Dawna Oak

Dawna Oak
Costume Designer/Project Manager/Stylist
Phone: 941-730-1128
United Scenic Artists Local 829

2004-Present: Senior Director of Costumes-Feld Entertainment (Ringling Bros./Disney on Ice/Disney Live/Marvel Universe Live/Feld Motor Sports, Sesame Street Live, Jurassic World Live)

Recent Designs included RBBB 145th Edition, Gold Unit 3-7, Disney On Ice Treasure Trove of Animation and Nuclear Cowboyz 2009-2013, Sesame Street Live
Responsible for overseeing and managing all things related to costumes for Feld Entertainment. This includes but is not limited to multi-million dollar budget management for both department overhead as well as individual projects, creative oversight and designer and associate designer management from inception to completion of each new project numbering up to 7 full productions annually, managing individual vendors per project domestically and internationally, designing costumes, special projects, displays and shows as called upon, coordinating multiple projects simultaneously, managing all show support within the department for all touring shows and overseeing the management of the in-house costume shop, the on-site costume team, all administrative functions as well as the responsibility for managing the warehouse stock of over 10,000 costumes.
Designers include Colleen Atwood, Susan Hilferty, Gregg Barnes, Greg Poplyk, Frank Krenz, Agnus Strathie, Eduardo Sicangco, David Murin, Amy Clark, Scott Lane, Mark Koss

2000-2007 Costume Designer- The Fireside Dinner Theatre – Fort Atkinson, WI.
2004 Finding Nemo – Disney on Ice-Feld Entertainment-Associate Designer
2003 Monsters, Inc – Disney on Ice-Feld Entertainment-Associate Designer

May 1997 - March 2000: Associate Costume Designer - Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus - Kenneth Feld/Feld Entertainment - 128th, 129th and 130th Editions and Kaleidoscape - a one ring premiere circus. Responsibilities included: managing the design process from conception to completion as a member of the prod-uction team. Participating in all design/concept meetings with the producer and director, presenting the designs to costume construction houses for bidding, creating and implementing a budget, negotiating prices with the costume houses and creating a plan for construction distribution to each of the houses, overseeing and managing the construction of the costumes in each of the houses with the designer and seeing to it that the company’s best interests were upheld. Creatively, the responsibility was to advise and encourage the best choices for construction and fabrication methods to ensure the durability of the costumes for a two-year tour while never letting the aesthetic values be reduced to less than spectacular. Once in Winter Quarters the responsibilities included arranging and scheduling fittings, booking costume house travel and accommodations and generally “installing” the show on schedule. This involved coordinating all of the elements of the new costumes with all of the acts/performers, director, producer, designer, performance directors, unit safety members, costume houses, shoemakers, other specialty vendors and the unit wardrobe department in a timely manner. In working with the unit wardrobe department my responsibility was to teach and train the members of the team proper maintenance and cleaning requirements for each piece of each new costume. Upon completion of the installation, a complete “bible” was provided with all pertinent information for that particular show. Once on tour my responsibility to the unit remained as a support system advisor with occasional visits to the show to assess the condition of the costumes for future reference and to address any current needs.

May 1991 - May 1997: Resident Designer/Production Wardrobe Department Head-Pasadena Playhouse - Duties included: Designing, patternmaking, construction, dying & distressing, wigs & hair, assisting guest designers, hiring and managing wardrobe staff (at times numbering up to 40 persons) coordinating main stage productions, cabarets and large scale musicals, coordinating tours to other venues, overseeing wardrobe needs for six theatres simultaneously, projecting and reconciling budgets, maintaining and upgrading wardrobe stock and supplies, etc.

January 1987 - 2004: Associate to Scott A. Lane - costume designer Duties included Business Manager, Shop Manager, Associate Designer and managing the rental department of his previous company, Broadway Costumes, assisting Scott in construction of full scale Broadway shows, acquiring and maintaining inventory, inventory control, rental contracts, invoicing, alterations, millinery, crafts, etc. Projects have included the World Premiere of Dorian at the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Fiesta Parade Floats for the Annual Rose Parade, Gary Marshall’s musical presentation of the hit T.V. show “Happy Days”.

Selected Film/Television:
Designer-First Love (Series-Showtime) Allot Productions/Jim Dudelson-Producer
Wardrobe Supervisor: Firestarter (Mini-series-USA Network/SciFi Channel) Little Guns Productions/Tom Thayer-Executive Producer, Jeff Morton-Producer, Robert Iscove-Director, Talent: Malcolm McDowell, Dennis Hopper, Marguerite Moreaux
Costumer: The Darkling (USA Network) Great Falls Productions/Tom Thayer-Executive Producer, John V. Stuckmeyer-Producer, Po Chih Leong-Director, Talent: F. Murray Abraham, Aidan Gillen, Lisa Linde
Costumer: Pontiac Bonneville (Commercial) Flying Tigers Films; Jon Amiel-Director
Costumer/Aging/Distressing: Venus Rising (Feature) I.R.S. Productions, Leora Barish-Director, Talent: Billy Wirth, Costas Mandolar, Morgan Fairchild, Joel Gray, Audie England.
Dying/Aging/Distressing: Dead Man on Campus (Feature)
Designer-I Like It (Music Video) Z Productions, Talent: Cyndee Z

Theatre - Selected Designs:
For The Fireside Theatre: Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, South Pacific, Annie, Guys and Dolls, A Fireside Christmas 2003-2007, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello Dolly, Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Man of La Mancha

