Susan hilferty costume designer biography

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DEATH BECOMES HER vs. The 2003 Broadway musical was made into a two part movie and after breaking boxoffice records last year with Part I, Part II will be released this month. Our role as designers is to create a culture. Recent designs include Parade (Broadway), Funny Girl (Broadway), Swept Away (Broadway, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep), Hamlet (St.



What is your favorite time period to dress?
It really depends on the text. It turned me on to theatre design because I immediately understood how the visuals are an integral part of storytelling. dead. Anne’s Warehouse and Gate Theatre, Dublin), Little Comedies (Alley Theatre), and A Bright Room Called Day, (Public Theatre).

& Barnum and Bailey) and Concerts (Taylor Swift SPEAK NOW World Tour). In any given year, I could be working on a play set in South Africa in the 1970s, a musical based on a very small specific Texas town, and a Musical based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale.

susan hilferty costume designer biography

Audiences will no doubt clamor to the cinemas like the audiences that continue to flock to see the slick stage musical.

Photos: The Cast of INITIATIVE Celebrates Opening Night
by Jennifer Broski - Nov 20, 2025

The Public Theater recently celebrated opening night of the world premiere of INITIATIVE, an epic new play by Emerging Writers Group alumnus Else Went and directed by The Public Theater’s inaugural Directing Fellow Emma Rosa Went.

2014-12-09.

  • Web site: Susan Hilferty - Portfolio - Set Design.
  • Web site: Susan Hilferty - Portfolio Costume Design for Opera.
  • Web site: Susan Hilferty Arts Professor.
  • Web site: Jannuzzi. The Musical and more. Additionally, she received the Costume Design award from The Hewes Awards for Into The Woods and was honored with the Sustained Excellence in Costume Design award from the Obie Awards.


  • Susan Hilferty Explained

    Susan Hilferty is an American costume designer for theatre, opera, and film.

    Biography

    Early life and education

    Hilferty grew up in a big family in Arlington, Massachusetts, where her greatest source of joy was the library.

    susanhilferty.com

    Photos

    Productions

     

    [Broadway, 2023]


    Costume Design

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2020]


    Set and Costume Designer

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2017]


    Scenic Design

    Costume Design

     

    [West End, 2017]


    Designer

     

    [Broadway, 2017] [Replacement]


    Costume Designer[Replacement]

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2016]


    Scenic Design

    Costume Design

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2015]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2014]


    Costume Design

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2014]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Broadway, 2012]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2012]


    Scenic & Costume Designer

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2012]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2011]


    Costume Designer

    Our House

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2009]


    Costume Designer

     

    [US Tour, 2009]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Los Angeles, 2007]


    Costume Designer

    Lestat

     

    [Broadway, 2006]


    Costume Designer

    Fran's Bed

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2005]


    Costume Designer

    Wicked

     

    [Chicago, 2005]


    Costume Designer

    Rodney's Wife

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2004]


    Costume Designer

    Scenic Designer

    R Shomon

     

    [Williamstown, MA (Regional), 2004]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Broadway, 2004]


    Costume Designer

     

    [Broadway, 2003]


    Costume Designer

    Wicked

     

    [San Francisco (Regional), 2003]


    Costume Designer

    Helen

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2002]


    Costume Designer

    The Visit

     

    [Chicago (Regional), 2001]


    Costume Designer

    Jitney

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2000]


    Costume Designer

    Jitney

     

    [Off-Broadway, 2000]


    Costume Designer

    Tartuffe

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1999]


    Costume Designer

    The Devils

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1997]


    Costume Designer

    Valley Song

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1995]


    Costume Designer

    Scenic Designer

    Playland

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1993]


    Costume Designer

    Scenic Designer

    Ubu

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1989]


    Costume Designer

    Cheapside

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1986]


    Costume Designer

    Skirmishes

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1982]


    Costume Designer

    Glasshouse

     

    [Off-Broadway, 1981]


    Costume Designer

    Awards and Nominations

    Tony Awards - 2023 - Best Costume Design of a Musical

    Susan Hilferty, Parade

    Drama Desk Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical

    Susan Hilferty, Funny Girl

    Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Costume Design for a Play

    Susan Hilferty, Present Laughter

    Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical)

    Susan Hilferty, Present Laughter


    winner

    The Lortels - 2017 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Love, Love, Love

    Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Costume Design of a Play

    Susan Hilferty, Present Laughter

    Olivier Awards - 2007 - Best Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked

    The Lortels - 2007 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Spring Awakening

    Tony Awards - 2007 - Best Costume Design of a Musical

    Susan Hilferty, Spring Awakening

    Tony Awards - 2006 - Best Costume Design of a Musical

    Susan Hilferty, Lestat


    winner

    BroadwayWorld Awards - 2004 - Best Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked


    winner

    Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked

    Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked


    winner

    Tony Awards - 2004 - Best Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked


    winner

    Drama Desk Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Wicked

    The Lortels - 2003 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, My Life With Albertine


    winner

    The Hewes Awards - 2002 - Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Into The Woods

    The Lortels - 2002 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan HilfertyFranny’s Way

    Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Into the Woods

    The Lortels - 2001 - Outstanding Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty, Jitney


    winner

    Obie Awards - 2000 - Sustained Excellence Costume Design

    Susan Hilferty

    More Videos

    News


    Review: WICKED at The Hippodrome
    by Timoth David Copney - Dec 22, 2025

    For the last couple of years or so, theatre nerds everywhere have been besotted with the film version of the hit musical Wicked.

    After the debut of the first installment, anticipation only grew for Part Two, which dropped this past November. & Barnum and Bailey) and Concerts (Taylor Swift SPEAK NOW World Tour). Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve! Other Broadway credits include Spring Awakening, Into the Woods (2002 Revival), Lestat, Present Laughter (2017 Revival), Parade (2023 Revival), Assassins and Funny Girl (2022 Revival).

    Her many collaborations include productions with such well-known directors as Joe Mantello, James Lapine, Michael Mayer, Walter Bobbie, Robert Falls, Tony Kushner, Robert Woodruff, JoAnne Akalaitis, the late Garland Wright, James MacDonald, Bartlett Sher, Mark Lamos, Frank Galati, Des McAnuff, Christopher Ashley, Emily Mann, David Jones, Marion McClinton, Neil Pepe, Rebecca Taichman, Gregory Boyd, Laurie Anderson, Doug Wright, Carole Rothman, Oskar Eustis, Garry Hynes, Richard Nelson, Yaël Farber and Athol Fugard (the South African writer with whom she works as set and costume designer and often as co-director since 1980).[4]

    Her work in regional theatre in the United States includes productions with A.C.T San Francisco, ACT Seattle, The Acting Company, Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Center Theare Group, Court Theatre (Chicago), Geffen Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre, New York Stage and Film, Old Globe Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia), Trinity Rep, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Yale Repertory Theatre.[5]

    As set designer, Hilferty's work has been seen all over the world.