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Late bloomer
Linda Pisano switched disciplines and has become an award-winning
costume designer.
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From the age of 11, Linda Pisano has been involved in theatre.
"My parents put me in acting school when I was 11," the assistant
professor of theatre recalls. "My first play was 'The Emperor's New
Clothes.'"
Pisano continued working on stage, acting in a variety of local, high school
and college productions. She got her undergraduate degree in acting before
earning a master's degree in theatre theory and criticism.
The closest Pisano ever got to costumes was when she wore them in a production.
"I hadn't even contemplated being a costume designer until I started
my second master's," she said. "But I was amazed at how everything
I had ever studied in the theatre came together as a designer. "As
soon as I took a designer's perspective, theatre became a passion for me."
That passion has also led Pisano to critical acclaim for her costumes. Now
in her second year as a member of the Iowa State theatre faculty, the Utah
native continues to provide costumes designs for a variety of theatre and
dance companies.
It is the costumes that she created for two world premiere ballets for Ballet
Met in Columbus, Ohio, however that have brought her to the attention of
the United States Institute of Theatre Technicians (USITT). Every four years
that professional organization holds a world design expo in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Award-winning costumes from 12-15 designers from around the United States
are traditionally featured.
Pisano's designs from the Ballet Met production of "Beauty and the
Beast" were exhibited at the last expo. She has just received word
that her works will again represent the United States in four years ®¢ this
time for "Dracula," another Ballet Met production. Not bad for
someone who just started costume designing seven years ago.
"As a costume designer I'm creating the world of the play," Pisano
said. "I analyze all the characters in a play just as I did when I
was an actor."
That analysis begins far in advance of the actual production. Pisano estimates
that 80 to 90 percent of her work on a particular project rests solely with
her research.
"People think design work is strictly sewing costumes," she said.
"What they don't realize is the amount of research that goes into creating
the design. "Actually I don't sew anything for my shows."
Pisano says that the creative side of costume design also differs from production
to production. While working on an ISU Theatre production, she relies much
more on the script.
"You design according to the action of the play," she said. "But
dance is much more conceptual and free in its interpretation. You can take
a lot more artistic license with a ballet than a theatrical production."
That freedom has allowed her to create the award winning costumes for the
ballets, evoking a sensual feeling of the Bram Stoker classic and going
anti-Disney for "Beauty and the Beast."
Ironically she does have a Disney connection with one of her designs. When
her work from "Beauty and the Beast" was displayed in Prague,
it was side-by-side with the Tony Award-winning costumes from Disney's Broadway
production of "The Lion King."
"I was so excited to have my costumes exhibited right next to the 'The
Lion King,'" she said. "It was quite an honor." Not bad for
someone relatively new to the profession.
Around LAS
September 25 to October 1, 2000
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