WWU student wins regional costume design competition

Western Washington University Student DeLisle Merrill won first place for the Barbizon Award for Excellence in Costume Design during The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington D.C. April 13-17.

Merrill, a native of Downers Grove, Ill. received $500 and an expenses-paid trip to New York City beginning May 23. Once there, Merrill will attend Broadway shows, Metropolitan Opera performances, tech rehearsals, and spend time with various top costume designers.

Merrill initially entered her costume designs last spring for WWU’s main stage production “She Stoops to Conquer,” an 18th century play by Oliver Goldsmith.

“[‘She Stoops to Conquer’] is a dream come true for any designer, especially if they have a love of the romantic fashion silhouettes of eras past,” Merrill said. “My designs for the costumes combined the inspirations of classical painters and the ridiculous work of the political cartoonist of the times.”

Merrill said she plans to continue to educate herself in the field of costume design and seek opportunities to stay competitive with other talented designers.

“[WWU] has phenomenal resources and people who work in the Performing Arts Center,” Merrill said. “I am endlessly grateful for all that I’ve learned from these incredible educators.”

For more information, contact Gregory Pulver, associate professor of Costume Design at (360) 650-3893 or gregory.pulver@wwu.edu.

Developed by Kennedy Center Founding Chairman Roger Stevens, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is dedicated to encouraging, recognizing, and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced in college and university theater programs. The festivals provide and opportunity for college and university theater department to present their work, especially new or student-written work, and to receive outside assessment. Since its establishment in 1969, the KCACTF has reached more than 18 million theatergoers, students, and teachers nationwide.