Radio Gals - Pasadena Playhouse, Coconut Grove Playhouse, La Mirada Theatre
Director: Alan Bailey Talent: Mike Craver, Lenny Wolpe, Klea Blackhurst, Emily Mikesell, Eileen Barnett DRAMALOGUE AWARD
The Lion in Winter - Pasadena Playhouse - Pasadena
Director: David Galligan Talent: Carol Cooke, Tom Troupe, Jay Underwood, Jennifer Aspen DRAMALOGUE AWARD
John Brown’s Body - Lobero Stage Co.- Santa Barbara
Director: Peter Hunt Talent: Linda Purl, David Naughton
After Life - Howard Fine Theatre - Los Angeles
Director: Howard Fine Talent: Jim Belushi, Lori Laughlin, Jack Coleman
The Sisters - Pasadena Playhouse - Pasadena
Director: Arthur Seidelman Talent: Meg Foster, Season Hubley, Charlotte Ross, Tony Musante, Pat Corley, Paul Regina, Mathew Lescher
Fortinbras - Howard Fine Theatre - Los Angeles
Director: Howard Fine Talent: Billy Campbell
Dial M for Murder - The Pasadena Playhouse – Pasadena Director: Alan Bailey Talent: Fiona Hutchinson, Michael Spound, Neil Dickson
Ad Wars - Court Theatre - Los Angeles Director: Jenny Sullivan Talent: David Dukes, Stephanie Zimbalist, John Bennett Perry, French Stuart
Breaking Legs - Pasadena Playhouse - Pasadena
Director: Tom Dulack Talent: Marianne Ferrar, Richard Zavaglia, J.J. Johnston
Spirit of America, Legends, Christmas Jubilee - Red River Opry - Phoenix, AZ
Fame - The Musical (co-design with Scott A. Lane) Alex Theatre - Glendale
Director: Runar Borge, Choreographer: Lars Betke
Special Occasions - Pasadena Playhouse - Pasadena
Director: Tom Alderman Talent: Steve Vinovich, Caroline McWilliams
Herberger Headliners - Herberger Theatre Center - Phoenix, AZ
Different Hats - Upstairs at the Pasadena Playouse - Talent: Sam Harris

Selected Industrials:
IBM, Million Dollar Round Table, Dominos Pizza, Oracle, Genentech, Dr. Pepper (5 years), 7-Up, Pepsico, Tyco Toys, Avco Financial

Other Credits:
Assoc. Designer: Mack & Mabel – Reprise Productions-Jane Krakowski, Douglas Sills, Donna McKechnie
Assoc. Designer: Let’s Go to the Movies - Princess Cruise Lines
Assoc. Designer: Beehive - Sahara Hotel, Luxor Hotel - Las Vegas
Assoc. Designer: Twilight of the Golds - Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, Marines’ Memorial-San Francisco, Booth Theatre - Broadway-NYC Director: Arvin Brown Talent: Jennifer Grey, David Groh, Raphael Sparge, Michael Spound, Judith Scarpone
Assistant to the Designer/Show Supervisor: Solitary Confinement - Talent: Stacy Keach
Pasadena Playhouse, Kennedy Center, Nederlander Theatre (NYC-Broadway)

As wardrobe department head for TCA/Pasadena Playhouse:
Costume Coordinator: Mame - the Alex Theatre Director: John Bowab Talent: Juliette Prowse, Gretchen Wyler, Franklin Cover, John Almberg
Costume Coordinator: Heartbeats - Pasadena Playhouse Director: Bill Castellano
Talent: Amanda McBroom, George Ball
Camping with Henry & Tom - Director: Paul Lazarus, Talent: Ronny Cox, Robert Prosky, John Cunningham
In The Moonlight Eddie - Director: Ken Howard Talent: Robert Forster, Bill Macy
Blues in the Night - Director: Sheldon Epps Talent: Freida Payne, Roz Ryan
Same Time Another Year - Director: Bernard Slade Talent: Nancy Dussault
Crimson Thread - Director: Dan Lauria Talent: Stephanie Zimbalist, Shanna Reed, Kathleen Noone
Tuna Christmas - Director: Ed Howard Talent: Jaston Williams, Joe Sears
Isn’t it Romantic - Director: Jules Aaron Talent: Wendy Jo Sperber, Ken Mars
David’s Mother - Director: Josie Abady Talent: Ellen Greene, Carol Locatell, Leah Rimini, Jennifer Blanc
Closer Than Ever - Director: Richard Maltby Jr. Talent: Gary Beach, Sally Mayes, Jason Workman, Meg Bussart
On Borrowed Time - Director: Sheldon Epps Talent: Conrad Bain, Wren T. Brown
Lend Me a Tenor - Director: David Saint Talent: Robert Picardo, Gary Beach, Paul Dooley, John Astin, Anne DeSalvo, Peggy Pope, Jean DeBaer
Forever Plaid - Director: Stuart Ross Talent: David Engel, Guy Stroman, Stan Chandler, Larry Rabin (Original Cast)
You Never Know - Director: Paul Lazarus Talent: Harry Groener, David Garrison, Megan Mullally, Donna McKechnie

Producer: Beverly Hills Fashion Club

Education:
Theatre of Arts, L.A.: Acting
Mt. San Antonio College: General Education with a focus in Criminal and Administration of Justice
Citrus College: Musical Theatre, Small Business Management
Cypress College: Musical Theatre
Orange Coast College: Costume Design
Los Angeles Trade Tech: Costume Illustration

Other related experience:
Professional actor/dancer/singer
Retail Clothing Management
Licensed Massage Therapist
Fitness and Nutrition Counselor