Marcia Frederick

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 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).

New Museum Los Gatos Exhibit: Donated by Marcia Frederick

Marcia Frederick costume renderings at NUMU

Marcia Frederick costume renderings, Our Town, 1969, Los Gatos, California

The California Actors Theatre 1974-75 Season, Los Gatos, California

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.

A black velvet gown and accompanying black lace mantilla. The black dress is largely plain, with black ruffles at the sleeve openings and along the neckline, with two bands of silver piping down the front. On the back of the dress' skirt, there is black striped detailing, with additional black lace trim. The dress opens in the back with a silver zipper. The black mantilla features a floral pattern, and has wavy edges.

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.

Marcia Frederick speaking at the opening of New Additions, NUMU, Los Gatos

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.

It was 1982. Freshly graduated from the theatre program at San Jose State University, I had just landed my first theatre job. Feeling both excited and terrified, I also felt entirely out of my league. That’s when I met Sylvia.

With Sylvia in the San Jose Rep costume shop, November, 1982

If you follow the money, you won’t find it in the theater. San Jose Rep’s small costume shop occupied a couple of classrooms in a vacant elementary school, in an unremarkable part of town. Yet between those walls, magic happened. Under Resident Costume Designer Marcia Frederick’s guidance, Sylvia Muzzio, Marcia and I crafted some of the most extraordinary costumes you’ve ever seen. We were three creative women working in very close quarters, yet we always got along.

Costumes by Marcia Frederick, Patrick Lawlor, The Lion in Winter

Costumes by Marcia Frederick, Kevin Schwartz and Molly Mayock, The Lion in Winter

Costumes by guest designer, Barbara Bush, J. Stephen Coyle and James Houghton

Costumes by guest designer, Barbara Bush, Al Blair

Costumes by guest designer, Barbara Bush, Kathleen Amorose and Wendy Howard-Benham

Sylvia fits a costume on actress Jada Thomas, Costume design by Marcia Frederick

Costumes by guest designer, Barbara Bush, Catherine Telford, James Houghton and Wendy Howard-Benham

Sylvia mentored and mothered and minded the shop and taught me about theater and life along the way. She personified warmth and care. I shared things with her that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing with others. Her open nature and gentle soul invited you in. It was a gift at the time, though it took age and maturity to fully grasp how special she was.

San Jose Rep Program

Costume Designer, Marcia Frederick, Actor Patrick Lawlor, Fitter, Karen Mitchell

Sylvia Muzzio’s bio

Sylvia fits a costume on actress Jada Thomas, Costume design by Marcia Frederick

Sylvia nurtured her children, her grandchildren and those of us lucky enough to be part of her circle. She always wanted the best for people. She was modest and unassuming, but honest and direct as well. I loved her.

While I was in an unhappy relationship in those early years at The Rep, Sylvia told me that I needed to find an Italian, someone warm and affectionate (like her). When years later I met and married Mike Francini, I enjoyed recalling that memory with her. “Sylvia,” I said, “I found my Italian.”

The four of us gathered for the first time in many years in 2010. Alys, Jim, Marcia and Sylvia

Marcia Frederick, Sylvia Muzzio, Alys and James Reber, Founder of San Jose Repertory Theatre, November, 2013

Sylvia and Rick share a laugh at a reception for The Snow Queen, November, 2013, San Jose Rep

Sylvia had a year of major health problems, hospitalizations and treatments, then seemed to miraculously kick every last one of her ailments to the curb. I saw her earlier this year for lunch, and though frail, she was upbeat and engaged. I started one of those “let’s get together when you get back from Shasta” emails and hoped to see her again this fall.

With Sylvia and Marcia, 2015

Marcia called me on Monday to let me know that Sylvia was gravely ill. Sylvia and Marcia have remained close friends for many years. It came on suddenly in the last two weeks.

I spoke with Sylvia for the last time Wednesday morning. She was groggy from her pain medication, but she knew who I was and said it was good to hear my voice. She died this morning in her sleep.

And so I weep.