Gregory Pulver

By Bess Wohl

Directed by Shawn Lee

Tired of not living their ‘best life,’ six broken individuals gather at a wellness center in the middle of the woods for a weeklong silent retreat to breathe and reset. As the voice from an omniscient guru drones on in broken self-help speech, the attendees struggle to find their inner calm while awkwardly combating their mental and physical desires. Over the course of five days, the group inexpertly attempts to navigate through hurt feelings, crippling faux pas, and exposed vulnerabilities to reach enlightenment. Absurdly funny and profoundly poignant, Small Mouth Sounds encourages us all to put down the phone and just be in the moment.

By Stephen Karam

Directed by Dámaso Rodríguez

It’s the small dinner party that made big waves on Broadway about a fractured family at its not-so-finest. A bold, bruised, and billowing drama, The Humans layers the fabric of a family’s past as they gather at the youngest daughter and her boyfriend’s New York Chinatown apartment for a holiday meal. As the Blake family poke at old wounds and forcibly stumble through treasured traditions, tensions bubble over, secrets fight their way to the surface, and the world creaks curiously around them.

by Tony Meneses

directed by Reena Dutt

Set in New Jersey, The Hombres offers a delicate, funny exploration of masculinity and intimacy of male friendships. Three Latino construction workers are drawn to the yoga studio, initially by voyeuristically watching women in classes from their job site next door. Gradually, their curiosity draws them in, one by one, to private, after-hours classes with the gay instructor whose sexual orientation challenges their machismo and sense of self. A laugh out loud, fresh, nuanced look at the complexity of male friendships through the lens of the machismo culture.

Corrib Theatre engages, inspires, entertains, and challenges audiences with theatrical productions dealing with universal issues filtered through the Irish experience.

It is a privilege to design for Corrib theater year after year. I am honored to continue to pursue my study and interest in Irish culture and theater with this great, small and mighty theater company.

1-4: James X - February 2020

by Gerard Mannix Flynn

Plaintiff James X confronts the defendants, Church and State, for injustices they perpetrated throughout his childhood. While awaiting his trial, James examines his confidential state files compiled over the previous 45 years, and takes us on a journey through the schools, courts, health boards, industrial schools, psychiatric hospitals and prisons. It is part of the secret history of Ireland in the last century.

5-8: Maz and Bricks - February 2022

by Eva O’Connor

Two strangers meet on a train in Dublin. Maz is on her way to a demonstration protesting the Eighth Amendment, Catholic Ireland’s blanket ban on abortion. Bricks is hoping he will get to see his young daughter after a wild night on the town. The two are an unlikely pair, and yet the course of a day will change them both forever. A tender and timely tale about listening, learning, and coming to terms with our past.

9-10: The Smuggler - April 2022

by Ronán Noone

Irish immigrant Tim Finnegan has aspirations of being a writer but struggles to earn a living and provide for his baby son. Spurred on by family pressure and his own loss of dignity, he discovers the price he’s willing to pay to get ahead. A story in verse by a master weaver of tales, about the dark underside of the American Dream.

Book by George Furth

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Directed by Gregory Pulver & Anderson Carr

Costume Design by Gregory Pulver

Choreography by Gregory Pulver

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor, Robert, contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – "those good and crazy people [his] married friends" – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

By Jordan Harrison

Directed by Adriana Baer

In this inquisitive new drama, a family grapples with the difference between a life lived and a life remembered as 85-year-old Marjorie struggles to keep hold of her memories and identity, gently assisted by an artificial version of her late husband, Walter. An exploration of aging, memory and technology, MARJORIE PRIME peers into what lies ahead and how our past is rewritten to face today.

Artists Repertory Theater

Spring | 2016

By Thornton Wilder

Director - Dámaso Rodrìguez

This comedic masterpiece spans the entirety of history, with one ordinary American family who lives through it all. Dad’s just invented the wheel, Cain is throwing rocks at the neighbor kid, mammoths and dinosaurs lounge in the family room and mom frets about how to get all those animals on the boat two by two. Through Ice Ages, biblical floods and political conventions, the Antrobus family of Excelsior, New Jersey perseveres. With a giant cast and time-set across the ages, this theatrical allegory captures the human spirit – of brilliance, idiocy and ultimately sweet survival.

