Kelly M Schaefer

Kelly M. Schaefer is a Teaching Professor of Theatre at Iowa State University, specializing in Costume Design and Theatre Education. She teaches courses in Costume Design, Costume Technology, Makeup Design, and Theatre & Society while mentoring student designers. Her work spans academic and professional theatre, including ISU productions and collaborations with Repertory Theater of Iowa, Stage West, and Iowa Stage Theatre Company.

• Education: M.F.A. in Theatre (Acting & Costume Design), Western Illinois University

Her research interests focus on costume design methodologies, interdisciplinary theatre practices, and the intersection of historical costumes with contemporary performance. She actively contributes to professional theatre communities through roles like past Chair of the Design, Technology, and Management area in Region 5 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Notable theatre credits include designing costumes for Night of the Living Dead! The Musical!, The Tempest, Les Misérables, and Into the Woods, alongside performances in roles such as Sarah in Company and the Gypsy Acid Queen in The Who’s TOMMY. Her design work frequently explores period accuracy, character psychology, and theatrical innovation.

Professional affiliations include collaborations with major institutions like The Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Shakespeare & Co. (Lenox, MA).