Bio
Jessica Hahn has been at U-M since the fall of 1994 where she has designed more than 45 shows, most recently, The Skin of Our Teeth, Batboy: The Musical, Arms and the Man, and Much Ado About Nothing. Her 30 years’ of freelance design experience, predominantly in the Chicago area, includes numerous world premieres in drama, musical theatre, dance, opera, ice shows, and corporate industrial shows. Prominent colleagues at major regional theatres (Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Wisdom Bridge Theatre, Victory Gardens, Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis, and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) include directors Frank Galati, Robert Falls, Gerry Guttierez, Kyle Donnelly, Richard E.T. White, and Jack O’Brien; designers John Lee Beatty, George Typsin, John Conklin, Jim Ingalls, and Linda Buchanan; and choreographers Lou Conte, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and John McFall.
Hahn has been the recipient of three of Chicago’s prestigious Joseph Jefferson Awards and a Charles MacArthur Award for her costume designs. Her designs have been included in regional, national, and international theatrical exhibitions. Most recently her professional designs were seen at the Virginia Stage Company in the world premiere of Line in the Sand. While on sabbatical, Hahn designed an exhibit at the Kent State University Museum showcasing The Kokoon Arts Club: Cleveland Revels. She is the curator of the Historic Costume Collection and has produced four exhibits in recent years. In addition, she has tried her hand at restaurant design including Bella Italia in Port Angeles, Washington. She has an MFA in design from Carnegie Mellon University and is a member of USAA. Prior to the University of Michigan, Hahn held faculty posts at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Theatre School at DePaul University, and was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Education
BA, University of Illinois
MFA, Carnegie-Mellon University