Paul Carey is a New York-based costume designer for theater, opera, film, and commercial media. Born in Oregon and raised in the Midwest, he received his education from Sarah Lawrence College and the Yale School of Drama, and apprenticed in the Paris atelier of Master Tailor Mika’ela Fisher.

Paul has designed the costumes for the acclaimed world premieres of THE ODYSSEY, THE WINTER’S TALE and THE TEMPEST (The Public Theater’s PUBLIC WORKS initiative at The Delacorte), adapted and composed by Todd Almond and staged by Lear deBessonet. Additional work with deBessonet includes the world premiere of TAKARAZUKA!!! (Clubbed Thumb) and WE ARE ALL IN PARADISE (NYU/ETW).

Further New York and regional credits in theater include KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY starring Courtney Love, directed by Kevin Newbury (PROTOTYPE Festival, US Tour: A.R.T, C.T.G. Kirk Douglas); CITY OF, directed by Stephen Brackett (Playwright’s Realm); BAD JEWS, directed by Oliver Butler (Long Wharf); TROUBLE IN MIND directed by Irene Lewis (Yale Rep); THE HAPPY EMBALMER, directed/choreographed by Kelly Devine (NYMF); A KIND OF ALASKA, directed by Kim Weild and Karen Kohlhaas (New York Live Arts); the U.S. premiere of THE TENDER MERCIES, directed by Jessi D. Hill (One Year Lease); THREE DAYS OF RAIN directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Amphibian) and three productions for NYU/Atlantic Acting School.

Since 2010 Paul has been a close collaborator of stage and film director Kevin Newbury. Their opera projects together include the world premiere of DOUBT at The Minnesota Opera; BERNSTEIN’S MASS (Philadelphia Orchestra); EL NINO (San Francisco Symphony); Ricky Ian Gordon’s ORPHEUS AND EURIDICE and GREEN SNEAKERS (UrbanArias); HANSEL AND GRETEL (Virginia Opera); ROMEO ET JULIETTE (Palm Beach Opera). Additional opera credits include GIULIO CESARE, directed by Chas Rader-Shieber and IL VIAGGIO A REIMS directed by David Gately (both Wolf Trap Opera); DER KAISER VON ATLANTIS, directed by Ted Huffman (Central City Opera/Colorado Symphony and Greenwich Music Festival); GLORY DENIED, directed by Scott Embler (UrbanArias); and sets and costumes for H.M.S. PINAFORE (Caramoor).

Costume design for short film includes the award-winning MONSURA IS WAITING and STAG, both directed by Kevin Newbury, as well as JASPER AND THE SEA QUEEN, directed by Ryan Fenson-Hood, currently in post-production.

Paul lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side with his partner, Markus, where they dream of someday owning a dog.

Photo: Adam Smitty Kovach