My friend Marcia Frederick, now retired, spent her career in theater, designing costumes, directing productions, teaching, and creating art. She has an impressive collection of material from the early days of California Actor’s Theatre, which she recently gifted to New Museum Los Gatos.

I met Marcia at San Jose Repertory Theater in the early eighties. I worked under Marcia’s supervision in the costume shop, my first professional job after graduating with a degree in Theater Arts from San Jose State.

Though my love of theater and costumes has never wavered, working in that profession as a single woman meant days and weeks without a paycheck between gigs, no medical benefits, and no paid time off. I didn’t consciously mean to step away, but I got a taste of a steady paycheck working a temp job, and moved on from there.

Marcia’s hopes to preserve the history and legacy of theater in this area. She recently donated many of her original costume renderings, news clippings, programs, and the like to New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU).

Additionally, she donated costumes from the early days at California Actors Theater and California Shakespeare Festival in Los Gatos. These items are on display August 6 through September 27, 2026. They will become part of the museum’s permanent collection.

From the museum:

“Marcia, we will feature your recent donation in our upcoming summer exhibition! Your generous gift is an important addition to our art and history collection, deepening our connection to our local arts community and to the history of theater in Los Gatos. We are so grateful for your continued support of New Museum Los Gatos. Choosing NUMU to steward your artwork is an honor for our community and us. We pride ourselves on preserving, caring for, and sharing these meaningful pieces into the future.”

I attended the reception of the New Additions exhibit this week, where Marcia was one of two featured speakers. She’s passionate about the craft and the importance of theater, and she wants others to share in that experience.

I met a few of Marcia’s colleagues from her early days in theater that evening, and we had fun playing the “do you remember…” game. It was a remarkable evening.

If you’re local, and a friend of the theater, I know you’ll enjoy this exhibit. If you’ve also had the pleasure of working with Marcia throughout her career, this exhibit is a treat.

You can see Marcia’s full donation to NUMU here. It includes programs, news clippings, additional costume renderings, slides, and photographs.