“Once Upon a Mattress,” co-produced by Theatre TCU and Stage West Theatre (Fall 2023), featured costumes designed by Henry Cawood. Photo by Evan Michael Woods.
Congratulations to Department of Theatre student Henry Cawood ’26, recipient of the prestigious Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award! This esteemed honor is presented annually to a student who demonstrates exceptional talent and dedication, with a focus on nurturing their growth in the field of theatre.
Henry Cawood ’26
“I am honored to receive this award and thankful for all the support from faculty, staff, peers, family and professional relationships that have led me to this point,” said Cawood. “It is always gratifying to revisit a project after it has closed; I could not ask for a more exciting show than ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ to present in Los Angeles this summer.”
As part of the award, Cawood will receive financial support to present a brief overview of his research and creative work at the 51st Annual Costume Society of America Symposium.
As part of his application, Cawood submitted a portfolio showcasing his creative work, including the costumes he designed for the Department of Theatre’s “Once Upon a Mattress” production. His submission also featured an abstract that outlined the personal artistic inspiration and process behind his designs.
A Mid-Century Fantasy
In his sophomore year, Cawood was selected to design the costumes for “Once Upon a Mattress,” a musical theatre performance co-produced with Stage West Theatre, an award-winning professional theatre in Fort Worth.
“Mirroring the zeitgeist of the mid-century world, this show’s characters display common stereotypes of the era,” explained Cawood.
Sam Majors, Mia Dorsett, and Logan Lowery in a scene from “Once Upon a Mattress.”
Garret Storms, director and associate producer at Stage West, embraced these tropes and presented them to Cawood with the concept of setting the familiar musical in the library of a mid-century high school — an environment often associated with these stereotypes.
“Two worlds were to be represented: ‘The Library’ and ‘The Kingdom,’” said Cawood. “Each character’s costume was designed to represent a trope in both worlds such as the uptight Librarian becoming the overbearing Queen Aggravain or the Class Clown becoming the Court Jester.”
Cawood’s interest in narrative-driven details, bold textures and tones, and blending periods guided his creative process. Drawing inspiration from both mid-century and fantasy sources, he dedicated countless hours to developing the sartorial language of the show.
Cawood played a key role in developing custom headpieces, led a team of assistants and designed school logos and pennants, which were incorporated into the set, props and costumes. He also collaborated with the Costume Studio to oversee the construction, fittings and alterations, ensuring every detail aligned with his vision.
Despite a tight five-week build schedule and the demands of being a full-time undergraduate student, Cawood expertly balanced his responsibilities to meet the deadline for opening night.