• Jenny Kelchen

    Jenny Kelchen

    Costume Shop Supervisor; Lecturer in Theatre


Biographical Sketch

Jenny Nutting Kelchen is Resident Costume Designer, Costume Shop Supervisor, and a Lecturer at Cornell College.  She is also a freelance costume designer and visual artist/illustrator. Jenny received her B.A. in Studio Art (Theatre Minor) from the University of Northern Iowa and her M.F.A. in Theatre Design from the University of Iowa.  She has designed costumes for over 75 productions for Cornell College, Riverside Theatre, Old Creamery Theatre Company, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa, Grinnell College, Coe College, Iowa Summer Rep, Working Group Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids and La MaMa Etc. Favorite costume designs include Far Away, Sweeney Todd, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Eurydice, and The Pirates of Penzance. 

Many of Jenny’s costume students have gone on to graduate school in costume design and construction and exciting careers in theatre design and education.

Link to Curriculum Vitae

Jenny Nutting Kelchen Resume & CV 2014.doc

Academic History

  • BA in Studio Art (Theatre Minor), University of Northern Iowa, 2000
  • MFA in Theatre Design, University of Iowa, 2004

Courses Taught

Regular Courses:

  • Costume Construction
  • Costume Design
  • Stage Makeup
  • Fundamentals of Theatre Design 

Advanced Topics Courses and selected Independent Studies:

  • Advanced Costume Construction: Undergarments for the French Aristocracy
  • Airbrush Makeup for the Stage
  • Costume History
  • Corset-making
  • Mask-making
  • Advanced Stage Makeup