Costume Designer

Susan
Hilferty

(she/her)

When Athol Fugard asked me to speak on his behalf at his induction into the Broadway Theater Hall of Fame, his only request was that I read the names of his plays—no more, no less. Among them were the works I collaborated with him on in over 40 productions spanning more than four decades: A Lesson from Aloes, Blood Knot, A Place with the Pigs, The Road to Mecca, My Children! My Africa!, Playland, Boesman and Lena, Hello and Goodbye, Valley Song, The Captain’s Tiger, Sorrows and Rejoicings, The Train Driver, The Shadow of the Hummingbird, The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek, and “Master Harold”…and the Boys. Bringing these works to life—as costume and set designer, associate director, and director—has been among the most meaningful experiences of my career.

Susan Hilferty has designed costumes and scenery for over 400 productions across the globe. A highlight of her career is the long-standing collaboration with playwright and director Athol Fugard—more than 40 productions in over four decades—as a set and costume designer, associate director, and director. Broadway credits include Wicked (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards), Swept Away, Parade, Funny Girl, Present Laughter, Spring Awakening, Lestat, Into the Woods, and August Wilson’s Radio Golf. Hilferty has also designed for opera (Rigoletto, La Traviata, Aida for Metropolitan Opera); dance (Love Stories for Alvin Ailey), and live events (Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” world tour and Ringling Bros. Circus). Hilferty’s many honors include three lifetime achievement awards, an Obie, the Lilly Award, and the Ruth Morley Design Award. Hilferty is on the Graduate Design faculty at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, having served as Chair for 25 years. www.susanhilferty.com

View Website