The approach to this production was imagined from a television set from the midcentury, but needed to include an environment/setting that can move through the span of the timeline of this play. Bright colors and patterns were chosen for both sets and costumes. Each night a new group of board members and volunteers performed as the chorus in Act I, so several racks of “one-size-fits-many” costumes were needed to accommodate the nightly cast.

Artists Repertory Theater

Fall | 2016

By John Biguenet

Director - Gemma Whelan

A fairytale-twisted yarn of delightful humor and spine-tingling suspense conjures a spooky seasonal experience unlike any other. With Vana O’Brien in a tour-de-force solo performance, an Appalachian witch tells a heartfelt and poetic tale of her long life from first love, to heartache, to the hair-raising vengeance she wreaks upon those who’ve crossed her.

The setting, theater space and acting was very intimate so the costume attention to detail was of utmost importance. The text referenced many details about the costume including “stolen” things stitched into the skirt hem, trinkets around the neck and past childhood details about the underclothes. My approach was to have the character shed layer after layer as the story, and the truth, unfolded, and then, process reversed as the end of the play was near. Beads, skulls, rings, buttons, bones, coins and many other found objects were stitched everywhere on this costume.

Artists Repertory Theater

Spring | 2015

Director - Dámaso Rodríguez

Book by Carlos Lacámara
Music & Lyrics by Jorge Gómez
Choreography by Maija Garcia

The irresistible rhythms of Cuban music drive this riveting, universal story of a man caught between countries, losses and loves, and his search for freedom. Set in America and Cuba, this timely tale reverberates across politics, ambition and romance with quick-witted dialogue, joy-filled dance and Latin-fusion beats. This Broadway-scale, contemporary musical features the internationally acclaimed, three-time Grammy-nominated band Tiempo Libre with a company of 21 actors, dancers and musicians in a not-to-be-missed theatrical event.

Set in Castro era Cuba - period, color, style and economics were the approach to the design. I used bright color to create the past/memory of Cuba, and black and white to define the moments of present day. A cast of New York actors/dancers playing numerous roles, and a dream ballet, made this premier musical challenging and exciting.

Artists Repertory Theater

Winter | 2015

By Nina Raine
Directed By Dámaso Rodrìguez

A scintillating contemporary drama centered around Billy, the only deaf member of his family, whose search for family acceptance as he delves into the Deaf Community sparks often funny but fierce tensions at home. Grappling with the significance of language and the urge to belong, this Portland debut follows triumphant productions Off-Broadway, at London’s Royal Court and Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

My approach to this play was metaphor, family dynamics, color and texture. I examined specific objects from a hearing world - microphone, tuning fork, volume knob, frequency graph - to create a palette and color scheme for each character.

Artists Repertory Theatre

Fall | 2013

By Dawn King

Directed by Dámaso Rodrìgez

Dawn King's play Foxfinder is a dystopian parable exploring belief, desire and responsibility, set in a world both strange and familiar.

This production marked my first time working with Artists Repertory Theatre artistic director Dámaso Rodrìgez. In this production we created a world that was “future past and present” to disguise the production period as both past and future. I set the two worlds of the play apart by using only natural fabrics and fasteners (cotton, linen, bone, stone) for the country place and synthetics (nylon, metal, poly) for the city place. I worked closely with the scenic artist and prop master on the choices of all things related to each world to create a complemented environment in the total design.

By Bert V. Royal

Directed by Michelle Seaton

Costume Design: Gregory Pulver

When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful.

Artists Repertory Theater

Winter | 2010

By Noel Coward

Directed by Jon Kretzu

Design for Living is a wickedly witty dark romantic comedy by Noel Coward. Initially banned in the UK, this provocative play portrays three amoral, glib and stylish characters and their hopelessly inescapable, if also unconventional, emotional entanglement.

Diving deep into Art Deco I creating costumes that were not only telling the story of each character, but demonstrate the decadence of the period. In the final scene I chose the guests to appear in black and white and the 3 main characters to be in vivid color - a reminder of the trap that they had set for themselves.

