Marni Grambau
Marni Grambau holds a degree in anthropology from Amherst College, with distinction. Her work as a costume designer is informed by her love of anthropology, as well as music, fine art, nature, photography, fashion and dance. Her investigative nature as an anthropologist allows her to see something extraordinary in the ordinary, as she chooses color, fabric and shape that speak to the unconscious of her audience.
At Amherst, Ms. Grambau brought her diverse background into the Theater Department, where she designed costumes for a number of productions including The Marriage or Men Die First (based on Witold Gombrowicz's The Marriage), Sophie Treadwell's Machinal, and Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Upon graduation, in recognition of her outstanding ability, Ms. Grambau was awarded the Roland Wood Fellowship, supporting her further artistic development in costume design.
In the Spring of 2004, under the tutelage of Jan Schleiger (costumier for Bryn Mawr Ballet Theater) Ms. Grambau began designing costumes for International Opera Theater, for their productions in Teatro Avvaloranti, Citta della Pieve, Italy.
In the fall of 2004, Ms. Grambau collaborated with writer/director Spencer Schilly of Big Critter Productions to create costume pieces and props for his independent film, "Bring in the Clown".
In 2005, Ms. Grambau designed costume pieces and props for "Wild Things Whirligig", an International Opera Theater production commissioned and performed at The Rosenbach Museum/Library in Philadelphia. "Wild Things Whirligig" celebrates the creative spirit of author/illustrator, Maurice Sendak, through art, music and movement.
In 2006, Ms. Grambau travelled with IOT to Italy to work on makeup, lighting and costumes for their world premiere production of "La Tempesta".
Ms. Grambau continues to work on IOT's annual collaborations with The Rosenbach Museum.
