When the Georgia Shakespeare Theater opened its 24th season this summer with “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Sydney Roberts was described as Atlanta’s “Willy Wonka of costume design” by Wendell Brock in a story for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Roberts, a specialist in costume and design and construction in Theatre and Speech at UTC, was recently named an Associate Artist by Georgia Shakespeare. This means she is an official member of the company whose body of work there is considered to have helped shape Georgia Shakespeare as a theatre company.
Roberts has designed in nearly a dozen productions for Georgia Shakespeare since 2002. Three of the shows received Suzi Bass Award nominations for best costume design. The Suzis, named in honor of an Atlanta actress who died in 2002, are the city’s version of Broadway’s Tony Awards.
“I am pleased and honored to be named an Associate Artist with Georgia Shakespeare. The company does strong work and is like a family. I have dressed many of the actors since I started working there and knowing them that long helps the designs be more specific and so tell a better story,” Roberts said.
Roberts has designed over 125 productions at UTC and also works in Atlanta at the Alliance Theatre, True Colors Theatre Company, Actor’s Express, Synchronicity Performance Group, and Theatre in the Square.