Kara McGuinness

Kara is a Boston, MA-based costume designer and theatremaker. She is a recent graduate of Boston College and is currently working as a costume designer for Magic Circle Theatre at Tufts University and The Understudy, produced by Hub Theatre Company. In August, Kara will begin a year-long professional apprenticeship with The Juilliard School in New York City as a costume design assistant. 

Kara received a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Theatre from Boston College in May of 2025. She first fell in love with costume design at a young age by designing clothes for her American Girl Dolls and watching Project Runway. Today, Kara has costume-designed nine productions and assisted on two for various organizations. She is also the recipient of the 2025 Designer Award from the Boston College Theatre Department, awarded for her excellence in costume design and construction. 

Kara's passion for costume design lies in storytelling, using clothing to help actors fully embody their characters and express the identity of a story. In addition to costume design, Kara has also worked as a stitcher, dresser, theatrical marketer, scenic painter, and dramaturg. 

Upcoming costume design projects include: 

The Understudy, directed by Paula Plum, produced by Hub Theatre Co.

High School Musical, Jr. and Anne of Green Gables for Magic Circle Theatre at Tufts University

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