Denise Kirchner Dies Suddenly

Denise Kirchner, designer and co-supervisor with Pamela Johnson in the Center for Performing Arts Costume Shop since 2003, died suddenly this past Tuesday at her home. Her husband Ron was with her.

Kirchner was loved by the entire Performing Arts family of students, designers, technicians faculty and staff. Her sudden loss has come as an ineffable shock to those who knew her.

In the 1970s and 80s, Kirchner and her husband Ron enjoyed major success and recognition as window dressers at many of Chicago and New York City's top department stores. From there, they diversified into live theatre where they designed costumes for a wide variety of stage productions both On- and Off-Broadway and at regional theatres throughout the United States.

Sonoma State University was very fortunate to have the opportunity to hire Kirchner three years ago. Student designers, actors, directors and stage technicians all loved working with her. She carried forth with her every day an indomitable, sunny, optimistic spirit that instantly uplifted the mood of every room she entered. She lent a peaceful calm to the most harried and chaotic of production "moments" (most often just prior to a show's opening), a gift only people in the theatre profession can fully appreciate. Kirchner never hesitated to lend a helping hand, whether to a fledgling designer struggling with her first creative idea or a veteran director in need of a fresh perspective. Her wealth of knowledge and skill were vast and Kirchner gave generously and freely of both.

Kirchner contributed to the design and costume construction of many shows in her three years at SSU, most notably perhaps her superb design work on CPA's Spring 2004 production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" (directed by Judy Navas), its April 2006 production of Carlo Gozzi's "Green Bird" (directed by Stephanie Hunt), several fall dance productions directed by Kristen Daley and Nancy Lyons and, most recently, Quantum Opera's June 2006 premiere workshop production of Amanda McTigue's and Jeff Langley's "Opelousas Sisters," directed by Lynne Morrow and McTigue.

Kirchner will be missed to an extent her friends and colleagues at Sonoma State University can't begin at this moment to express.

— Jeff Langley, Center for Performing Arts