ABOUT
Cathy Parrott has spent almost two decades working as a freelance costume designer based out of New York City. She has designed costumes for Williamstown Theatre Festival, Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, CA, and Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC. International costume design credits include Tagore’s Sacrifice for Epic Actors Workshop in Kolkata and New Delhi, India and Newark, New Jersey, and Associate Costume Design for Motown: the Musical, in London’s West End.
Cathy’s Broadway associate design credits include: Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Berry Gordy’s Motown; the Musical, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, and Diana: The Musical. She has worked alongside Tony Award-winning designers Dede Ayite, William Ivey Long, and Gregg Barnes, as well as Tony Award-nominated designers Emilio Sosa and fashion designer Isabel Toledo.
As an assistant costume designer, Cathy’s work can be seen in several notable films, including The Greatest Showman featuring Hugh Jackman and Zendaya, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, and Spirited, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with some of the industry's most acclaimed costume designers, such as Academy Award winner Ruth Carter, Oscar nominees Ellen Mirojnick and Michael Wilkinson, Emmy nominees Mitchell Travers and Matthew Hemesath, and CDG Award nominee Erin Benach.
In the fall of 2024, Cathy joined the University of Iowa's design faculty as Assistant Professor of Costume Design. She is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.
THE ESSENTIAL COLLABORATOR:
WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATE COSTUME DESIGNER (ACD)?
The Associate Costume Designer (and 1st Assistant Costume Designer) plays a crucial role in supporting the lead costume designer, particularly as productions grow in scale. This key position helps bring the costume designer’s vision to life, ensuring it is communicated effectively from pre-production to wrap. The ACD acts as a liaison between the costume department and the broader production team. The ACD performs all the tasks of a costume designer, including research, budgeting, tracking, illustrating, costume fittings, sourcing fabrics and notions, collaborating with the custom-made vendors, managing the design team, training and supervising production assistants, pulling and shopping for garments and accessories, attending production meetings, scheduling, attending rehearsals and anticipating all costume department needs. For film and television, they also contribute to establishing looks on set and styling the background.
Cathy Parrott Motown fitting with Artur & Tailors. Actor: Daniel Watts
Cathy Parrott, Emilio Sosa and Robert Martin Motown fitting with Artur & Tailors. Actor: Ephraim Sykes
Cathy Parrott and Aileen Abercrombie After Midnight fitting with Artur & Tailors. Actor: Daniel Watts
Cathy Parrott & Michael Wilkinson on set of Noah
Cathy Parrott's first majors film Noah
Cathy Parrott organizing fabrics in Kolkata, India
Costume design team for Hell's Kitchen: Dede Ayite, Lindsey Kuhn, Cathy Parrott, Heather Stanley, Dora Suarez, Bria Dinkins, Kristen Mendez
Cathy Parrott & Emilio Sosa on set of The Great Lillian Hall
Cathy Parrott & Loyce Arthur at screening of The Greatest Showman
Cathy Parrott, Isabel & Ruban Toledo at Artur & Tailors for After Midnight fitting. Actors: T. Oliver Reid, Monroe Kent III, Cedric Neal
Cathy Parrott in tech for Diana; the Musical
Cathy Parrott working at Tyler Perry Studios
Cathy Parrott on wardrobe truck
Cathy Parrott at James Nederlander Theatre stage door in Chicago
Cathy Parrott with Motown: the Musical Times Square billboard
Cathy Parrott in Bangkok, Thailand
Cathy Parrott & Loyce Arthur in Bali
Cathy Parrott in India
Cathy Parrott and Producer/Actor Dipan Ray in Kolkata, India
Costume design team for The Drowsy Chaperone: Sophia Lidz, (Nathan Brewer), Sky Switser, Gregg Barnes, and Cathy Parrott at the Tony Awards. Gregg took home the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical
Proud costume design member of USA 829