• Bishop Arts Theatre Center •

Director / Playwright: Calvin J. Walker
Music Director: Steven A. Taylor

Scenic Designer: Gabrielle Malbrough
Lighting Designer: Wesley Martinez
Sound Designer: Claudia Jenkins Martinez
Stage Manager: Olivia Dickerson

• Behind the Seams •

I designed costumes for Black Nativity, centering the visual world around a Christmas family gathering after the loss of their eldest son. Color was used as emotional language, with blues symbolizing grief and spiritual grounding across the family. The preacher’s wife wore deep navy as a steady presence, the daughter’s yellow and teal reflected hope and contrast, and Mary appeared in a navy veiled gown with gold accents to evoke sacred imagery and ancestral reverence. The son’s costume drew from funk and rock influences to express his musical identity and rebellious spirit.

The ancestor figures were styled in bright 80s and 90s-inspired pinks and purples in refined “Sunday’s best,” emphasizing memory and lineage, while impressionist-inspired makeup face charts brought the living paintings to life onstage. Working with Calvin J. Walker and the full design team, I helped build a cohesive visual world where costume, color, and ancestry intertwined to reflect grief, celebration, and spiritual connection.