Emily McConnell is a collaborator, designer, educator, and researcher based in Chicago. She has been the resident costume designer at the CCPA Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University since 2007, designing almost 100 productions during that time all while managing the costume shop and teaching and supervising students. Starting in the fall of 2024, she will also be serving as the Program Director for Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies and the Curriculum Coordinator for Technical Theatre. She has been an Artistic Associate at Steep Theatre since 2011 and worked as a freelance designer in Chicago theatre since 1999 with credits including The House, Northlight, Oak Park Theatre Festival, Lifeline Theatre, and The Gift. Her research into collaborative methods in theatrical design has presented that research at conferences including the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the American Theatrical Costume Association, and her writing has been published in HowlRound Theatrical Commons and Theatre Design and Technology Magazine. She holds a BA in Drama from Dartmouth College and an MA in Theatre Design from Northwestern.

Key Takeaways:

• Proximity is not enough – gaining new knowledge and expanding your awareness is essential to progress

  
  



• Be mindful of the identities present in the spaces you are in (including your own)

  
  



• Determine the priorities of everyone in the room – ask yourself how you can support these goals

  
  



• Transparency is key to resolving conflicts in the workplace

  
  



• Honesty should be the starting point

  
  



• Present the problem, not the solution

  
  



• Mutual investment in collaboration will bring about the best outcome

  
  



• Authenticity means being honest and open about your strengths, vulnerabilities, and limitations

  
  

Guest’s Media Recommendations:

• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

  
  

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Find Guest’s work:

• Emily’s Website: https://www.emilymccdesign.com/

  
  



• Emily’s Blog: https://www.emilymccdesign.com/blog

  
  

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!