#BehindtheCurtain: Get to Know Chong Mi Land
There are so many pieces that have to come together to produce our shows at SDMT, and one that is certainly crucial is costumes! It takes a team to make sure all of our actors are dressed to the nines on stage in not only functional, but period appropriate and beautiful costumes to help bring these shows to life. We’re so excited to introduce one of our costume designers, Chong Mi Land, in a Behind the Curtain Blog so you all can get to know her more! Chong Mi started working with us at SDMT mid 2022 for our pre professional production of “Spelling Bee”, and we’re hoping its a partnership that continues far into the future! This incredibly talented costume designer and sewist has years of knowledge and expertise and we’re so grateful we’ve had the chance to work with her on various projects. Her skill helps us have the breathe-taking costumes you see on stage, so make sure you don’t miss the chance to see her hard work in action with our current production of “Anything Goes”! Keep reading below to get to know Chong Mi, one of the people behind our fabulous costumes. Also, enjoy the behind the scenes photos interspersed of our costuming shop and process!
How long have you been costume designing with SDMT, and how long have you been costume designing in the musical theatre world in general?
I have been with SDMT since June of 2022. I started working with costumes in the theater in 2018. I’ve been working on all manner of shows, in different capacities for about 2 decades. I’ve been designing and creating costumes for burlesque and drag since 2019. So, I would really say early 2022 was the kickoff of my musical theater path!
What’s your favorite part about your job? And conversely, what’s the most challenging part about your job?
If you were on a cruise, like in “Anything Goes”, who’s one celebrity you’d want to meet on board?
Another difficult one, there are so many talented and interesting people out there! Just one?! Ewan McGregor, Travis Fimmel, Pedro Pascal, Baz Luhrman. I can’t narrow it down to just one!
Outside of your job here at SDMT, what are some of your favorite hobbies and interests?
I love to make beautiful things. I think it’s evident I love to make costumes and clothing but I also love working with different mediums. I do occasionally make cosplay costumes, I paint and I love cooking!!! I love being outdoors hiking, bouldering, and camping. Most of all I really love hanging out with and showing my daughter Arya all I can.
Do you have a favorite show or set of costumes you’ve ever worked on?
Why do you keep asking me such difficult questions? It’s so hard to choose because there are things I love collectively from many projects I’ve taken on. I loved making the costume for Leaf Coneybear for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee because it was fun and the actor who wore it loved it. I worked on a period piece, a dress for Pride and Prejudice that was so whimsical. And Anything Goes! Oh my goodness. So much fantastic 30’s era glam and gorgeousness! So I guess there’s the answer, to date Anything Goes is the current winner!
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
A lifetime ago I used to sing in a choir, did some theater, and would sing the national anthem for all my junior high and high school sporting events.
Do you have a dream show that you’d love to design the costumes for?
There are too many shows that I would love to do. In a pinch, I would choose Moulin Rouge!
If you weren’t working designing costumes, what would you want to be doing?
If I weren’t designing costumes I would still be making them! It’s all a part of my passion and what I love to do. I would still be pursuing art!
“Anything Goes” Creative Team:
Director: Omri Schein
Choreographer: Xavier J. Bush
Music Director: Van Angelo
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