Theresa Ham

Theresa Ham is a costume professional in live theatre and film with seventeen years of industry experience. She has designed costumes for 100+ theatrical productions including plays, musicals and opera. In Chicago, her work has been seen at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Victory Gardens, Porchlight Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Raven Theatre, Timeline Theatre, and Northlight Theatre. Regionally, her costumes have been seen on the stages of Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, Asolo Theatre, Seattle’s ACT Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Ogunquit Playhouse, and Delaware Theatre Company. Theresa is the recipient of 3 Joseph Jefferson Awards for “Outstanding Costume Design,” and twelve additional nominations. She also received the 2018 Barrymore Award for “Outstanding Costume Design.” Theresa is an adjunct faculty member with City Colleges Chicago. She received her MFA from Illinois State University and a BA from Eastern Illinois University. Her work focuses on a deep connection with storytelling and her designs are character driven. Every choice is born out of analysis with the source material, relationships with directors and fellow designers, and a deep regard for the performers and audiences. Theresa is a co-founder of On Our Team, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting equitable pay and support for theatrical artists. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Awards & Accolades Include: 3 Joseph Jefferson Awards (The Glorious Ones, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), 2018 Barrymore Award (Something Wicked This Way Comes), Joseph Jefferson nominee (Side Show, Pygmalion, Amadeus, Hello Dolly!, The Wild Party, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Ragtime, The Wizard of Oz, Sophisticated Ladies, Something Rotten!). Select Credits Include: Ride the Cyclone (Off-Broadway), Something Wicked This Way Comes (Delaware Theatre Company), Disney’s Little Mermaid (Paramount Theatre), Tiny Beautiful Things (Victory Gardens Theatre), Carmen (Fingerlakes Opera), Something Rotten! (Marriott Theatre). Film Credits Include: Paper Girls (Amazon Prime), Hot Mess Holiday (Comedy Central).