Kathleen Hotmer, costume shop manager for Sinclair’s Theatre Department, began her costume shop college career studying Nursing at Humboldt State University in Northern California, then switched majors to Philosophy and Religion and finally decided on Costume Design.
“I kind of fell into costume design,” Hotmer says.
Hotmer graduated with a master of Fine Arts in Costume Design for Theatre, Film and Dance. Although she had been sewing her entire life, she said costume design was not an obvious choice.
“All of the women in my family, on my mother’s side of the family have always sewn,” Hotmer says, “So it was a bit of genetics working through me. I don’t actually remember learning to sew but I am sure my mother taught me.”
Costume design has brought Hotmer many opportunities; bringing her from California to Ohio to teach at Sinclair Community College is one of many.
Hotmer worked in plays, film, television, and for the cruise industry, until eventually ending up at Sinclair. Hotmer is designing for the school-sponsored play “Almost, Maine,” which is set in a fictional town in Northern Maine.
Although she is not creating the costumes for this particular play, she is avidly searching for the perfect items “at thrift stores or on Ebay” for each individual character’s personality.
Hotmer explains that the costumes have a great deal of effect on the play and the impact that the characters have on the audience.
“Texture, color, light and more goes into developing a character and how to present that character to the audience for the maximum impact,” Hotmer said.
While plays are a form of entertainment, Hotmer says she also enjoys costume design because “theater creates awareness about social problems.”
Hotmer says that she feels lucky because costume design provides a fun and satisfying, yet challenging work environment.