Heather Anne Milam
Costume Technician
Draper, Tailor, Educator
RESUME
Professional ​
info​​
​I am a costume maker working in academia at Indiana University Bloomington in the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance. I have a passion for the theatre, costuming, research and teaching. Previously I worked as the costume production specialist at University of Alabama in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Students'
Websites
http://www.magdalenatortoriello.com/
www.stephanielynnorr.com
http://christinahadleydike.com/
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Work​
experience​
Academic Teaching Experience
Assistant Professor 8/21-present
Indiana University â–ª Bloomington, IN
Develop Curriculum for the MFA Costume Technology Program. Recruits Graduate Assistants for the program. Teaches costume technology classes. Drapes regularly for Indiana University productions, Prides themselves on hands on Mentorship of student drapers, Assists in planning, execution and distribution of work in the IU costume studio.
Courses Taught: Costume Construction 1 & 2 (grad & undergrad), Tailoring, Historical Understructures, Intro to Draping, Research and Collaboration, Intro to flat patterning, fabric modification, advanced draping, Portfolio prep, 15-17th C period construction, 18-19th C period construction, fabric science/textile history, Advanced patterning (including computer patterning with Optitex)
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Professor of Practice 8/13-8/21
Indiana University â–ª Bloomington, IN
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Costume Production Specialist â–ª 8/09-6/13
University of Alabama â–ª Tuscaloosa, AL
Draped for UA Theatre and Dance. Oversaw graduate students and monitored their work. Mentored costume technology students to become first hands and drapers, taught classes.
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Courses Taught: Costume Construction I, Fabric Manipulation, Flat Patterning, Draping, Period Costume Construction, Advanced Tailoring Techniques, Dance tutu/bodice Construction (ind. study), Advanced Draping (ind. study), Advanced Period Construction (ind. study)
Selected Produced Costume Work
Draper - Fuc**ng A Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Fall 2024
Designer/Maker - Project Mother, Indiana University, Bloomington, Fall 2024
Draper/Digital Patternmaker - Pintler Costumes and Technologies, Fall 2023 to present
Draper - Everybody, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Fall 2022
Draper - Hamlet, American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI Summer 2022
Draper - At First Sight: a repertory of new plays (Uncle Play), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Spring 2022
Draper - Bonnets (how ladies of good breeding are induced to murder), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Fall 2020
Draper - At First Sight: a repertory of new plays (Only Child, Haus of Mirth), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Spring 2019
Costume Designer - Our Town, Director - Dale McFadden, Indiana University Summer Theatre, Bloominton, IN Summer 2018
Costume Designer/Draper – Five Pillars, choreographer Dr. Nya McCarthy-Brown, Roots to Wings, IU contemporary dance, January 2017 Bloomington, IN
Draper - Prospect Hill, Jesus Christ Superstar, Macbeth, Sweet Charity, Romeo & Juliet, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Pride & Prejudice Chicago, Cloud 9, Guys and Dolls, IU Theatre Department 2013-present Bloomington, IN
Costume Designer/Draper – Be Still…Listen, Guest Choreographer Roger C. Jeffery, Encounters and Collisions, IU contemporary dance, January 2015 Bloomington, IN
Draper – Love’s Labour’s Lost & Love’s Labour’s Won, 2015 Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Bloomington, IL 2015
Costume Designer – Eddie and the Palaceades (a new musical), Midtown International Theatre Festival, New York, NY 2014
Draper - Othello, Design for Living, Misalliance, New Brain, Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre (ARDT), Sideman, Fools, Animal Crackers, Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre (ARDT),City of Angels, Baby Dance, Moby Dick, The Rose Tattoo, Candide, ARDT-Cinderella, Saint Joan, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Time of Your Life, Tales of the Lost Formicans, 2009-2013 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Draper - To Kill a Mocking Bird, Titus Andronicus 2012 Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, UT
Draper – Twelfth Night 2006 Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
Cutter/Patternmaker 2006 Barbara Matera Ltd, New York, NY
Spamalot & Barbie in Fairytopia
Draper – Cabaret 2004 Phoenix Theatre, Phoenix AZ
Assistant Draper/Patternmaker 2001-2003 Barbara Matera Ltd, New York, NY
Mama Mia, Movin’ Out, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Flower Drum Song, Dance of the Vampires, The Lion King, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, as well as ballets, operas, performance clothes form Marilyn Horne & Elaine Stritch, the finale costume for Cher’s 2002 Farewell Tour and more.
Cutter 1995-1999 Barbara Matera Ltd, New York, NY
Lion King, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Kiss Me Kate, The Wild Party, many ballets (ABT & NYC Ballet), Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard, Show Boat, 101 Dalmations (the movie) and more.