Western Washington University

Spring | 2011

Based on the books by Rudyard Kipling

Directed and Choreographed by Gregory Pulver

This play begins in a real world of a past India and magically unfolds into the fantasy world of Jungle Book. I created a world that was both magical and imaginative as I transformed actors bodies into animal shapes and designed puppets as appendages. Complete with a 14 foot elephant god puppet and an evil rolling Queen Cobra, based on a Kathakali dancer, this production was a visual feast for the whole family.

Western Washington University

Spring | 2003

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler

Directed by Jim Lortz

A musical and thriller set in Victorian England about a murderous barber who extracts revenge on unsuspecting people in London for the cruel abuse of his wife.

Dirt, blood and distress were the main approaches to this design. One of standout design choices was the sheer fabrics that I used on Johannas dress. Layered together and front lit they were opaque, but when the Judge sings “Mea Culpa” (his song of lust), Johanna was back lit to reveal her “naked” silhouette beneath her costume.

Western Washington University

Fall | 2000

By Tony Kushner

Directed by Jim Lortz

A gay fantasia on National Themes. My design approach began with the question “What is THE Angel America and what does she/America represent?” I turned to all things shiny and new - glass, metal, plastic and contemporary lines. I designed the wings of Angel America to resemble a sky scraper - slick and reflective. Complete with wire mesh, metal feathers and reflective tape, these wings glowed in the light. The other angels I based on the topography and history of the continent (and people) they represented. Here Angel Australia is earth and reeds and stone.

Western Washington University

Fall | 2000

By Christopher Hampton

Directed by Maureen O’Rielly

A tale of seduction set in France among aristocrats before the revolution, this is a classic drama for exploring decadent sexuality, morals, and manipulation played as the ultimate game, with tragic results.

The design approach was to take the color away from the costume so that the treachery of the characters and their action were juxtaposed. Whites, creams and pale tones were used with sumptuous fabrics and period silhouettes.

Western Washington University

Fall | 1998

By Tony Kushner

Directed by Mark Kuntz

In a city of “haves” and “have-nots,” can a good person stay good even as their fortunes rise? The Good Person of Szechwan is a fable for our times exploring the lengths to which one must go to keep clean in a dirty world.

Set in a mythical Asia, my design approach was cotton and leather. The silhouette was simple and clean with garment died costumes in an array of sunset and earth tones. I designed and made “kip” leather masks for each character that embodied the true core of the character. The Gods were 4 foot “puppet” masks that were made of fresh tanned deer skin, hand dyed, then stretched and formed over a wire mold. I was also the soft goods designer for the scenic banners on this production. This production was a school touring show for Whatcom and Skagit county.

Western Washington University

Spring | 2001

By Henrik Ibsen

Directed by Mark Kuntz

Peer Gynt is a Norwegian farm lad who wastes his time in lazy dreaming, boasting and brawling--a symbol of the man who ever colors truth and fact in wishful compromises, evasion and selfishness.

So many characters in such an enormous play. My approach was based in fantasy and history. The trolls were a challenge as the director wanted the “troll tail” to represent their penis - which is then awarded to Peer after the feast. I used all natural elements for the trolls so I created their “tails” from different lengths and widths of hemp rope. Ah theater.

Western Washington University

Spring | 2004

By Tony Kushner

Directed by Deb Currier

A lawyer, facing mortality, desperate to find the son he drove away years before, travels in the dead of night to a mysterious cave. There he engages the services of a wizard, who conjures up visions of the romantic, adventurous, perilous life the lawyer’s son has been living since his father expelled him from home. THE ILLUSION, freely adapted from Pierre Corneille’s L’ILLUSION COMIQUE, is Kushner’s most joyfully theatrical play, a wildly entertaining tale of passion and regret, of love, disillusionment and magic.

The director wanted the magicians lair to be “womb like” - warm and flesh like. The scenic designer created a space that was sinewy in reds and oranges. I wanted the magician to “appear out of thin air” so I created her first look from dyed lycra (to match the set) with one sleeve stretched to the grid and her skirt fastened to the floor of the cave. In the opening scene her back was turned so she looked like just a part of the set. Once summoned she slowly turned around to reveal herself to Lawyer…and the audience. Gasps were heard from the audience every night!

