Alumni Spotlight Series

We are proud to highlight BHS Alumna Rose Bisogno, in our next installment in the series. Rose graduated from BHS in 2010 and is a Union Wardrobe Dresser/Supervisor and Freelance Costume Designer who has worked on many shows including Beetlejuice!

Q: What kind of student were you in high school?

A: I was a bit of an overachiever in school, at least in the subjects that interested me. I knew I would need good grades to qualify for college scholarships so I maintained a high grade point average while juggling as many extracurricular clubs as I could in the performing arts.

Q: What was your favorite class and teacher in high school?

A: I couldn’t pick a favorite teacher. Of course stand out classes would include Choir and Technical Theater, but AP World History and 9th Grade Honors English were standout classes I still remember.

Q: Favorite Brewster tradition?

A: I really enjoyed performing with the Marching Band during our Home Coming Half Time Show. After attending many Home Coming games growing up, I got to perform in the half time show for 4 years in the Color Guard. As a non-athletic person, it was fun interweaving my personal hobby with something outside of the music wing.

Q: What did you study in college? What took you on that path?

A: I studied vocal performance at NYU Steinhardt. Growing up, I really wanted to be a performer and going to NYU and studying voice was the perfect step to achieve that goal. I picked up a work study job in the Steinhardt Costume Shop my freshman year to make some extra money, and ended up loving the work. Designing student productions, working backstage on the “MainStage productions,” and assisting professional designers brought in for other productions opened my eyes to another career path I hadn’t considered before. And as it turns out I absolutely hate auditioning, so the timing worked out perfectly to rethink the “dream."

Q: Favorite extracurricular. How did that shape you?

A: Obviously working on the plays and musicals at BHS confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in theater. I really enjoyed working as Ms. P’s “student director” on A Christmas Carol my junior year. It gave me the opportunity to take the craft seriously and think about the show in its entirety and not just focus on my own small role. Putting on a show is like an iceberg. Usually people just see the tip of the iceberg, the actors on stage performing. But there is so much happening behind the scenes, or under the surface to continue the analogy, that makes that performance happen.

Q: Tell us about your favorite experience working on a show.

A: As a dresser, quick changes are always fun moments to think back on. The Cher show had a fun moment called the “Mackie Parade” where the ensemble would cycle through these extravagant costumes. All the dressers would line up behind these revolving mirrored walls on stage and quick change their assigned actors from one costume to their second in the matter of 20 seconds or less. There was also a moment in the show, where an actress is changing downstage center behind a trifold divider and what the audience (hopefully) doesn’t see, are the three people behind the curtain with her, getting her out of one costume and into the next. Of course all of the productions of Beetlejuice I’ve worked on have been amazing, but working on the Australian production last spring in Melbourne for a month was a huge highlight in my career.

Q: Any advice to BHS students?

A: Brewster High School gave me a wonderful foundation of confidence and experience going into college, but what I wish I knew a little sooner is that our “dreams” can change and to keep an open mind when taking your next steps.

Q: Favorite costume you worked on.

A: The Mackie costumes in The Cher Show were some of my favorite costumes to work with. One in particular was this gorgeous fully beaded mini dress that had to live in a box to avoid stretching out. It was paired withe a dripping rhinestone head piece and wings. Truly magical.

Q: What are your hopes and dreams professionally?

A: This is going to sound boring but I have opened and closed a lot of shows in the last few years. I’d love to supervise a long running show that takes me into retirement with a healthy 401K and pension. Oh to be an adult.

Q: What does Brewster mean to you?

A: Brewster is my home base. My parents and a lot of my extended family are still in the area. It was my safe haven during the pandemic when the theater was shut down for 18 months. Coming back to BHS to help with the shows these past 4 years feels like returning home. Wonderfully nostalgic, and soothing for the soul. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to come back and pass on my experience to the next generation of BHS theater students. They are great kids.

Thanks Rose for sharing your story!