Tom Broecker

In his one-hour interview, Tom Broecker talks about his early years studying dance and how he became interested in costume design. He discusses his first stint at Saturday Night Live, after graduating from college, and attending graduate school at the Yale School of Drama. He then describes his return to Saturday Night Live, first as assistant costume designer and then as costume designer. He goes into detail about working at Saturday Night Live, including collaborating with hosts, the cast, and Lorne Michaels, the process of working with his costume design team, and his creative process. Broecker lays out his weekly production schedule on the show, how costumes play a role in the order of sketches, and how quick changes work during the live broadcast. He touches on costumes for specific sketches, including “Mom Jeans” and “The Californians” and costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald J. Trump. He concludes by reflecting on his long tenure at Saturday Night Live and sharing advice for aspiring costume designers. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on March 27, 2019 in New York, NY.