Design artist and Theater Arts professor Elaine Yokoyama Roos, born September 27, 1945, died on August 4, 2022. She taught costume design in Theater Arts from the late 1970s through the early 2000s and was a crucial design collaborator in the beginning of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the theater company developed at UC Santa Cruz under the artistic direction of Professor Audrey Stanley. She designed as well for Empire State Theatre for Youth, El Teatro Campesino (Bandido by Luis Valdez, 1982), and often worked with Santa Cruz’s noted choreographer Tandy Beal.
Both Yokoyama Roos and her husband set designer Norvid Roos came from New York University where they had previously designed productions for UCSC dance program founder Ruth Solomon. Yokoyama Roos was hired to teach costume design in the then Theater Arts Board of Study. The pair, who continually collaborated as designers in the Bay area and beyond, soon married.
Yokoyama Roos’ 1982 contemporary Nutcracker for Tandy Beal had metallic baseball-jacketed mice teaming up to threaten a modern dressed Clara. Yokoyama Roos also worked to visualize the innovative style UCSC’s Shakespeare Santa Cruz forged. For example, for director/Professor Michael Edward’s 1985 Hamlet she adapted the contemporary high-fashion look of Dynasty, a then popular TV series: her design gave the impression of a rich 1980s family whose well-stocked closets were also packed with skeletons. Yokoyama Roos championed initiatives to make the Theater Arts curriculum more diverse, co-teaching a Hewlett Foundation-funded seminar on multicultural American theater with her focus on Asian America.
Yokoyama Roos helped mold designers that went on to both professional and educational theater. Bowling Green State University Professor Bradford Clark who studied with her in the 1970s remembers: “She was probably the most brilliant person I have ever met - imaginative, extraordinarily well-read, curious about everything .” Designer Deb Barker (class of 1979) noted: “Elaine was my boss, my costume professor, my design thesis advisor, my professional mentor, my advocate and my chosen family.” Designer and arts consultant Diane Neri Stern (class of 1980) observed: “She served as wonderful mentor and helped to make me market ready. A ‘market’ that included, at first, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the UCSC costume studio, Tandy Beal and Co. and others.” Yokoyama Roos also helped train Constanza Romero Wilson (class of 1985) who designed many works on Broadway and beyond for her husband, important African American playwright August Wilson. Designer Coleen Scott Trivett (class of 2000) who now teaches at Santa Rosa Community College after a long design career in New York remembers Yokoyama Roos’ mask and makeup class and found: “As a young first-generation college student in Santa Cruz, California the idea of New York City was a distant and unknown place” but Elaine “helped me imagine it might be a possibility for me.” Yokoyama Roos as a professor at UCSC helped open minds, hearts, and doors to art making and the world for her collaborators and students.
Loving Statements:
Ruth Solomon
Professor Emerita Theater Arts/Dance
UC Santa Cruz
“I brought Elaine & Norvid here from NYU School of the Arts where we worked together on many productions for 4 years before coming here. We needed a designer and costume person in TA and I could think of no one better than those two. We fell out of touch a couple of years ago much to John’s dismay as he and Norvid were always friendly. Elaine made me look better than I deserved in all my choreography, and Norvid built the sculpture for "Talking Will Be At a Minimum” (among all the other designs for my pieces). This sculpture sits outside our living room and we view it with fondness daily. They both have been an important part of my life and art.”
Coleen Scott Trivett
Costume Designer, Santa Rosa Community College
Author of The Costumes of Burlesque (1866-2018)
“Elaine Yokoyama-Roos was my guide into the world of costume history, design and crafts. The most vivid memories I have of her are two-fold: first, I remember her kind and knowing smile, her joy at seeing student creativity come to life in class or on the stage, and her supportive mentorship as she guided me toward my future career as a costume designer and faculty member in theatre technology. As a young first-generation college student in Santa Cruz, California the idea of New York City was a distant and unknown place, but I heard Elaine had studied and worked there, and it helped me imagine it might be a possibility for me. Second, I specifically remember her Masks and Makeup course. Her curriculum allowed us to explore so many different techniques in our short quarter term, from stage makeup to latex Commedia Dell'Arte masks, to wire armature and life casts. This curriculum forever stuck with me and inspired me to develop my own makeup program as part of my first Costume faculty teaching position in New York City. I was saddened to hear that Elaine had passed, but I hope through these remembrances her family understands and finds comfort in the legacy she has left.”
Bradford Clark, Set Design
Professor, Bowling Green State University
“I met Elaine Yokoyama Roos as a very young freshman in the ‘70s. She was a brilliant teacher - her stimulating, challenging classes demanded quality work from us all (though she was patient when she didn't receive it). She was probably the most brilliant person I have ever met – imaginative, extraordinarily well-read, curious about everything, able to switch subjects on a dime, and wickedly witty. Over the many years since, Elaine and Norvid inspired me to go out and experience the wider world both personally and professionally. But most importantly, I was privileged to experience firsthand her fundamental goodness and overwhelming kindness to all those around her.”
Diane Stern, B. A. Costume Design 1980
Arts Consultant, Ogden Utah
“I met Elaine Yokoyama (later Elaine Yokoyama Roos) as a student at UCSC working in the costume studio. At first I was not a theater major and entertained a wide range of interests but I had sewing skills and needed to earn some money so it was a happy circumstance that found me there. Elaine helped me to hone my skills and see a future in theater design, a major that encompassed many of my interests - history, fine art, literature and philosophy. She served as wonderful mentor and helped to make me market ready. A ‘market’ that included, at first, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the UCSC costume studio, Tandy Beal and Co. and others. We worked together for years both while I was a student and after I'd graduated. And we had fun together, shopping shows, baking, and wise cracking at rehearsals. She very much helped me to find a life that included lots of different aspects, a big full life. I know I wasn't the only one with this experience. She was an asset to the University and to her students and will be remembered with gratitude and fondness.”
Deb Barker
UCSC Class of 1979
B.A. Theater Arts, Costume Design Emphasis
“It was the last dress rehearsal of UCSC’s production of The Birds by Aristophanes when I as The Partridge flew over to The Swallow and cooed ‘See me after rehearsal about that run in your tights’, and sailed away. Suddenly it hit me – I’m not meant to be an actress but a costumer! Of course, Elaine Yokoyama already knew that about me since the day I walked into the windowless UCSC costume shop looking for a sewing work/study job. Elaine managed both the costume shop and the costume design program with a magical air and no-nonsense demeanor which was mostly for show. She was selfless in her teaching and she designed brilliantly. Elaine had the biggest heart and the most amazing delicate hands that could create such beauty out of paper, or fabric, or putty. On her shelves were books about art, history, war, theater and chemistry. Elaine was rarely critical, yet we knew that she expected us to always do our best. And we always wanted to do right by her. Elaine was my boss, my costume professor, my design thesis advisor, my professional mentor, my advocate and my chosen family. What I will always hear is Elaine’s delightful laughter floating across the room or across the hallway – that infectious joyous tinkle made everything possible and good. Rest in Peace Elaine. You are forever in my heart.”
Information gathered by Kathy Foley kfoley@ucsc.edu
February 2023