Rachel Coon has been an intern with CATCO since March of 2009. Since being here Tatjana Longerot, Costume Studio Manager has been working with her to prepare her for a career in Costume Design. Rachel has worked closely with Tatjana on the design process, assistant designing a show for Carrickmacross Productions (Blowin’) and then going on to design shows with both Available Light Theatre (God’s Ear) and Evolution Theatre Company (The Agony and the Agony). With some experience under her belt, and some newly acquired technical knowledge, Rachel felt ready to take the next step; Graduate School. She has decided to go the route of attending U/RTA’s (Universty/Resident Theatre Association). U/RTA’s is a sort of mass audition/interview where many graduate programs attend to interview hundreds of students in different areas of theatre. At U/RTA’s Rachel will have a standard sized 6×2.5 ft table in order to display two design panels, her portfolio, and resumes.
Here is how Rachel describes her experience in her own words:
I decided to go to U/RTA’s because I wasn’t sure exactly which Graduate Costume Design Program I wanted to go to. Financially it’s a lot easier to do U/RTA’s if you aren’t sure because then you don’t have to pay application fees and pay to visit several different schools. In order to prepare for U/RTA’s, I was given some conceptual projects, developed by Tatjana and Kristine Kearney (Professor of Costume Design at The Ohio State University). The first project was to design three characters from The Tempest to show my understanding of play analysis. The second project was to design four shows, in different genres, all in the 1890’s period. This was to show my understanding of genre, and period costuming. After these assignments were completed, I started preparing my portfolio and my display panels. The process took a lot longer than I had originally anticipated.
On the panels, I decided to display my design for God’s Ear and my conceptual 1890’s project because they were the most visually interesting and contrasted each other well. In my portfolio, I included all of my projects and designs that I had done. I added several of my drawings and paintings I created in college as well. They illustrate my ability to use different media and an understanding of line, texture/pattern, color, and form/shape. After initially arranging my portfolio it was revised many times after receiving some much needed feedback. The part that took the longest though, was the cutting and matting of all the pictures, descriptions, and titles.
This week I had a mock U/RTA interview and portfolio review with T.J. Gerckens, Anna Grywalski, Edie Dinger-Wadkins, and Dennis Parker. I was really nervous, but after a few minutes, I felt more comfortable. A lot of the questions I had about the process were answered, and my fears eased. I’m so grateful that they did that for me, and for Tatjana who had arranged the whole thing.
Rachel previews her display with Dennis Parker, Anna Grywalski, and Edie Dinger-Wadkins (with Tatjana in the mirror)
Anna Grywalski & Dennis Parker give feedback on Rachel's work
Costume Designer Dennis Parker gives Rachel pointers
I leave on Thursday for my U/RTA interviews which are on Friday in Chicago. I’m still nervous, I do however, feel prepared and am excited to start the next journey in my career.
That weekend, Rachel went to U/RTA’s and is now back. Here is her report:
Nothing will ever be able to compare with my big day at URTAs in Chicago. My nerves were shot and I now know what it feels like to be scared to death. I arrived at Roosevelt University bright and early with my portfolio and display panels in hand. I had no idea what was in store for me that day. I set up my display and left to have breakfast with my parents while the members of URTAs reviewed my work for potential interviews. I returned around 11am to see if I had any jump start interviews. These are interviews that take place prior to the main interviews with professors that know right away they are interested. I had hoped to have at least a few before the major section of interviews began. When I returned back to my station I had 8 interviews and was completely shocked. I never expected to had the whole two hour block filled. The interviews went by so fast. The next thing I knew, I was sprinting down Michigan Ave in desperate search of a Dunkin’ Donuts. I only had an hour break in between interview sessions. It is remarkable how fast a person can sprint in business casual attire while in pursuit of a chocolate glazed donut and iced coffee.
After I successfully found a Dunkin’ Donuts, I made my way back to Roosevelt. I tidied up my display and waited anxiously for my next schedule of interviews for the second part of the day. Once again, I was speechless. I had 11 interviews ahead of me in the next few hours. To be honest everything was such a blur. My voice was gone by 6 o’clock and all I wanted to do was pass out in my hotel room. Every school that I interviewed with was friendly and unbelievably helpful. I highly recommend this experience to any designer looking to pursue graduate school. It is fantastic exposure and helps evaluate one school with another by having consecutive interviews. I am grateful for the help I received from my CATCO family. I would not have had this rewarding experience without them. There are no words to express my eternal gratitude other than thank you for believing in me.
Dennis Parker, Edie Dinger-Wadkins, and Rachel Coon discuss Rachel's display
Rachel Coon previewing her display
Anna, Edie, and Dennis
