Michael J. Cesario

Michael Cesario is known for his work on Broadway, television, and repertory stages across the country, including Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Princeton’s McCarter Theatre, Houston’s Alley Theater, Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Stratford’s American Shakespeare Theatre, New York’s Playwrights Horizons, and Lincoln Center. He has been a member of the Costume Society of America, the Costume Society of England, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and United Scenic Artists Local 829, where he headed the examination process, establishing the evaluative leading to certification by this national professional design body.

Recognized as a national leader in pageantry arts, Cesario is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician for high school bands nationwide. He has also worked as a consultant for the World Champion Cadets, Phantom Regiment, and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and he was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 1996. He is responsible for creating the trademark uniforms of America’s finest bands, drum corps, and color guards through FJM Inc., and he also produced the original DCI Tour of Champions.

At Purchase College, Cesario served as chair of the theatre design/technology program for many years. He has also taught at the Juilliard School, School of Visual Arts, Bennington College, Dartmouth College, and the University of Illinois. His work has been featured in numerous gallery shows and is prominent in two texts for the training of designers, The Magic Garment by Rebecca Cunningham and Costumer’s Handbook by Ingham and Covey.