Matthew Carlsen’s, CAS ’20, love for costume design was evident from a young age. Sketches of dresses can be found in his childhood books. Friends’ dolls donned handmade clothes. A fifth-grade history report focused on Victorian hat stores. His younger brother became the unfortunate subject of attempts at makeup artistry.

But it wasn’t until he joined Oakland University’s musical theatre program that he realized these childhood fantasies were not only his passion, but could become his reality.

OU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance offers study options in both front of theatre and behind the scenes. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre, Carlsen was able to work with faculty for flexible curriculum options that allowed him to explore these passions in costuming and theatrical design. “The faculty welcome mistakes, viewing them as growth opportunities — thus creating a supportive and friendly environment. My self-confidence has substantially risen,” says Carlsen.

Carlsen’s in-depth process might surprise you, with fine attention to detail that makes his work stand out. By thoroughly reading the script, he understands the important relationships and major themes in order to conceptualize ideas. He then researches the time period for cultural, social and economic characteristics, resulting in a mood board with thorough character definition.

Only then does Carlsen move on to the design itself, sharing approximately 15–25 rough sketches per character with the director to achieve a unified vision. Finally, he conducts fabric research, fleshes out the final designs, and launches into the construction.