Levi Miles- Guest Blogger
The Festival requires an army to create our shows. Some of the soldiers are not onstage, but in the shops making sure the costumes are built. Meet Levi Miles our costume design supervisor who helped create the costumes for this season.
Have you ever worked at the Festival before? If so, for how many years and in what capacity?
This is my third season at the Festival. In 2012, I worked as a wardrobe technician in the Adams Theatre, working on Titus Andronicus, Merry Wives of Windsor, and Merry Stuart. Last season, I served as a wardrobe technician in the Randall Theatre, on Peter and the Starcatcherand Anything Goes. I’ve also done some work in the costume crafts department, as well as giving backstage tours. This year I’m working as the costume design supervisor, assisting the costume director, the designers, and attempting to keep everything running smoothly in the shop.
What brought you to Utah Shakespeare Festival? What is it about the Festival that brings you back?
I came to the Festival to further my education, and was hired by Jeff Lieder, who is the costume director here at the Festival, as well as my professor back home. USF is a really unique opportunity for costumers because it allows you to further your building and
crafting skills in May, and then watch your pieces come to life on stage throughout the summer.
I come back because of the friendships you make. You develop a really close bond with
your fellow artisans, and the performers you are responsible for taking care of during the
run of the show.
What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?
I fell into costuming. In all honesty I never really planned on being a costumer, or a
crafter. I went into school knowing I wanted to tell stories, and I bounced around a couple
of majors (English education, performance, journalism … etc) before landing in the
costume shop. I still plan on going into storytelling and journalism, but I really enjoy making things, and I love the challenge of taking a 2D rendering and making it into a real object.
Where’s your home base?
I’m based out of Milwaukee, WI.
What’s your education/training background?
Next May I will be graduating from UW-Milwaukee with a BFA in Costume Production,
a BA in History, and a BA in Religious Studies, with a focus on Early Christianity.
How will you spend your time off while here?
We have a lot of fun playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder
after the shows and on the weekends. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s made possible by having the awesome game store on Main Street (Gunjah) having everything we need to play!
What is your favorite musical/play/Shakespeare play?
DefinitelyTitus Andronicus.
What is your dream show to design/craft?
I think the show I’d most like to design would be She Kills Monsters, by Qui Nguyen.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
I think I’d like to have the power to alter reality or grant wishes – like the Scarlet Witch from the Marvel universe.
