ABOUT JOSEPH
Joseph Shrope is a New York based costume designer who brings to his work a rich blend of experience in theatre, dance and fashion.
Joseph began his professional career conceiving and implementing visual design for leading luxury brands in the fashion industry, including Escada, Halston, TSE Cashmere, Mulberry, Altuzarra and Fendi. As part of his work, he designed and oversaw visual installations in locations all over world at high profile retailers such as Le Bon Marché, Harrods, Selfridges, Saks Fifth Avenue, Galeries Lafayette and Bergdorf Goodman. Joseph's career in the fashion industry culminated in his four year role as Global Director of Visual Merchandising and Store Planning for Proenza Schouler.
In 2018, Joseph turned his focus to what had long been his true passion: designing for the performing arts. In just a few short years, he has built a new career that builds naturally on his past experience. He has served as a design assistant to costume designers Alejo Vietti, Fabio Toblini, Mark Bouman and Paloma Young on productions across the globe. His design work has been seen both regionally and Off-Broadway, including in new works such as Rules of Desire (Playwright Theater) and Romeo & Bernadette (Theater 555), for which The New York Times highlighted Joseph's "witty period costumes." He recently designed the costumes for the regional productions of The Garbologist (TheaterWorks Hartford) and The Legend of Georgia McBride (Florida Reperotory Theater). In addition, Joseph's work has been seen on the stages of several other noteworthy theater organizations including Second Stage Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, American Repertory Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Muny, Ford’s Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Ballet Arizona, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and more.
While much of his time spent in theater, Joseph has found joy in his work in the dance world, which included serving as Costume Project Manager for Martha Graham Dance company, where he oversaw the rebuild of the costume collection that was lost in Hurricane Sandy. In addition, he served as Head Shopper and Assistant to the Director of Costumes at the New York City Ballet where, under the leadership of Marc Happel, Joseph redesigned the party scene dresses for The Nutcracker using Barbara Karinska’s original vision as inspiration. His work in this regard was the subject of a full page feature in The New York Times. He also assisted in creating costumes for new works choreographed by Sidra Bell, Andrea Miller, Jamar Roberts and Justin Peck.
Joseph has a degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Seattle and Certificate in Costume Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is a member of United Scenic Artists 829 IATESE as a costume designer and Theatrical Wardrobe Union 764 IATSE as a costume technician.