Michael McDonald (costume designer)
Encyclopedia
Michael McDonald is an American costume designer
who was nominated for both a Tony Award
and a Drama Desk Award
in 2009 for his work on the Broadway revival of the musical Hair
.
McDonald was born in Allentown
, Pennsylvania
in the United States
. He is a 1981 graduate of William Allen High School
. In 1984, he became involved in theatre at Allentown's Civic Theatre
. While attending Muhlenberg College
, he took his first costume design course and subsequently worked on several of the school's theatrical productions. In the early 1990s, he relocated to New York City
, where he worked on productions including The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
(Broadway, 2000), The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Broadway, 2002) and Take Me Out (Broadway, 2003). In 2009, his work on the Broadway revival of Hair earned him nominations for both the Tony Award for Best Costume Design
and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
.
Costume Designer
A costume designer or costume mistress/master is a person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered an important part of the "production team", working alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers as well as the sound designer. The...
who was nominated for both a Tony Award
Tony Award for Best Costume Design
These are the winners and nominees for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. The award was first presented in 1947 and included both plays and musicals...
and a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design is presented by the Drama Desk, a committee of New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors...
in 2009 for his work on the Broadway revival of the musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
.
McDonald was born in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is a 1981 graduate of William Allen High School
William Allen High School
William Allen High School is one of two public high schools of the Allentown School District located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
. In 1984, he became involved in theatre at Allentown's Civic Theatre
Civic Theatre of Allentown
Civic Theatre of Allentown is a historic community center that hosts theatre, arts education and film. It is located on 19th street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The theatre was developed by Rubin Maiken and Alex Minker, and opened Sept. 17, 1928...
. While attending Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
, he took his first costume design course and subsequently worked on several of the school's theatrical productions. In the early 1990s, he relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he worked on productions including The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan is a play by Arthur Miller.The play's central character is Lyman Felt, an insurance agent and bigamist who maintains families in New York City and Elmira in upstate New York...
(Broadway, 2000), The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Broadway, 2002) and Take Me Out (Broadway, 2003). In 2009, his work on the Broadway revival of Hair earned him nominations for both the Tony Award for Best Costume Design
Tony Award for Best Costume Design
These are the winners and nominees for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. The award was first presented in 1947 and included both plays and musicals...
and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design
The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design is presented by the Drama Desk, a committee of New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors...
.