Produce the Next Broadway Show
Michael Sheehan ’08 manages a stepping stone theater for some of Broadway’s top productions.
Read the storyProduce the Next Broadway ShowAt a live theatre performance, you see only what the production wants you to see. The cast transforms into larger-than-life characters, meticulously designed sets transport you to new worlds, and the invisible orchestra sets the tone for every beat. Behind the curtain, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of people work with precision to create the world you see on stage.
Through the Department of Theatre and Music Studies’ partnership with Geva Theatre—a Rochester-based professional theatre—students gain hands-on experience and play a part in bringing stories to life.
Peace Ekeh
“When I came to Geva, costume was my first and only choice,” said theatre major Peace Ekeh. “Taking my first costume shop class at Brockport helped me see and gauge what I was really passionate about. It was costume or nothing else.”
Ekeh’s interest in sewing started as a child growing up in Nigeria, where she watched her mother make and mend clothes. From her, she learned to sew by hand and began working on projects of her own.
“I started small, making tiny outfits for my Barbie dolls. I mostly just fell in love with creating things,” Ekeh recalled. “When I grew up more and I started making adjustments on my outfits, like if I had a tear, I would fix that myself.”
During her internship in the costume shop at Geva, Ekeh practiced a variety of skills on garments used in multiple productions, including the wardrobe for Little Women.
“My first costume shop class at Brockport helped me see and gauge what I was really passionate about.”
Peace Ekeh
“My day-to-day mostly consists of working on alterations like buttons, quick-change snaps, and ironing,” Ekeh said. “Some shows require really fast changes, like five to ten seconds, so you have to be able to open the snaps quickly and drop everything on the floor. We have to make sure the snaps are meticulously placed so they don’t ruin the fabric.”
In addition to working on pieces for live shows, Ekeh also created a project of her choosing from scratch using patterns, fabric, and dye provided by Geva.
Fixing jacket snaps
“The most interesting thing I got to do was learn how to dye fabric, and the science and math behind it,” Ekeh said. “For my personal project, I dyed the fabric from white to a really nice pink color.”
SUNY Brockport’s partnership with Geva Theatre Center gives students hands-on experience across nearly every aspect of professional theatre—including scenic design, props, stage management, the literary department, and even performing on stage.
“Geva has really helped me learn from my mistakes and progress in a professional setting,” Ekeh said. “I would definitely recommend it.”
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