Alejandra Escalante (Marianne Dashwood), Jolly Abraham (Elinor Dashwood) and Suzanne Warmanen (Mrs. Dashwood) in the Guthrie Theater's production of "Sense and Sensibility," adapted by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen and directed by Sarah Rasmussen. Scenic design by Junghyun Georgia Lee, costume design by Moria Sine Clinton, lighting design by Charlie Morrison. Presented through October 29 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis. Photo by Dan Norman.

UW-River Falls alum is costume designer for hit Guthrie production "Sense and Sensibility"

October 6, 2016—River Falls native and University of Wisconsin-River Falls alumna Moria Clinton has returned to her Midwest roots as the costume designer for the production of "Sense and Sensibility,"an adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel, playing at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis through October 29.

A 2004 UW-River Falls graduate with a bachelor's degree in theatre and art and a minor in costume, Clinton went on to earn a master of fine arts degree in design from Yale School of Drama in 2009. From there Clinton has been busy with both costume and set design in multiple theatre productions throughout the United States. Based in NYC, she has served as assistant designer to Jane Greenwood, a Broadway designer. She has also designed costumes at other regional theatres such as Oregon Shakespeare Company and Dallas Theatre Center.

While in the Twin Cities to direct the construction of the costumes, Clinton welcomed a current UW-River Falls class, along with Professor Robin Murray, department chair of Stage and Screen Arts at UW-River Falls, as well as Clinton's mentor and adviser during her time at UW-River Falls, to a special evening. Not only were they Clinton's special guests at the "invited dress rehearsal" but they were also treated to a pizza party where they were able to see her renderings and hear about how the costumes were designed and built.

"Inviting the students to a free 'invitation only' dress is typical of how Moria thinks. I am proud of the work she does, but I am most proud of who she is as a person," said Murray. "She is a thoughtful young woman who believes passionately in the power of theatre to change our world, and generously gives of her talents to help others understand the possibilities."

Clinton has several collaborators she works closely with, but most prolifically with Sarah Rasmussen,the director for Kate Hamill's adaptation of "Sense and Sensibility" at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and Dallas Theatre Center in Texas.  

When asked what was next in a recent interview with Basil Considine, Twin Cities Arts Reader performing arts editor, Clinton replied "My flight literally just landed back in Brooklyn after I headed home after second preview at the Guthrie. I head up to Vermont in a day for fittings for Macbeth. After that I have a few projects in the works in New York and hope to pick up more work in TV or film. Sarah and I are toying with me designing sets and costume on something at the Jungle [Theatre] for the holidays for 2017, so coming back to Minneapolis is also in the future."

For more about the stage and screen arts and theatre programs at UW-River Falls, email robin.e.murray@uwrf.edu.