Bag and Baggage

Summer | 2001

The Tempest, or the Enchanted Isle

By John Dryden and William Davenant

Directed by Scott Palmer

A French comedy adaptation of Shakespear’s The Tempest, this play turns the story sideways with 2 Mirandas, Sycorax as a fleshed out character and a traveling troupe of clowns to support the story. This production was part of the Bag & Baggage summer in the city series. I design both sets and costumes and focused heavily on the “group of traveling plays” theme. The costumes were a combination of French restoration and 1970’s silhouette! It was a blast to meld the two very over the top silhouettes together to create this comedia event.

Wizards of the Coast: A Hasbro Company

Spring | 2009

I was contacted by Wizards of the Coast to design muti-wearer demo costumes that represented several characters from the card game and would travel around the world to advertise their brand. The design challenge was this: 1. the costumes weren’t ever going to be cleaned, but spray disinfected, 2. muti-wearers from all around the world meant adjustable to fit from small to large bodies, 3. needed to have a “flip down” portable playing surface so that the wearer could demonstrate a game as the fans stood in line for the event. Vinyl, snaps, belting and buckles became my design vocabulary. All costume were adjustable in length and width from S to XL with a series of buckles and snaps. The table was engineered on a shoulder harness to help with fatigue. I also designed “give away” logo tee-shirts for the wearer to act as skin parts to ensure cleanliness. The costumes were sprayed with disinfectant after every tour. These costumes have beed around the globe at least 3 times!

University of Portland

Fall | 2015

By Sarah Treem

Directed by Christie Keller

In this dark comedy, based on Snow White, ten teenagers love, lose, betray and revenge each other over one autumnal weekend in a kingdom far, far away. It is a precarious landscape where magic lurks behind make-up, mirrors and memories.

A high school boy “disappears” and returns as a transgendered young woman - and his former friends don’t know it’s him. This production explores the depth of cruelty in high school. I was inspired by “on trend” high school fashion with a hint of surrealism. The biggest challenge was reassigning a 6’3” male actor into a beautiful woman.

University of Portland

Season | Year

By Elmer Rice

Directed by Brian Guerrero

A landmark of American Expressionism, Elmer Rice's 1923 play takes us through the murder, trial, execution, and journey to the afterlife and back of Mr. Zero, an accountant who is replaced by a machine.

Surealism, spans of time, multiple roles, French clowns - this production was a design challenge from the get go. The director wanted each scene to be a particular decade in American history so I focused on the epitome of fashion from each era: The Bob for the 1920’s, shoulder pads for the 1940’s, flower power for the 1960’s, Steve Jobs for the 1990’s. Stretching and remolding each style to fit the surreal approach of the director.

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Spring | 1995

Two sisters are set to task to find their '“unborn” brother who is trapped in the land of music. A fantasy play that starts in the girls bedroom and moves quickly abroad - deals with bravery, adventure and true love.

University of Portland

Fall | 2013

By Euripides

Directed by Andrew Wardenaar

Alcestis tells the story of the queen of Thessaly and wife of Admetus. When Admetus’ death is imminent, his friend Apollo tricks the Fates into allowing Admetus to live if someone else should voluntarily take his place. But no one is willing to sacrifice themselves for the king, except his wife Alcestis. She is celebrated as the ideal queen and wife, deeply mourned by everyone. However, the Greek hero Heracles arrives, and not knowing that the queen has died, expects food, drink, and celebrations--all activities forbidden in a house of mourning. When he learns of Alcestis’ fate, Heracles resolves to fight Death himself in order to bring her back and return Thessaly to happiness and prosperity.

An all female cast paying homage to the ancient Greeks. Different status silhouette and color were the main design approach with “kip” leather masks created for each character.

Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company

Spring | 2002

Original Choreography

Choreographer Nolan Dennett

This dance was originally created at Western Washington University by Nolan Dennett and then remounted for the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Salt Lake City, UT later that year. The dance is a metaphor of the relationship between two people based on the planetary gravitation pull of two orbiting bodies in space: Aphelion - The point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is furthest from the sun; Preihelion - The point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is closest to the sun. In this dance the female dancer is the dominant figure, so I chose to use reds and pinks. The silk was hand painted with metallic so that she would glimmer in the light. The male submissive dancer is in blacks and green and has a “corset” of flesh showing ribs and bone of desperation. The challenge of this design was that I built these costumes without ever seeing or fitting the dancers, sending them off to Utah once they were done.