication. Linking text to style and the impact of design in this exploration
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Costume of the Baroque, Regency and Victorian eras. Particularly the strata of dress due to wealth and employment. The use of dolls as exponents of fashion
Degrees
B.A., Communication and Theatre University of Illinois-Chicago 1982
M.F.A., Costume Design DePaul University 1987