{"id":39633,"date":"2025-10-29T06:35:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T11:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tuts8dev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=39633"},"modified":"2025-10-27T05:14:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T10:14:49","slug":"the-tuts-questionnaire-with-colleen-grady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/the-tuts-questionnaire-colleen-grady\/","title":{"rendered":"The TUTS Q&A: Costume Designer Colleen Grady"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” admin_label=”Related Programs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”40px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||40px||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Colleen Grady<\/strong> is the Costume Shop Manager and a resident costume designer at Theatre Under The Stars, where she has designed productions including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee<\/strong><\/em>, In the Heights<\/strong><\/em>, Dreamgirls<\/strong><\/em>, Disney\u2019s Beauty and the Beast<\/strong><\/em>, Guys and Dolls,<\/strong> A Chorus Line<\/strong><\/em>, Elf<\/strong><\/em>, Rock of Ages<\/strong><\/em>, Sister Act<\/strong><\/em>, The Secret of My Success<\/strong><\/em>, Mary Poppins<\/strong><\/em>, Sweeney Todd<\/strong><\/em>, Cinderella<\/strong><\/em>, and Newsies<\/strong><\/em>. Known for her eye for detail and passion for theatrical storytelling, Colleen has helped make the TUTS Costume Shop a favorite stop for staff, students, and guests\u2014a welcoming, creative space where artistry comes to life. Learn more at colleengrady.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” module_class=”custom_row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”40px||0px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Art-by-Elizabeth-Gentry-Img.jpg” alt=”Art by Elizabeth Gentry Img” title_text=”Art by Elizabeth Gentry Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What moment in a performance\u2014onstage or off\u2014has ever made you feel most alive?\u2028<\/h2>\n

One of the things was probably that first show back after COVID. And that moment of the first downbeat of that and the first curtain call of that [Rock of Ages<\/strong><\/em>]. I remember just crying and crying because I couldn\u2019t believe we were actually back doing this because we thought we might not ever do this again. So that was a really huge. I\u2019ll never forget that moment ever in my life.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”40px||0px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

If your life were a musical number, what would its title be\u2014and what would be the final lyric?<\/h3>\n

The thing that\u2019s popping in my head \u2014 but it doesn\u2019t describe my life because I\u2019m a total worry wart and I worry about everything \u2014 but the thing that\u2019s popping into my mind is, I think it\u2019s from SPAMALOT<\/strong><\/em>, \u201cAlways look on the bright side of life\u2026\u201d The final lyric would be something to do with hoping that she left it a better place than she found it. She left it better than she found it.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” custom_margin=”30px||0px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

What part of the theatre-making process feels most like home to you\u2014and why?<\/h3>\n

The part that feels most like home to me is between the design process and the fitting. Taking the design from the two dimensional on the paper or the computer screen and choosing the fabrics, the trims, all the actual things that are going to make up the three dimensional. Putting it together, like choosing the fabric for the skirt and what are we going to trim it with and what bodice are we going to put and mixing all those patterns and textures that I drew on the page and when we actually realize those into three dimensions. Even before it gets on an actor or any of that. Seeing it come together.<\/p>\n

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Costume design for TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disneys-Frozen-by-Colleen-Grady-Hans-Img.jpg” alt=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Hans Img” title_text=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Hans Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

Costume design for TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disneys-Frozen-by-Colleen-Grady-Anna-Img.jpg” alt=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Anna Img” title_text=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Anna Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

Costume design for TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disneys-Frozen-by-Colleen-Grady-Kristaff-IMg.jpg” alt=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Kristaff IMg” title_text=”Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady Kristaff IMg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

Costume design for TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen by Colleen Grady.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”40px||0px||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Jenna-Rosen-as-ElsaImg.jpg” alt=”Jenna Rosen as ElsaImg” title_text=”Jenna Rosen as ElsaImg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]Jenna Rosen as \u201cElsa\u201d in TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen. Photo by Melissa Taylor.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Manuel-Stark-Santos-as-Hans-Img.jpg” alt=”Manuel Stark Santos as Hans Img” title_text=”Manuel Stark Santos as Hans Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]Manuel Stark Santos as \u201cHans\u201d and Cailen Fu as \u201cAnna\u201d in TUTS Production of Disney\u2019s Frozen. Photo by Melissa Taylor.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cailen-Fu-as-Anna-Img.jpg” alt=”Cailen Fu as Anna Img” title_text=”Cailen Fu as Anna Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]Cailen Fu as \u201cAnna\u201d in TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen. Photo by Melissa Taylor.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Fergie-Philippe-as-Kristoff-Img.jpg” alt=”Fergie Philippe as Kristoff Img” title_text=”Fergie Philippe as Kristoff Img” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9a1805a3-c29d-4ffa-bf89-82729353589e” header_3_text_color=”gcid-secondary-color” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_line_height_tablet=”” header_2_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_3_font_size_phone=”24px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22header_text_color%22,%22header_4_text_color%22,%22header_5_text_color%22,%22header_6_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22header_2_text_color%22,%22header_3_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-primary-color%22:%91%22text_text_color%22%93}”]Fergie Philippe as \u201cKristoff\u201d in TUTS production of Disney\u2019s Frozen. Photo by Melissa Taylor.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colleen Grady is the Costume Shop Manager and a resident costume designer at Theatre Under The Stars, where she has designed productions including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":39634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuts.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}