When the lights dim and the performers take the stage, different colors, patterns, and textures catch the eye of the audience. An actor’s costume is not just the clothes on their back but is a storytelling tool. The Bowie Starlight Theater Company has support from AP Government and Economics teacher, Ruth Narvaiz, who dedicates part of her time to helping create costumes while inspiring her students to have a passion for costuming.
“Mrs. Narvaiz, better known to me as Ruth, is wonderful,” junior and member of tech theatre Opal Burns said. “She has helped me grow both personally and professionally in the creative and theatre departments.”
Narvaiz interest in costume designing and sewing has been a part of her identity for many years, and the STC has become an outlet for her creative passion.
“I started sewing with my grandmother when I was elementary school age and then with my mother after that,” Narvaiz said. “What I love about costuming is that you get the opportunity to make things you would never make if you were just sewing for yourself. I have sewn all types of fabrics and made all kinds of crazy outfits that only a costume maker gets to make.”
Narvaiz started helping the Starlight Theater Company with costumes six years ago when her son first joined the company, and she has been participating in the productions ever since.
“The musical my son’s freshman year was Big Fish,” Narvaiz said. “The wedding dress they were using broke on opening night, and I was sitting in the audience when I got a text from my son saying, ‘We have an emergency, we need you backstage.’ I went backstage and repaired the dress and before I knew it I was sucked into the theater.”
Since working on the Starlight Theater Company’s shows, Narvaiz has worked on designing costumes for several other programs, including the AISD Summer Theater Series and Broadway Series shows at the UT PAC.
“After I started working on costumes at Bowie I networked my way into some other costuming jobs. I worked two summers at the AISD Summer Theater Series. I have worked two summers at Impact Arts Summer Stock program,” Narvaiz said. “I have also worked as a stitcher and a dresser with the Broadway Series shows when they come through town and perform at the UT PAC.”
Even when Narvaiz isn’t in a school environment, she still continues to be dedicated to the company and her students.
“The Bowie Theatre department would struggle without Mrs. Narvaiz leadership and her costume department skills,” Burns said. “She creates articles from scratch, borrows from her many friends in the industry, and scavenges thrift stores, and other stores for pieces that she can alter to help each actor shine on stage. “
Not only does Narvaiz play a role in Bowie’s Theater department, she also holds a position in the academic building, where she teaches A.P. Economics and Government.
“Sometimes it is hard to teach classes all day and then come work in the theater. Sewing is way more fun than grading papers,” Narvaiz said. “Lots of times when we are in the middle of something as intense as the musical, I’m sitting in my classroom trying to get my regular work done when I would really rather be down in the theater sewing.”
Although multitasking as a teacher and a costumer can be difficult, the Starlight Theater Company holds a special place in Narvaiz heart and she does not plan to leave anytime soon.
“What makes Bowie theater special is the people. The directors are awesome to work with and I love that they have high standards and expect everyone to work hard. I love that they have accepted me and made me feel like I was part of a team,” Narvaiz said. “I also really enjoy the students. Working with students several years in a row and really getting a chance to see them learn and grow has been awesome.”
Juniors Jack Lowe and Burns, two of the students who work with Narvaiz in costumes, only think incredible highly of Narvaiz according to Lowe.
“Mrs. Narvaiz has greatly impacted my life. She taught me many new things about theatre, especially costuming, and has helped me on many different shows that I have been a part of,” Lowe said. “Mrs. Narvaiz inspires me by how much she creates things and how much creativity she has. She is always making new costumes for the theatre, and these costumes are always so creative. I hope one day I can make costumes like she does.”
Narvaiz ‘contribution to the company, and its members, will last beyond Bowie’s halls.
“I do hope to teach new people the beauty of costuming as Mrs. Narvaiz has. Before I joined costuming, I really didn’t pay attention to costumes, and I didn’t really consider them important,” Burns said. “But Mrs. Narvaiz has really opened my eyes to how much costuming can affect a theatre show.”
