When it comes to costume and set design, Jeanine Girello is the go-to wizard for students and instructors.
By Lana Pierce
“What a costume designer does is a cross between magic and camouflage.” Edith Head, epic Hollywood designer, should have tried that on a shoestring budget, just like high school teachers must do. And though Edith might be a well-worn name among dramaphiles, the work behind the scenes at the high school level remains often untrumpeted: the technicians, the carpenters and painters, the costumers, directors, and their teachers.
Behind the proverbial curtain are instructors like Jeanine Girello, well-known throughout the school for her attention to detail in the costume department. Tasked to find the right clothes to elicit the right mood, catching the right light, at the right price, she’s the go-to for students and fellow instructors who depend on her experience to theater with thrift.
Girello first honed her costuming and set-design skills for eight years in Seattle before bringing that knowledge to Lakeside Schools. In her own words, she re-styles and designs costumes based on a show’s guidelines and the director’s vision. Depending on the design and overall look of the show, she shops locally first, then turns to online resources.
In the spring semester of 2024, she helped produce one of her favorite plays, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, nostalgic to almost anyone under the age of 60. She recalls that each student-thespian brought a bit of their personality to their respective part, making the production a standout.
For future productions, however, she hopes to help students blossom into designers. (Costuming, across the board, is one of the more expensive aspects of any production and has little room for error. Any student gaining this early experience will certainly have an above-average ability relative to other Arkansas high school theatre students.)
If you have not already attended a production at Lakeside’s stage, take note. The district invested in a state-of-the-art building with top-notch technology and collegiate aesthetics. Superintendent Steve Orr describes his district’s theatre program as “a special experience where students and staff consistently deliver productions rivaling professional performances.”
His accolades don’t end there, as he boasts the school’s “commitment to excellence in every aspect of our program, reflecting the talent, teamwork, and passion that make Lakeside such a special place.”
Announcements of play titles are held in secret until students are told, so follow the theatre online each spring and fall to learn more about upcoming plays.
Lana Pierce is a captain with the NLRFD who lives in Hot Springs and owns RetroFit.
