Larissa McConnellFaculty

I began teaching at Gustavus in 2010, but am originally from the Buffalo, NY area where there is significantly more snow and significantly less frigidness. I earned my M.F.A. in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, my B.F.A. in Production Design/Costumes, and my B.S. in Secondary Education/Earth Science from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Yes, I have a degree in science, yet somehow made the transition to theatre. (I blame my involvement with a medieval re-enactment club.) I have worked as Costume Shop Manager or Shop Assistant at several theatres around the country, including the Weston Playhouse Theatre in Vermont, the Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish, Montana, the Chautauqua Theatre Company and the Chautauqua Opera in Chautauqua, NY. I have also worked as the Costume Designer/Shop Manager at Bay View Music Festival in Petoskey, MI.  My summers lately have taken me back to our other home in Western New York which is very close to the beach on Lake Erie. I have been embroidering, painting, making jewellery, weaving, dyeing and beading scarves, and in general, exploring new mediums. I have been married many years to my husband Jeff, who got me into all this, and we have two very quirky cats.

I made the decision to be "an artist and a teacher" at four years old. I have taken many detours along the way, but this is truly what I have been called to do. I love sharing what I know and watching how the students take what I teach and use, re-use, and manipulate it all into new and exciting things.

2022 URTA award recipient for Excellence in Undergraduate Training for Costume Design and Technology

Courses Taught