Kara McGuinness

Kara is a New York City-based Costume Designer and theatremaker. Originally from Western Massachusetts, she is currently completing the Assistant Costume Design Apprenticeship at The Juilliard School, assisting on a variety of opera, drama, and dance productions. 

Kara received a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Theatre from Boston College in May of 2025, where she costume designed 10+ productions. She also received the Boston College Theatre Department's 2025 Designer Award, awarded for her excellence in costume design and construction. 

Kara first fell in love with costume design at a young age by designing clothes for her American Girl Dolls and performing in youth theatre. Her love for costuming lies in storytelling, using clothing to help actors fully embody their characters and express the identities of a story. Kara also has a passion for children's theatre, using costume design to introduce youth to the transformative power of live theatre. 

When not designing, Kara enjoys crocheting, writing, and seeing new plays and musicals around NYC. She is always happy to chat about her latest theatre-going endeavors! 

Current projects include: 

Hänsel und Gretel, Assistant Costume Designer

Costume Designed by Rebecca Kanach at The Juilliard School. 

New Dances 2025, Assistant Costume Designer for 1st and 4th year pieces

Costume Designed by Márion Talán de la Rosa at The Juilliard School. 

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