Waukesha Civic Theatre hired me to create the three thematic stripper costumes for their production of Gypsy. I drew the designs, received approval from the costume designer and built the costumes at home.

I hand painted Dressy Tessie Turra’s costume on a nude bodysuit that I ordered from a company specializing in ice skating leotards. I then attached a 3D butterfly to her hips that would flip up when she did hip thrusts. Mazeppa was made from scraps of faux leather, foam and glued on jewels. For Electra, I called in an electrical engineering friend to teach me about circuits and soldering. I bought small LED lights which I sewed onto the costume and attached to toggle switches at her bust. The one on the right controlled the lights on her breasts while the one on the left controlled the light pointing to her crotch. These were an absolute blast to create.