Thomas John Bernard
Professor, Mainstage Costume Designer
Contact Information
- Office: Bldg. 45T, Rm. 100A
- Phone: 805-756-5099
- Email: tjbernar@calpoly.edu
About Tom Bernard
Mr. Bernard received his MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Northern Illinois University and his B.A. in Theater from the University Minnesota-Minneapolis. He has taught both costume design and technology at the University level for the last thirty years, currently for Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. He has worked for many theaters across the country, including Utah Shakespearean Festival, Little Theater of the Rockies, Central Coast Shakespeare, The Guthrie Theater, The Barn Theater, Phoenix Entertainment's National tour of Gypsy, Summer Night and PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theater). He has received national recognition for both his design and technology work from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for designing Something's Afoot and draping Comedy of Errors. Mr. Bernard was Vice Commissioner of Design for the Costume Commission within the United States Institute of Theater Technology for eight years. His research includes practices in historical patterning and theatrical costume design. His work led to projects with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - Patterning their collection of 17th and 18th century clothing and his book publications include Historical Pattern Archives: Women’s clothing 1837-1969, (published in 2020) and Historical Pattern Archives 2: Women’s Clothing from the Historic Clothing Collection 1820-1938 (published in 2025).