About Me
I am a costume designer, currently pursuing MFA in Costume Design at David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. I was born and raised in Japan, and I have had the pleasure of working in various theater communities including Japan, Ireland, and New York City. My love for theater lies in its experience of sharing the story we create together, and witnessing the story grow with the audience together. My design always comes from my unceasing curiosity and excitement to get to know the people in the story. I am the happiest to be a part of celebrating life through storytelling.私は舞台衣装家として、ニューヨーク、アイルランド、日本と、様々な舞台文化の中で活動しています。現在はイェール大学の大学院で修士号課程中。舞台製作は様々な情熱的なアーティストが集合する共同作業であり、皆で一つの物語を伝えるために作品を作り上げ、それを観客と共有し、そして観客と共に物語を育てていくという美しさがあります。その中でも衣装デザイナーとしての喜びは、物語の中で生きている人々を深く知り、その人物の真実をいかに忠実に誠意を持って伝えるかというところにあります。今後もひとつの作品が完成するまでの工程ひとつひとつを大切にしながら、自分が数々の素晴らしい作品を見て感動し影響を受けてきたように、誰かにとって特別な何かを創り出していきたいです。
Review Excerpts
A View from the Bridge, 2024
“This is a strong, thought-through, artfully enveloping production of a play that in most other productions is stagebound and shouty. Particular credit goes to Risa Ando’s costume designs which include jeans, overalls, housedresses and aprons that are well-worn without being grubby. The outfits highlight the characters’ working-class circumstances while also being neat and pressed, showing their respect for each other and themselves.”
“Risa Ando’s costumes lend authenticity.”
“Costumes by Risa Ando suit the levels of change that occur, with Catherine’s every new wrinkle, as it were, signaling her growth.”
“Risa Ando’s costumes were appropriate for the time and for the socioeconomic status of the characters.”
The Salvagers, 2023
“The costumes, designed by Risa Ando are completely appropriate and help to shape each of the character’s individual personalities.”
“The working class costumes by Risa Ando do not draw attention to themselves, which is precisely the point.”