OSU First Cowgirl Ann Hargis speaks to theater senior Madeleine Pritner about her costume designs that are now on display at the Willham House, residence of the OSU President. The artwork includes renderings of hand drawn sketches of outfits, pieces of sample fabric and pictures of modern couture fashion. Pritner’s artwork will be on display through the end of the 2014 spring semester.
VIDEO: For the video of the exhibit at the Willham House, please click here.
Intricately drawn costume designs hang in a sundrenched room on the first floor of the Willham House.
Madeleine Pritner, a senior at OSU from Lantana, Texas, is the first student from the theater department to have artwork showcased at Willham House, the residence of Burns and Ann Hargis, OSU President and First Lady.
The designs are from the musical, “Tartuffe”. The renderings include hand drawn sketches of outfits, pieces of sample fabric and pictures of modern couture fashion that were used as inspiration for the designs. Pritner worked with a team of designers from June until September to create the costumes before the show opened in November.
Ann Hargis, the “First Cowgirl” of OSU, enjoys displaying Pritner’s work in her home.
“I think it (Pritner’s work) is sensational,” Hargis said. “It’s so fun to take it from the concept to the finished product. What we actually have here are renderings of several of the cast members, and so you have the drawing, the original concept and the finished photograph of that member of the cast on stage. It’s a wonderful display.”
Pritner credits the theater department for her unique achievement.
“Our department is very supportive of it’s students and getting them to achieve the goals that they have set for themselves,” said Pritner.
“An opportunity to have student’s work shown in the president’s house is special,” said Andrew Kimbrough, head of the theater department. “I’m sure that there are many students on campus that would love to be able to show their work in that venue.”
Performing since she was 4 years old, Pritner’s love for theater motivated her studies at OSU.
“I love to draw, illustrate, sketch,” Pritner said. “When I got to college, I originally went into apparel design because I wanted to try something different since I’d always done theater, and I immediately just missed being involved in theater.”
Pritner changed majors her first semester to theater with an emphasis in design and technology. Since the switch, she has thrived.
Judith Cronk, faculty costume designer for the OSU Theater Department, has known Pritner for three years and believes she has exceptional talent.
“She gets it,” Cronk said. “She understands the process, she’s got the heart of a designer. She’s a self-starter. The minute she has a project, she’s running with it. She has what it takes to be a professional.”
Pritner accepted an internship as a costume shopper at the Glimmerglass Festival in New York to begin shortly after she graduates in May. She hopes to intern at Julliard in the fall.
“I owe all my success to OSU, especially the theater department,” Pritner said. “I have been so lucky to have the professors that I’ve had. They are so dedicated to giving you the personalized education and attention that you want.”
