About
Leah Smith is a Houston based costume designer and artisan.
As the costume design emphasis master's student in the University of Houston's School of Theatre and Dance, Leah studied all elements of theatre and theatre design, while also designing a wide range of productions, including: Animal Farm, Dancing at Lughnasa, She Kills Monsters, Three Sisters, The Miser, and The Liar. She was also able to serve as the costume crafts artisan for every show and was the instructor of record for Allied Crafts. She acted as a teaching assistant for Costume Design, Digital Rendering, and Costume Technology classes.
Outside of graduate school, Leah works at many theaters around Houston. She designed costumes for the Houston Shakespeare Festival two years in a row, both of which earning her a finalist spot for Houston Press' theater awards. She has been the house costumer, as well as production manager, at Terrible Enfants Theater Company for five years. She has designed multiple productions for 4th Wall theater company, Classical Theater Company and has worked as a freelance stitcher and crafts artisan.
While earning her undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University, Leah took advantage of every opportunity to explore the costume design and technical fields. Her design credits include Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo and Macbeth, both staged in Western Michigan's theatre facilities, as well as The Wedding Singer at Center Stage Theatre in Kalamazoo.
As a stitcher in Western Michigan’s costume shop for four years, Leah worked on a diverse range of projects, from alterations to extensive period builds. She has also created custom costumes as a freelance stitcher.
Leah's interest in costume design has roots in her love of finding and developing a character. She passionately believes that a strongly developed character is one way theatre affects and captivates an audience. She sees costumes as an important medium in creating and defining characters.