Stereotypically, science and art have a hard time coinciding. WSC junior Anna Kruger is challenging this assumption.

Kruger is a biology major, a science whiz and an expert seamstress. In addition to her wide array of skills across the board, Kruger is the WSC Theatre Department’s official costume designer.

“I got involved in the Theatre Department my sophomore year,” Kruger said. “I took intro to theater with Mollie Speiker. She knew me, and knew that I made costumes. She started talking to me about costuming for the Theatre Department and convinced me to sign up for a class to help with costumes and here I am.”

Kruger said the process for designing costumes for each production is a lengthy one. First, she reads through the script and gets a feel for each character. Then she meets with the director and other production officials to decide on the feeling they want to portray through the show and the costumes.

Additionally, there is a production meeting each week leading up to the show where they all discuss changes and ideas. Once everything is decided, Kruger can begin working her magic—which includes her seamstress skills as well as a little fashionista and creative intuition.

“I have made, bought and rented pieces for the show and some of the pieces are mine that I am using,” Kruger said.

As Kruger puts together each costume, the actors and actresses come in and fit them. Then little changes are made to ensure everything is ready for the show.

Even after all the costumes are finished, Kruger continues to help with hair and make-up the days of the shows. She also sticks around just in case there is a costume issue.

Although Kruger may seem like a costume expert, she attributes most of her skills to her mother, who taught her how to sew when Kruger was in high school.

“My mom has always been good at sewing clothes. One summer I finally convinced her to sit down and teach me,” Kruger said.

Her mother also taught Kruger smaller sewing projects when she was younger, like sewing patches on her Girl Scout sash.

“She has taught me pretty much everything I know about sewing,” Kruger said. “Whenever I have a sewing issue I always ask for her advice. She has even helped with a few of the costumes for this show.”

In addition to sewing and designing costumes for WSC, she also sews costumes, clothes and other crafts for herself. She also does embroidery.

“I guess I started sewing because I thought it would be fun to be able to customize what I wear and make it one of a kind,” Kruger said. “I fell in love with it.”

Although Kruger is bursting with creativity, she chose to pursue science as a career because eventually she wants to work in health care.

“Many members of my family have had health issues, and I’ve seen firsthand the help health workers provide,” Kruger said. “I want to be able to impact people’s lives in a big way like they did mine.”

Science and sewing are both huge parts of Kruger’s life, so she is constantly finding ways to juggle both parts.

“Sewing is a stress reliever for me,” Kruger said. “So it’s great when science classes get a little crazy.”

After she graduates, Kruger still plans to continue to combine the two by sewing costumes and clothes for herself, and maybe as an extra job in addition to her health care career.
“They are so opposite that they are hard to combine into one,” Kruger said. “But that is nice, because otherwise I would get bored.”

The costumes Kruger designed are for the spring children’s show, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” which is scheduled to open March 31 through April 2 in Ramsey Theatre.