This summer, Emma Howson ’27, a theatre major and Italian studies minor from Freehold Borough, New Jersey, has a wardrobe internship with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.
Why did you decide to pursue this experience?
I applied for this internship because I wanted to get more experience working with costumes. I started working in the Muhlenberg costume shop in my first year at college, and it was there where I discovered my passion for it. I specifically applied to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival because it is near Muhlenberg and would allow me to easily see my family regularly. It’s been a lot of fun so far! I’m currently working on a production of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” and my next show will be “The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged.”
I applied for this internship because I wanted to get more experience working with costumes. I started working in the Muhlenberg costume shop in my first year at college, and it was there where I discovered my passion for it.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend time in the costume shop, usually in the afternoons. I assist with any wardrobing tasks, such as distributing laundry or restocking, and any leftover time is spent assisting the shop with whatever they may need. Then, after dinner, I work backstage at a show. First, I preset any costumes needed for changes during the first act, then assist with those changes. At intermission, I set costumes for the second act, then assist with those changes. After the show, I collect the actors’ laundry and put it in the wash.
How have your Muhlenberg experiences helped you in this work?
I worked wardrobe on a dance production at Muhlenberg, and that experience definitely helped prepare me for my current internship. I practiced common wardrobing tasks such as checking in costumes, doing laundry after performances, and assisting with emergency repairs.
