Marlene Speranza
Ever since being bitten by the “deadly theater bug” in college, Marlene has worked in the area of costumes/wardrobe professionally both in theater and film. Marlene has been a staff member of the CMU Costume Studio since 1989, where her major tasks include assisting and advising the costume designers in costume fittings and assisting in builds and alterations of costumes.
Over the years, Marlene’s theatrical experiences, other than those at Carnegie Mello University, include working for such companies as Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, City Theatre and Quantum Theatre. As for film and television credits, the productions of Sweet Girl, South Paw and Mayor of Kingstown are amongst the many that are listed on her resumé. The television projects that she was most happy to have been involved with were the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions of The Piano Lesson and Breathing Lessons.
Marlene has worked on several regional and national television commercials during her time in Pittsburgh. As a freelance costumer, she has done several projects for the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum. Occasionally she has been asked to make costumes for local dance companies and performance artists. She was glad to had the opportunity to participated in the construction of the last two new characters for Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, Hula Mouse and Small Purple Panda.
One of Marlene’s best experiences was assisting Costume Designer Pei-Chi Su, a CMU Alumna, on several productions for the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre and Quantum Theatre. She has also assisted Pei-Chi on the production of The Empress of China for the Pan-Asian Repertory Theatre in New York City.
Marlene has been a staff member of the CMU Costume Studio since 1989.