The Margaret Chapman Costume Apprenticeship Program
We were profoundly touched by the Portland Civic Theatre Guild’s decision to bestow upon us the immense honor of being the beneficiary of the Leslie O. Fulton Endowment as the Guild closed its curtains for the last time in December 2023.
Margaret Chapman (center) with her son Stephen Chapman and stepdaughter Amanda Skinner. Photo courtesy Portland Civic Theatre Guild via Oregon ArtsWatch.
This fund will now make its home with OCT and will continue to annually support the Margaret Chapman Costume Apprenticeship Program within our Young Professionals Company. This program was established last May in Margaret’s name to honor her excellence for over 50 years of costuming throughout the Portland Theatre community.
We are deeply humbled and immensely grateful to the Guild Members, the Board, and all those who supported the Guild over the years, who made this gift possible. Due to this generosity, OCT will be able to continue providing high-quality, professional training experiences for young artists into perpetuity within our Young Professionals Company and beyond. The legacy of Leslie O. Fulton, the Portland Civic Theatre Guild, and Margaret Chapman will continue paving the way for a lifetime of creativity and learning for future generations.
Costume Designer Sydney Dufka (left) & Costume Apprentice Chloe Wilson, first recipient of the Margaret Chapman Apprenticeship Award. Wilson will design costumes under Dufka’s mentorship for the upcoming YP production The K of D, opening in April 2024.
What was the Portland Civic Theatre Guild and how is it connected to OCT?
The Portland Civic Theatre Guild was founded in 1958, forming in support of the Portland Civic Theatre, one of the oldest and largest community theaters in the nation. In the 1980s Sondra Pearlman took over the Portland Civic Theatre School and reorganized the curriculum to form Theatre for Young People. When PCT closed its doors, she moved the school downtown and formed Oregon Children’s Theatre.
Who was Margaret Chapman?
A beloved veteran and fixture in the Portland Theatre community, Margaret served as costume designer for many decades with a wide variety of organizations. Margaret also worked full-time for the Portland Civic Theatre Guild for nearly fifty years. Sadly, Margaret passed away in February 2023.
Designs by Sydney Dufka for OCT’s production of The Lightning Thief in January 2024.
Why is this award being given to OCT and the Young Professionals?
The award was given to OCT in honor of Margaret, her time at Portland Civic Theatre, her love and support of OCT & the Young Professionals, and her commitment to nurturing youth in theatre arts—specifically in costume design. Margaret worked on many OCT shows, always working in support of youth and serving as a mentor and inspiration to youth interested in pursuing design work. While Margaret did not have the opportunity to design for a YP production, she was always available to provide insight and support whenever needed, simply out of being an amazing person who wanted to help and support the organization. Adair Chappell, president of the Portland Civic Theatre Guild, commented that “Margaret Chapman was hired in 1973 as a full-time costumer at Portland Civic Theatre and worked there until it closed. For these reasons, the Guild thought it was important to see these relationships come full circle and make Oregon Children’s Theatre the beneficiary of this fund.”
Costumes from the YP Production of SPIDER, designed by Erin MacGillivray. Chloe Wilson apprenticed under MacGillivray for this production.,
How will this award impact youth at OCT and in the Young Professionals Company?The impact and goal of this award with the YPs focuses on inspiring young artists to pursue passions both on stage and behind the scenes, particularly around costume design. For example, frequent OCT Costume Designer (and former YP) Sydney Dufka, as a teenager, was pursuing a path in acting but was also interested in fashion, often doodling design sketches. Through this interest Sydney participated in an apprenticeship with another local Costume Designer, Sarah Gahagan, and Sydney was hooked. The apprenticeship inspired Sydney to pursue costume design professionally, earning one of the 4 Costume Design majors offered each year at DePaul University. Now, Sydney is a well-renowned, sought-after designer, working with OCT, Portland Center Stage, and other theatres across the country. Now, Sydney wants to inspire those future artists to look beyond just acting and mentor them in her craft. Because of the Margaret Chapman Apprenticeship Program and the awarded funds from the Leslie O. Fulton Endowment, Sydney is now mentoring Chloe Wilson, a Young Professional with a passion for costume design. Chloe has already apprenticed for the YP production SPIDER (2023) and OCT’s production of The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical, and will be apprenticing under Sydney for the upcoming YP production The K of D, opening in April 2024.