100 Creatives 2012: Macy Perrone, Costume Designer
If you've gone to the theater in Houston, chances are you've seen costume designer Macy Perrone's work. She recently worked on Dog Act for Main Street Theater; that show was filled with apocalyptic scavengers that had a steam punk vibe. She also costumed the comedy The Nacirema Society at the Ensemble Theatre. Nacirema Society was set in the 1960s and centered on a wealthy black family. That required lots of lush period pieces as well as clothing that showed the difference between wealthy blacks from the south and working class African Americans from the north. During a formal dinner scene, one character, played by Joyce Anastasia, was dressed in a gown with a large bow across the chest, the end running all the way to the floor (see above). 
The Nacarima Society at the Ensemble Theatre
"[Joyce Anastasia] is hilarious and her character is so funny," Perrone tells us. "That dress was something I fought for because when I initially put the bow on the front, [the director] was convinced that that was just silly, but I was convinced in my mind that that's how it had to be. It was perfect for her character. When we got her in front of an audience, they loved it.
"It's my job to help visually tell the story and for that character, that dress told you a lot about her," says Perrone, who, originally from Utah, came to Houston in 2006 to work with the Houston Grand Opera.
What she does: "I always say I'm a freelance designer for theater. I always get the question, 'You must love Halloween.' And no, I don't. I don't love Halloween," she deadpans. "All of the places that I usually shop are so crowded with people getting costumes. If I go shopping for make-up, the store will be out of what I want or it will be filled with people and I think, 'Agh! You all are slowing me down.' So no, I really don't like Halloween." 
Photo courtesy of Macy Perrone Comedy of Errors at Utah State University Theater
After the Halloween question, people usually ask Perrone about working in films. "They always say, 'Oh, do you do movies?' And no, I don't do movies. I do theater. That's what I do, the-a-ter."
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