Elena Bourakovsky:
(Costmume, Makeup Design & Set Decoration)
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Elena headed the large costume department of the Komedy Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia for 15 years where she presided over the design and implementation of costumes for a repertory theatre that performed more than 20 plays each year. She first met Bill Raiten when she designed the costumes for Murray Schisgal's LUV, a play he was directing at her theatre in 1989. In 1990 she was invited by Jane Snider, Head of the Costume Department, and by Al Cyrus, Head of the Theatre Department, to come to UMO as a J1 exchange Professor of Costume Design. The New Surry Theatre asked her to stay and she remained in the U.S. to continue as a designer for the University and for The New Surry Theatre. She has since become a U.S. citizen and has designed either costumes, make-up or the entire production for more than thirty plays, operas and musicals. She has worked with professional and community theatres, colleges and youth groups in Maine, Canada and California. During this time she continued her work as an artist and her unique miniature egg paintings have been sold in New York City at Rockefeller Center, Trump Towers and The Russian Tea Room. She now works as a youth counselor through TDC.