UWM Theater Faculty Inspire Students with Costume Design Expertise

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the theater department’s costume shop is more than just a room with fabric and thread. It’s where students discover how clothes, makeup, and imagination can totally transform a story or a person.

Teaching faculty Dana Rochester and assistant professor Jason Orlenko guide students through costume design, stage makeup, and sewing. Students get hands-on practice that preps them for the real world—or just for the thrill of making something with their own hands.

The Heart of UWM’s Costume Shop

The costume shop sits in the basement of the Theater Building. It’s not flashy—concrete floors, metal stools, and a line of sewing machines greet you, not sunlight or velvet curtains.

But this windowless space is where the magic starts. Students turn plain fabric into wild costumes, style wigs, and experiment with makeup to create all sorts of characters.

Teaching Faculty: Dana Rochester and Jason Orlenko

Dana Rochester and Jason Orlenko run the show in UWM’s costume program. Both graduated from UWM’s theater program in 2008, though they didn’t really connect as students.

Rochester focused on hair and makeup, then came back to teach after cosmetology school. Orlenko switched from acting to behind-the-scenes work, earning a master’s at Indiana University before returning to UWM as an instructor.

They bring real-world experience into every lesson. Their connections to Milwaukee’s theater scene open doors for students, too.

Some recent grads have landed gigs at places like the Repertory Theater, Skylight, the Milwaukee Ballet, American Players Theater, and even theaters in Chicago. Not bad, right?

Hands-On Learning: Costume Design and Sewing

Hands-on learning is at the core of UWM’s costume program. Students don’t just talk about costumes—they actually make them.

They might add a dart to a skirt or build a yoke skirt from scratch. Working on half-scale mannequins saves fabric and space, but there’s plenty of room for big ideas.

The Costume Bible

There’s a binder in the shop called the Costume Bible. It’s packed with notes on every costume—alterations, measurements, the whole deal.

During show week, this binder is gold. Rochester keeps track of every tiny detail, from the fit of suspenders to sleeve lengths, making sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Stage Makeup: The Art of Transformation

Costume design isn’t the only focus here. Students also dive into the world of stage makeup.

Rochester especially loves teaching these classes. Students learn to age actors, add fake tattoos, or turn someone into a woodland creature.

One highlight? Injury day, when students use makeup to create bruises and black eyes. It’s weirdly fun and surprisingly tricky.

Special Effects Makeup

Special effects makeup adds another layer. For a production of Three Sisters, actors needed soot-like powder on their faces for a fire scene.

Rochester shows students how little details like this matter and teaches them how to pull off the effects convincingly.

Collaborative Learning Environment

The costume shop isn’t just about solo projects. Students work side by side, learning from each other as much as from their instructors.

In patternmaking class, for example, everyone crowds around the worktable, swapping ideas and offering feedback. There’s a real sense of community here.

Real-World Experience

Students get a taste of professional theater through UWM’s productions. Freshman Thomas Füglsang had his first mainstage performance in Three Sisters.

He and his fellow actors went through fittings in the shop, with Rochester and Orlenko making sure the costumes worked on stage. That kind of hands-on experience is hard to beat.

Valuable Life Skills

Not every student sticks with theater, but the skills they pick up are useful anywhere. They learn teamwork, creative problem-solving, and how to meet deadlines under pressure.

And honestly, they walk away with a deeper appreciation for the arts—something that sticks with you, whether you’re on stage or not.

Practical Skills

Sewing stands out as one of the most practical skills students pick up. Rochester loves watching students hit those a-ha! moments when a tricky sewing technique finally clicks.

She feels proud knowing these students will remember how to sew a button. Honestly, that’s a handy skill—who hasn’t needed it at some point?

If you’re curious about UWM’s theater program or want a peek behind the scenes in the costume shop, check out the original article here.