The goal of this thesis is to document the design process and execution of the costume design for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, produced at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The role of the costume designer is to support the vision of the director through collaboration with the production team. Background information leading to the original production of Sophisticated Ladies is presented. Based on this background, research was conducted to develop a costume design in conjunction with scene, lighting, and sound designs. Various aspects of the costume design execution are discussed leading to the successful realization of this production. An analysis of the design and execution was conducted and is presented along with concluding remarks specific to the costume design. Visual documentation is used to illustrate the various phases of this project and is contained in the appendices.