Emilio Sosa (born February 23, 1967) is a costume designer for Broadway and is the current[when?] Chair for the American Theatre Wing Board of Trustees in New York City. He is a Tony Award nominated costume designer and is best known for his works Topdog/Underdog, Porgy and Bess, and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.[1]
Emilio Sosa was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic[2] and grew up in South Bronx, New York City.[3] His interest in fashion and design started at the age of 14. While attending school in Harlem, he spent his afternoons taking art and design classes at Manhattan's Upper East Side. Additionally, he took free classes Saturdays at Parsons School of Design in Greenwich Village. He continued his passion for fashion design by attending Art and Design High School and Pratt Institute.[4]
While attending Pratt Institute, Emilio worked a part-time job at Grace Costumes as a shopper and eventually became its Creative Director in 2006. His first design job out of college was as an assistant costume master for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, touring domestically and internationally.[4]
He made a name for himself by styling music videos for Hip Hop artists, such as Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, and Kid Play. He later became an in-house stylist for director Spike Lee as an assistant costume designer on his films Bamboozled and Red Hook Summer.[4]
Discovered by director George C. Wolfe, Emilio designed his first Broadway show, Topdog/Underdog. He continued to work on shows designed by Ann Hould-Ward, Geoffery Holder, Desmond Heely, Toni Leslie James, and Paul Tazewell. As well as going on tour as a designer for Celine Dion, The Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and the Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis.[1]
In 2010, Emilio Sosa then went onto Season 7ofProject Runway, winning 5 challenges and being runner up in the finale episode.[2] In 2012, he was runner up for Project Runway Allstars. He then went on to co-create the fashion line, Esosa Designs, with his brothers. Celebrities seen wearing Esosa Designs include Wendy Williams, Taraji P. Henson, and Uzo Aduba.[5]
Emilio was the first designer of color to design the Radio City Music Hall Spring Spectacular and a new number in the 2018 Christmas show, starring The Rockettes.[1]
In 2005, he received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production for the musical, Señor Discretion Himself.[6] He was announced as the 2003 Design Virtuoso in the American Theatre Magazine.[2] His costume design work on By the Way, Meet Vera Stark received the Henry Hewes Award in 2011 and Lucille Lortel Award. He was also awarded the LA Ovation Award for the musical Twist, the 2006 Irene Sharaff Young Master Award, and the 2015 NAACP Theatre Awards for the musical Porgy and Bess.[7]
He has been nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for Best Costume Design in a Musical for Porgy and Bess,[5] Best Costume Design in a Play for Trouble in Mind, and the 2004 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Costume Design for Topdog/Underdog.[7] Emilio Sosa now sits as the Chair for the Board of Trustees for the American Theatre Wing.[1]
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