Michael McDonald, Costume Designer

(October 15, 1963 – September 4, 2024)

Deeply saddened by the news of the death of costume designer Michael McDonald. A friend of 34 years, Michael was nominated for both a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for his work designing the 2009 Tony Award winning Broadway revival of the musical HAIR.

We met in 1990 when he directed and costumed a production of GODSPELL for Civic Theatre of Allentown in Pennsylvania. He was the type of person to find incredible joy in something as simple as a beautiful day, but put a pair of scissors in his hands and a bolt of fabric in front of him, and he was magic! Although he worked regularly on Broadway, he also shared his talents with regional theatres across the US and at Parkland High School in his hometown of Allentown, PA, where he was adored by the students. He also taught costume design at both NYU and Rutgers University.

I will miss you dear friend and will be lost without our near daily calls, texts, instant messages and posts to one another. I love you!

“All good gifts around us, are sent from heaven above.”