Emma Lee Kurts
Costume Design Instructor in Hickory, NC
Beginner to advanced costume design for stage, performance, and creative storytelling.
Emma Lee Kurts offers costume design lessons at Hickory Arts in Hickory, NC. With a Texas college education and experience designing for local theatre productions, she helps students understand how visual design supports character, storytelling, and performance.
Her lessons focus on both creativity and practical skills, giving students the tools to bring ideas to life on stage. Students interested in performance-based training can also explore our acting lessons at Hickory Arts.
Theatrical Design Experience
Emma Lee has designed costumes for productions at several area theatres, including:
Hickory Theatre
The HUB
Newton Performing Arts Center
Her work in live theatre gives students real-world insight into how costume design functions in performance environments.
What You’ll Learn
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Character-Based Design
Learn how costumes reflect personality, time period, and story.
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Fabric & Style Selection
Understand materials, textures, and visual impact.
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Concept Development
Turn ideas into clear, usable design concepts.
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Stage & Performance Needs
Design for movement, lighting, and visibility.
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Creative Problem Solving
Adapt designs to real-world production constraints.
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Collaboration
Work with directors, actors, and production teams.
Who These Lessons Are For
Students interested in theatre and stage production
Actors who want a deeper understanding of character
Creatives exploring design and visual storytelling
Beginner to advanced learners
More Than Just Costumes
Costume design is storytelling.
What a character wears communicates time, place, personality, and intention before a single line is spoken. Emma Lee’s lessons help students understand how visual elements support performance and bring productions to life.
Part of the Hickory Arts Approach
Costume Design at Hickory Arts is integrated with acting lessons, performance, and production. Students can apply what they learn directly to real-world projects, performances, and creative work.