Kayla Speedy is a Philadelphia costume designer and a July 2014 graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Fashion design. After Graduation she started working as a costume shop apprentice at the Walnut Street Theatre, constructing garments for all five Mainstage shows, as well as, designing for the Outreach and Kids Series shows. Her first major design project was the Kids' show The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stoopid Tales, directed by Damon Bonetti.
After her apprenticeship she designed for The Hedgerow Theatre on their production of No Sex Please, We're British under the direction of Damon Bonetti. She also worked on the production of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Samantha Bellomo, for The Delaware Shakespeare Festival.
In the 2015-16 Season she designed at the Hedgerow Theatre several times, she worked with the Azuka Theatre Company, Rutgers Camden University and at Upper Darby Summer Stage. During the 2016-17 season she designed for the Walnut Street Theatre in their Studio 3 space, for the Hedgerow Theatre, 11th Hour Theatre Company, Upper Darby Summer Stage and Resident Theatre Company. Kayla also became the head cutter/draper and stitcher at the Walnut Street Theatre.
She received a 2017 Barrymore Nomination for her costume design work on 11th Hour's "LIZZIE". "LIZZIE" took home the award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical.
In the 2017-18 season she designed for the first time at The Lantern Theatre Company and continued designing for Resident Theatre Company, the Walnut Studio space and Upper Darby Summer Stage. This season she is still working as lead cutter/draper and stitcher at the Walnut, as well as, designing for RTC.
Along with her stitching and design work, she is a coach for the Lower Merion High School theater program. She works with the costume crew; teaching and guiding them through the design and construction process of theatrical costuming. Costuming and construction are a passion of Kayla's and she is happiest when she is able to share it with others.
After her apprenticeship she designed for The Hedgerow Theatre on their production of No Sex Please, We're British under the direction of Damon Bonetti. She also worked on the production of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Samantha Bellomo, for The Delaware Shakespeare Festival.
In the 2015-16 Season she designed at the Hedgerow Theatre several times, she worked with the Azuka Theatre Company, Rutgers Camden University and at Upper Darby Summer Stage. During the 2016-17 season she designed for the Walnut Street Theatre in their Studio 3 space, for the Hedgerow Theatre, 11th Hour Theatre Company, Upper Darby Summer Stage and Resident Theatre Company. Kayla also became the head cutter/draper and stitcher at the Walnut Street Theatre.
She received a 2017 Barrymore Nomination for her costume design work on 11th Hour's "LIZZIE". "LIZZIE" took home the award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical.
In the 2017-18 season she designed for the first time at The Lantern Theatre Company and continued designing for Resident Theatre Company, the Walnut Studio space and Upper Darby Summer Stage. This season she is still working as lead cutter/draper and stitcher at the Walnut, as well as, designing for RTC.
Along with her stitching and design work, she is a coach for the Lower Merion High School theater program. She works with the costume crew; teaching and guiding them through the design and construction process of theatrical costuming. Costuming and construction are a passion of Kayla's and she is happiest when she is able to share it with others.