Hugh Hanson

Hugh Hanson is an Associate Professor of Costume Production at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has been teaching since his 2015 appointment. He specializes in costume design and production, bringing extensive professional experience from Broadway, opera, dance, film, and other performance venues to his academic role.

Hugh teaches a comprehensive range of Costume Production courses including pattern development techniques such as draping and drafting, as well as specialized construction methods covering tailoring, dancewear, stretchwear, and period costume. His course 'Understanding Textiles' takes students through the history of cloth production, structural analysis, and practical applications of textiles. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the connection between physical craftsmanship and creative memory, as reflected in his statement: 'As makers, the hands can remember what the mind can forget.'

Hugh Hanson has an impressive professional background with 86 Broadway shows to his credit, along with numerous operas, dance productions, films, circus performances, concerts, and cruise ship shows. His Broadway work includes productions such as 'The Music Man,' 'Ragtime,' 'Something Rotten,' 'Aladdin,' 'Newsies,' 'Cinderella,' 'Anything Goes,' and 'Spamalot.' He has also contributed to films including 'Mirror, Mirror,' 'Doubt,' 'Julie and Julia,' and 'Elf.' Prior to joining CMU, Hugh served as a draper for Carelli Costumes in New York City from 1992 to 2015, where he established their craft department.

Throughout his career, Hugh has designed costumes for prestigious venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and major ballet companies such as American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. He has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey for over thirty years and has created designs for numerous regional theaters across the United States.