Taylor Pfenning (she/her) is a costume designer focused on creating a meticulous and emotionally vivid theatrical experience.
Originally a professional actor from Chicago, Illinois, Taylor spent a little over a half decade in New York City studying and creating theatre before moving back to Illinois to complete her MFA in costume design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As a designer, Taylor is incredibly character analysis driven, which she chalks up to my former life as an actor. A quick and accurate renderer, Taylor believes that a strong rendering is a key tool in not only the development of a costume but as an aid to the actor in developing their character as well. She also believes in designing with an actor’s movement in mind and enjoys attending rehearsals to observe movement needs when welcome. Creating a safe space for all bodies is something that she is extremely passionate about and wants to develop a sense of trust and support with the performers. Taylor designs with the flexibility for all body types with an emphasis on body confidence and consent. She can be described as very collaborative designer who likes to work closely with the director throughout the entire process and establish a strong rapport. A good communicator who goes above and beyond in making sure everyone has their needs met and believes that it is important for the designer to be approachable, easily reachable, and practical. She prides herself in being a very flexible designer that can adjust their designs to satisfaction and think inventively depending on the labor and budget needs of each production. Curve balls happen and it's important to approach these situations with grace, empathy, and confidence.
Originally a professional actor from Chicago, Illinois, Taylor spent a little over a half decade in New York City studying and creating theatre before moving back to Illinois to complete her MFA in costume design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As a designer, Taylor is incredibly character analysis driven, which she chalks up to my former life as an actor. A quick and accurate renderer, Taylor believes that a strong rendering is a key tool in not only the development of a costume but as an aid to the actor in developing their character as well. She also believes in designing with an actor’s movement in mind and enjoys attending rehearsals to observe movement needs when welcome. Creating a safe space for all bodies is something that she is extremely passionate about and wants to develop a sense of trust and support with the performers. Taylor designs with the flexibility for all body types with an emphasis on body confidence and consent. She can be described as very collaborative designer who likes to work closely with the director throughout the entire process and establish a strong rapport. A good communicator who goes above and beyond in making sure everyone has their needs met and believes that it is important for the designer to be approachable, easily reachable, and practical. She prides herself in being a very flexible designer that can adjust their designs to satisfaction and think inventively depending on the labor and budget needs of each production. Curve balls happen and it's important to approach these situations with grace, empathy, and confidence.