Kendall Swartz
Costume Designer
2026, she/her BFA Drama, Costume Design
Kendall Swartz is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor. Originally from Seminole, Florida, she has been a costume designer and manager since 2018. She went to Gibbs High School – Pinellas County Center For The Arts, where she majored in Technical Theater and specialized in Costume Design.
During her time at Carnegie Mellon University, Kendall has costume designed Gloria, Dance/Light: Tom and Jerry, and The House of Bernarda Alba. She was the wardrobe supervisor on multiple productions at CMU, as well as off campus at a local Pittsburgh Theater company, Quantum Theater. Kendall also worked in the CMU costume warehouse for workstudy. She helped with restocking, organizing, and tagging.
Kendall was an ambassador for the School of Drama at CMU for 3 years. She gave multiple tours a week, helped with any questions prospective students had. She also did a few instagram takeovers. Separate from ambassadors, Kendall ran two other instagram accounts during her time at CMU.
She graduates this May from Carnegie Mellon University. During her time there, she learned new skills such as fabric dyeing, fabric painting, paperwork, distressing, and trauma makeup.
The summer of 2023, Kendall interned at Euroco Costume Shop in New York City. She primarily was swatching around the garment district and was a shopper. In the summer of 2024/25 Kendall worked at Texas Shakespeare Festival and Santa Fe Opera (Apprentice). She was a Stitcher/Dresser both of her summers. Kendall is excited to return to Santa Fe Opera this summer where she will be a costume admin apprentice!
Outside of costumes Kendall enjoys going to the movies, reading, and exploring any city she ends up in.
Work Samples
Gloria
By: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by: Kaycee Swierc
Costume Design by: Kendall Swartz
CMU School of Drama – October 2024
The House of Bernarda Alba
By: Federico Garcia Lorca
Adapted By: Chay Yew
Directed by: Sam Pazos
Costume Design by: Kendall Swartz
CMU School of Drama – October 2025
Dance/Light: Tom and Jerry
Created by: Allison Dorsey
Costume Design by: Kendall Swartz
Lighting Design by: Logan Donahue
CMU School of Drama – January 2025