Top costume design award goes to FIU Theatre


She is a senior in the BFA program in FIU Theatre; she is an Honors College student; and she’s also one of the top costume designers in the college theatre scene. Meet Caroline Spitzer, the recipient of the highest accolade for costume design at this year’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Regional Festival (KCACRTF).

Spitzer was among the more than 20 FIU Theatre students and faculty who were invited to participate in the KCACTRF in Daytona Beach, Fla., in early February. They presented the Fall 2011 production of Caridad Svich’s The House of the Spirits, based on the novel by best-selling author Isabel Allende, to a panel of judges. FIU Theatre received the equivalent of a standing ovation in accolades.

As a whole, FIU received numerous distinctions, including Distinguished Performance Ensemble, Distinguished Production of a Play and Distinguished Design and Production Collaboration.

Assistant Professor Michael Yawney received the mention of Distinguished Director of a Play. Assistant Professor Jesse Dreikosen received Distinguished Scenic Design. And Assistant Professor Tony Galaska was honored with Distinguished Lighting Design. FIU Theatre student Victoria Collado received Distinguished Performance by an Actress and Spitzer was the recipient of the top mention, Outstanding Costume Design.  (For a complete list of the results, visit the KCACRTF website.)

Spitzer’s designs were selected from more than 45 productions presented at the festival. “I presented my work to a panel of respondents who are all professional designers. Their feedback was extremely helpful and receiving the highest award for costume design out of so many participating productions is an honor I still can’t even believe,” she said.

Each year, the Center produces eight regional festivals where they invite the top theatre programs to showcase their work. This year, nearly 600 colleges were considered to receive an invitation. FIU was one of only three chosen.

Caroline Spitzer

As the recipient of  Outstanding Costume Design, Spitzer will attend the Kennedy Center American College Theatre National Festival in Washington, D.C. April 17-21. On full fellowship, she will attend master classes and be recognized for her achievement in a prestigious award ceremony.

“Having a show I designed perform at this level was very rewarding. I knew it meant a lot for FIU as we made our mark in the collegiate theatre world. If they didn’t know about FIU before, they definitely do now,” said Spitzer, who plans to further her career in theatre next year as an MFA costume design and technology candidate at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.