Crystal Herman

Crystal G. Herman is the Assistant Professor of Theatrical Costume Design at the University of Texas at El Paso. She received her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University. She has spent three seasons at the Utah Festival Opera Company as Milliner and Costume Crafts Supervisor. She has designed costumes professionally at both the Utah Festival Opera and the Weston Playhouse.

She writes: “Masks can both enhance and inhibit a theatrical production. When making a mask for a theatrical production, whether it is for Greek Theatre, Shakespeare, or The Phantom of the Opera, Costume Designers and Artisans need to take a range of issues into consideration. This Presentation will address: How much information is lost by covering the actor’s face? How do you create masks that allow for speaking roles? What are the pros and cons of different ways to wear/hold a mask? How do you create masks that are comfortable for your actors? and How do you successfully mask productions during Covid?”