Rate My Professor Tory Depew

Tory Depew serves as Associate Professor and Director of the School of Stage and Screen within the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts at Western Carolina University. A seasoned costume and scenic designer, she has ten years of teaching experience and a professional design career spanning New York City and theaters nationwide. Depew holds an MFA in Theatrical Costume and Scenic Design from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick, earned in 2009, and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of the South. Her design portfolio includes work for esteemed institutions such as the Berkshire Theatre Group and the American Shakespeare Center, showcasing her expertise in creating costumes that bridge historical accuracy with innovative interpretations.

At Western Carolina University, where she has been a faculty member for seven years and director for the past two, Depew teaches courses in costume design and technology, costume crafts, and period styles. Her academic interests focus on designing costumes for opera and Shakespeare productions, as well as reimagining historical fashion to engage modern audiences in fresh, fantastical ways. Under her leadership, the School of Stage and Screen has flourished, earning the 2024 North Carolina Theatre Conference College/University Award for artistic, professional, and educational excellence in theatre. This accolade, the second for the program following a win in 2006, highlights the school's growth from a lesser-known entity to a recognized leader in theatre education, supported by a robust curriculum, dedicated faculty, and collaborations with industry professionals such as Broadway scenic designer Jason Lee Courson and New York-based music director Matt Vinson.