Cutter – Toy Story on Ice 1996 Parson Meares, NY, NY
Draper – Cymbaline 1996 Playmakers Rep., UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
Costumer & Wardrobe – Amerimusica 1996 National Dance Institute, NY, NY
Costumer & Wardrobe Summer Season 1995 Pennsylvania Center Stage, Penn State, PA
Costume Intern Summer 1994 Barbara Matera Ltd, New York, NY
Beauty and the Beast, EFX for Vegas, the Rolling Stone’s Voodoo Lounge Tour and more.
Wardrobe &Stitcher Summer Season1993 CCTC, Chautauqua, NY
Costumer Summer Season 1992 John Drew Theatre, East Hampton, NY
2010 - present
2010 - present
Professional Membership
United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), Member, 2009-present
Volunteer Coordinator, Costume Commission, July 2023-present
Vice Commissioner of Archives, Costume Commission, July 2015 - 2023
Juror, emerging designers and national exhibit, Prague Quadrennial 2023
Curator, emerging designers, Prague Quadrennial 2019
Chair, Costume eSET working group, 2014 – 2018
History and Heritage Committee 2016-present
USITT Midwest region July 2016-2023
Costume Society of America (CSA), Member, 2013-present
Website Opportunities Manager, 2013-2016
Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), Member, 2014 - 2018
Workshops, Presentations
Publications
Leader of Session, "Digital Fabric Printing", United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Baltimore, MD 2022
Juror and Editor, Costume Commission Poster Session, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, 2013-present
Author Chapter “Bringing Fantasies to Life” in Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection, Scala Publications, 2021
Author, Book Review “Costume Supervisor’s Toolkit”, Southern Theatre issue Winter 2021 pg 62
Featured Interview “Sustainability in the Costume Shop” by McCarroll, Sarah Southern Theatre
Issue Winter 2021
Chair, “Technology in Costumes”, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Louisville, KY 2019
Panelist, “Is there life after graduation 2”, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2018
Leader of Session, “Mission to Moscow” United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, St. Louis, MO 2017
Panelist, “Is there Life after graduation”, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, St. Louis, MO 2017
Author Chapter 6: In the Costume Shop. Merz, Melissa, Leticia M. Delgado, Steven Stines, Linda Pisano, Heather Milam, Esther Van Eek and Holly Poe Durbin. The Art and Practice of Costume Design, Ed. Melissa Merz. Focal Press 2016. Print
Leader of Session, “Digitizing Historical Patterns” USITT Midwest, Bloomington, IN 2016
Leader of Session, “Period Pattern Paper Dolls: Historical Patterns” Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), Greensboro, NC 2016
Featured interview Chapter 8 Costume Design Monpetit, Christopher. “What is Theatre? An
Introduction to Theatre” e-book Kendall Hunt Pub, 2015 66-68
Leader of session, “Conversations in the fitting room, what to say and how (not) to say it” Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), Chattanooga, TN 2015
Organizer of panel, “3D printing for Costume” United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Cincinnati, OH, 2015
Presenter, Barbara Matera Award, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Cincinnati, OH, 2015
Juror and Editor, Costume Commission Poster Session, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, St. Louis, MO 2017, Salt Lake City, UT 2016, Cincinnati, OH, 2015, Fort Worth, TX 2014, Milwaukee, MI, 2013
Adjudicator, Barbara Matera Award, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Fort Worth, TX 2014
Website Opportunities Manager, job opportunities, grants, awards & study tours, Costume Society of America, 2013-present
Panelist, “What to do after Under Grad”, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Milwaukee, MI, 2013
Panelist, “Patterning Palooza”, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) National Conference, Milwaukee, MI, 2013
Poster Presenter, “Using Commercial Patterns to Test Draping Accuracy”, (USITT) National Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2011
Dramaturg, Saint Joan, Research and Playbill Notes for the Production of Saint Joan at University of Alabama, 2010
Education
MFA University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 2017
MFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in costumes
Month in Moscow, Russia - Moscow Arts Theatre School (MXAT) June 2016
Joint study abroad program consisting of an intensive training in Stage Design Composition, Costume History, Painting, Drawing, history of Stage Design, History of Russian culture, Light Design and Theatre History
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BA Ithaca College 1995
BA Drama, Art History Minor
Honors and Awards
Indiana University Platform Grant recipient with Linda Pisano: legacy and identity through fashion; a portrait of the first ladies of Indiana University https://platform.indiana.edu/funding/current-funded-projects.html
Indiana University Institute for the Digital Arts and Humanities Grant for research, Digital capture of changing Men’s Tailoring Details, Summer 2019
Non-Tenure Track University Wide Trustee's Teaching Award, Spring 2017
USITT International Travel Grant, Spring 2016
Indiana University New Frontier’s International Travel Grant, Spring 2016
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