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For Russell Sage College student Molly Osswald ’28, summer was a chance to spend even more time in her favorite place — the world of theatre.
“I have a love for being on stage as well as backstage,” said Molly Osswald, a musical theatre major who’s building her resume in performance and costuming to prepare for a lasting career in the arts.
Her experience this summer — shadowing a Tony-nominated costume design team, working as wardrobe supervisor for a hit regional production, and mentoring young performers at the Theatre Institute at Sage (TIS) — is a great example of the variety of professional opportunities available to performing arts students at Russell Sage College.
New York City Meetup with Tony-Nominated Costume Team
Shortly after the spring 2026 semester ended, Osswald boarded an Amtrak for the easy trip from Albany to New York City, where she spent the day with Elivia Bovenzi Blitz ’09.
Bovenzi Blitz was assistant costume designer, alongside lead designer Ryan Park, for Broadway’s The Lost Boys, which earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Associate Professor of Theatre David Baecker connected Osswald with Bovenzi Blitz.
“It was a great time,” said Osswald, who also met Park on her trip. “We went to industry fabric stores, saw costume construction shops, and saw mock-up costumes for The Gilded Age, which was special because it films on campus. Elivia and Ryan had just been nominated for a Tony, so it was really cool to be there during Tony week, to meet him, to see her shop, and see what goes into it.”
Running Wardrobe at Playhouse Stage Company
Back in the Capital Region, Osswald jumped right into work as wardrobe supervisor for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Playhouse Stage Company.
The Theatre Institute at Sage and nearby Playhouse Stage share resources, which multiplies professional opportunities for Russell Sage students (and Charlie included Sage talent in addition to Osswald: Macayla Roberts ’26 was stage manager, Professor David Baecker starred as Grandpa Joe, and Aidan Echeandia ’28 performed in the ensemble.)
Osswald’s responsibilities as wardrobe supervisor spanned pre-production and live performances.
“I was on the run crew part of it, which is anything backstage during shows that has to do with costumes, so that’s quick changes, costume tracking, setting costumes for actors backstage,” she said. “I also oversaw our stitching team, who worked on all of the costumes. I sat in on production meetings. I communicated between the designer and the other members of the production team, and made sure that everything ran smoothly, alterations or fixes, anything like that.”
Mentoring Young Performers at the Theatre Institute at Sage (TIS)
Finally, Osswald spent part of the summer as a counselor at the Summer On Stage musical theatre performance camp, one of many educational programs TIS runs for the community.
Her group of 11- to 16-year-olds staged a production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.
“The kids are talented, incredibly talented,” Osswald said, describing how TIS takes professional development for the campers as seriously as for college students, even holding workshops with visiting Broadway artists, where campers sang audition cuts for feedback.
The Next Act
As the 2026-2027 academic year approaches, Osswald is looking forward to continuing to work in the costume shop with costume designer, shop manager, and Professor of Costume Technology in Stagecraft Jennifer Raineri.
“She gives so much time and energy to the students, and she’s a great mentor,” Osswald said. “During Peter and the Starcatcher, I was able to say, ‘Hey, I have an idea,’ and she said, ‘Have at it.’”
In that production, a prequel to Peter Pan, Osswald performed as the nanny, while also designing her own outfit and contributing to the show’s ensemble mermaid costumes.
Osswald is also thrilled about the big changes coming to Russell Sage’s performing arts programs. The college recently hired new Broadway-veteran faculty and announced $2 million in facility upgrades and a transition to a conservatory-style BFA.
“I saw them starting to work on the renovation,” she said. “I’m very excited to see what the future has in store for the Musical Theatre program. I think it will be great for us.”
And in the shorter term? “We have a really great lineup of shows this fall, so fingers crossed, I will be on stage.”