ABOUT JOSEPH
Joseph Shrope is a New York–based costume designer whose work draws on a unique blend of experience in theater, dance, and fashion. His designs have been seen in productions across the United States and internationally, ranging from new plays and musicals to ballet and opera.
Joseph began his professional career in the fashion industry, creating visual concepts and installations for leading luxury brands including Escada, Halston, TSE Cashmere, Mulberry, Altuzarra, Fendi, and Proenza Schouler. His work appeared in flagship retail environments around the world, including Le Bon Marché, Harrods, Selfridges, Saks Fifth Avenue, Galeries Lafayette, and Bergdorf Goodman. He concluded his fashion career as Global Director of Visual Merchandising and Store Planning for Proenza Schouler.
In 2018, Joseph shifted his focus to his longtime passion: costume design for the performing arts. Since then, he has quickly established himself as a sought-after designer, collaborating on productions both Off-Broadway and at leading regional theaters. Select costume design credits include Crazy for You and A Chorus Line (Goodspeed Musicals), Dear Evan Hansen (The Muny), Peter and the Starcatcher (Theatre Raleigh), The Garbologist (TheaterWorks Hartford), The Legend of Georgia McBride (Florida Repertory Theatre), and the Off-Broadway premiere productions of Rules of Desire (Playwrights Theatre) and Romeo & Bernadette (Theater 555).
As a design associate, Joseph has collaborated with acclaimed costume designers Alejo Vietti, Fabio Toblini, and Mark Bouman on productions around the world. His work has also been seen at Second Stage Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, American Repertory Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ford’s Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Ballet Arizona, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and many other respected performing arts organizations.
Alongside his theater work, Joseph has built a distinguished career in dance. As Costume Project Manager for the Martha Graham Dance Company, he oversaw the reconstruction of the company’s costume collection after it was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. He later served as Head Shopper and Assistant to the Director of Costumes at New York City Ballet, where, under the direction of Marc Happel, he redesigned the party scene dresses for The Nutcracker, drawing inspiration from Barbara Karinska’s original designs. The project was featured in The New York Times. He has also contributed to the creation of costumes for new works by choreographers Sidra Bell, Andrea Miller, Jamar Roberts, and Justin Peck.
Joseph holds a degree in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Seattle and a Certificate in Costume Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, IATSE, as a costume designer, and Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764, IATSE, as a costume technician.