From Musicals to Magazines

Ellen Kellum pins a torn costume for an actor who is about to go on stage. As the actor enters stage left, Kellum smiles while viewing the finished product of the costumes she has designed.

Kellum worked on Broadway for six years as a wardrobe supervisor, star dresser and day worker. Each day she was surrounded by famous performers such as Renee Fleming and Brooke Shields. She now resides in Oxford and works at PMQ Pizza Magazine as an art director.

“I liked working with people who were the best in the business at what they did,” Kellum said.

Kellum grew up in Oxford while her parents were biology professors at Ole Miss. She graduated early from high school, and went to Texas Christian University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre.

She spent the next several years working around the country at opera companies, ballet companies and regional theaters as a costumer and scenic artist. From there, she was hired to supervise wardrobe for national tours of Broadway musicals, which led to working on Broadway.

“I received a phone call from friends of mine I knew from my touring days, and they offered me a job working at the Palace Theatre as a star dresser for Beauty and the Beast,” Kellum said.

During her theatre career, Kellum also worked six years at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, N.Y., making and repairing costumes for performers.

“My life's dream has been to work on Broadway and here is someone with experience,” said Artesha Dunning, senior journalism major and PMQ intern. “I hope to learn more about journalism and Broadway now that I know more about Mrs. Ellen's past.”

When Kellum became pregnant with her daughter, she did not want to raise her in the big city of New York. She then decided to move back to Oxford near her family and friends.

Upon returning to Oxford, Kellum went back to college and received her Master’s of Journalism with an emphasis in art. A month before graduation, Kellum was offered a job at PMQ Magazine as a graphic designer.

“The transition from art and costume design to graphic design was not hard,” Kellum said. “Both jobs require being creative and collaborative. I had to switch careers after 20 something years and have been fortunate enough to find a new career in graphic design.”

Kellum has worked at PMQ for seven years now. She designs advertisements, layouts, graphics and covers for the magazine.

“Ellen has an incredible past and is a great designer,” said Andrew Abernathy, PMQ’s associate editor. “It is amazing how she went from designing sets and costumes to designing a pizza magazine.”

Kellum does not make costumes for Broadway anymore, but she does put the design skills she learned to work.

“I don’t regret leaving Broadway, I am doing the most important work of my life raising my daughter. I wouldn’t change anything,” Kellum said.