Ari Fulton is an award-winning costume designer for stage, film, opera, and dance that has dedicated herself to building a diverse career designing costumes for productions both regionally and internationally.
The Chicago native and current New York City resident earned her B.F.A.in Costume Design from The Theater School at DePaul University and her M.F.A. in Design for Stage and Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Fulton went on to earn her first feature film design work credit in the Spike Lee executive produced 2018 movie, Nigerian Prince, which was shot on location in Lagos, Nigeria.
Other recent design credits include productions of Off-Broadway and Cupids, which ran as part of Tribeca’s 846: Reclaiming Time for Stories of Black Love and Joy film series. In addition to her busy production life, Fulton has continuously found time to work with the next generation of costume designers having served on the faculty at the University of Connecticut as the Interim Head of Costume Design (2020/2021) and on the faculty at Queensborough Community College (2018-2023). Some of Fulton’s accolades and honors include Black Theatre Coalition’s Costume Design Fellowship (2023), the Lily Creative Spirit Award (2017) for her costume design work, and the Broadway World Miami Award for Design of the Decade for her work on A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong musical.
Fulton’s latest project is overseeing the costume design of Minnesota’s Children’s Theatre Company’s 2024-2025 season closing production of the three-time Tony Award-nominated Frozen: The Broadway Musical. CTC’s production of Disney’s Frozen will be directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, with music direction by Denise Prosek and choreography by Rush Benson, Children’s Theatre Company is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for young people and serves a multigenerational audience.
N’DIGO recently caught up with the in-demand costume designer to learn more about her start, her approach to the craft and what’s in store for the near future.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Ari Fulton?
Ari Fulton: think I’m a dreamer at heart. I love creating worlds and giving life to characters. I’m a storyteller and artist. I think even ugly things should be poetic.
What are three words those closest to you would use to describe you?
Ambitious, funny and a little weird.
Were you very into fashion as a child? Did you always know you wanted to pursue it professionally?
I was obsessed with fashion as a kid. My grammy also introduced me to film, which sparked my love of fashion. We would spend Saturdays going to the movies or staying home watching Turner Classic Films. A lot of black and white films. Noirs, Westerns, and Musicals too. I would marvel at the stars who graced the screen. It made me dream. I recently was home and found one of the old journals I had written in middle school. On one of the pages, I had scribbled in big letters “When I grow up, I’m going to live in the village, drink coffee, and design my own fashion line.”
Who informed your sense of fashion? Any fashion idols?
The ladies in my family were my first fashion idols. Growing up, I thought they were so glamorous. It wasn’t just how they looked but how they carried themselves. They brought glamor into every facet of their lives. My mom never left the house without lipstick and a spritz of Chanel #5. Another fashion inspiration was just Chicago during the 90s. I was coming of age as the city was changing. There was a lot of glamor and excitement. My mom was a manager at a restaurant that Michael Jordan owned. I would walk there after school. This was a city hotspot. Big celebrities like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Chaka Khan often dine at the restaurant. The first time I saw Dennis Rodman, I thought I was looking at a fashion monster and angel all rolled into one.
Can you take us through your career path into becoming an award-winning Costume Designer?
This is a long story, a long time in the making. I’ve always been an artist. My family gave me that title when I was very young. During the summer, I took every art class I could at the Art Institute. I attended an arts high school as a theater major. In my freshman year I got the lead in the school play. I was so nervous that during the curtain call I threw up all over the stage. I knew right then that I didn’t want to be an actress. Fortunately, I had a guidance counselor who studied set design. She made me try all the roles in the theater. I tried lighting, sound, and set design. Nothing stuck. Finally, she was like, “What about costume design?” and it was like a light bulb went off. I’ve been pursuing the craft ever since.
Please tell us a little about your work on CTC’s production of Frozen: The Broadway Musical?
I am acting as the production’s costume designer. The director, Tiffany Nicole Greene, and I have designed a couple of productions. I think she is one of the smartest directors working in the industry. She understands how to tell a story, and she gives creatives the space to shine. We have a shorthand in our communication. She challenges me to be the best artist.
Telling the story of Frozen is a huge challenge because Disney has given us some big shoes to fill. We started by first understanding the story of these two sisters. How they go on a personal journey to find themselves and each other. We were interested in showing the evolution of their relationship from childhood to adulthood. This is a completely new production of Frozen, and we were tasked with putting our spin on the design while remaining true to the original design. My friend’s four-year-old daughter was instrumental in helping me strike a balance.
How do you approach designing costumes for each production?
I start with understanding the play and speaking with the director about the type of story that we want to tell. I love research and find a lot of inspiration in the time period and author.
What are some of your favorite things to do when you come back home to Chicago?
Chicago is always a vibe! My favorite thing to do is eat! My main stops are Sultan’s Market, Tank Noodle, and Soul Vegetarian. I also love, love, love driving on Lake Shore. It’s beautiful to see the lake on one side and the skyline on the other. Also, I love to take in art. I visit The Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art and take a gallery tour around the Pilsen neighborhood.
Something people would be surprised to know about you?
I was named after the second husband of former first lady Jackie Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis.
Best advice to those interested in costume design?
Make as many things as possible. Even if it’s not costumes, always be in the process of making. Travel and befriend as many different types of people as possible. Get out of your comfort zone as much as possible. To be a good designer, you have to experience life.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“You are the architect of your own life!” – Mom.
What’s next for Ari Fulton?
Professionally, I will be designing my third feature film this summer. I dream that we can get back to creating a better world for our kids to dream in.
Children’s Theatre Company’s original production of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical will run April 15 through June 15, at CTC’s UnitedHealth Group Stage in Minneapolis, MN. For more on the show, please visit www.childrenstheatre.org
For more information on Ari Fulton, please visit www.arifultondesigns.com
