The Through Line: Winter 2015

Marya Sea Kaminski is a writer, actor, and solo performer, and, as of September 2014, the Associate Artistic Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre. She is a founding member of and was co-artistic director of the Washington Ensemble Theatre from 2004-2008. Her work has earned her many awards including the 2010 Genius Award in Theater from The Stranger. Marya earned her MFA (Professional Actor Training Program) from UW Drama in 2004. She recently took the time to answer a few questions over email about her new role at Seattle Rep.

In August, you wrote about your desire to return to artistic leadership. How do you define/approach artistic leadership?

For me, leadership is about standing up for the community I belong to, making sure everyone is counted and that we are collectively nourished with the things we need. In the case of artists, I believe our nourishment comes from opportunity, variety, challenge, and collaboration. I don't think leadership is about forging forward and hoping people follow in the momentum of big decisions, though sometimes that might happen. I think it's primarily about serving, your people and your craft. Of course, there is a vast distance between describing this kind of leadership and then actually following through on these mandates, but I think part of my job right now is to aspire. I want to consider the great theatrical leaders and thinkers of our time—Harold Clurman, Joe Papp, Anne Bogart, Hallie Flanagan, and...

Josie Gardner, head of the costume shop, has been at the School of Drama full-time since 1990. Working with Josie and her support team provides graduate students in costume design the opportunity to tackle large, complex productions and work directly with a professional staff.

When did you first come to UW and what was your original role?

I have an MFA from UCLA in costume design and an undergraduate degree in directing. I was first hired by the School of Drama as an interim faculty member in 1983. After which, I freelanced for four or five years before joining the faculty at Cornish College of the Arts, where I taught for four years. I was hired back here as costumer in 1990. Shortly after I came on as a costumer, the costume shop manager gave his notice and the faculty promoted me. I’ve been the costume shop supervisor ever since.

Can you describe how you work the graduate students?

The student designer totally works within the classroom and with their director to come up with the concept and drawings. By the time the design comes to us in the shop, there is a clear concept of what the show will look like. What I do is go through item by item with the designer. They talk to me about what is in their mind. We might look at a sketch and ask: is the character wearing a pair of pantyhose or seemed stockings? Is this a pair of cotton stockings? There are always multiple options...