Biography

Rory Scanlon was born and raised in Gooding, Idaho. He completed his BA in Theatre through studies at Idaho State University and Brigham Young University. He continued his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with an MFA in Costume Design. In 1984 he returned to BYU as an instructor in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, where he has now taught for the past twenty-three years. Rory’s professional credits include television productions with such companies as Hasbro, General Foods, and Disney. Not many designers can claim that they have designed costumes for Mr. Kool-Aid! His theatre projects include a scenic design for the Utah Sesquicentennial project BAREFOOT TO ZION and production design for the more recent LONG WALK HOME which commemorated the Mormon pioneer handcart companies this last year. His first book with Costume Fashion Press in New York, entitled “Costume Design Graphics” was released in 2001. Rory’s research area is Old Testament and Book of Mormon clothing. His creative team completed the historical research and construction of ancient costumes for displays at the Salt Lake Temple Square Visitors’ Centers and he has worked with the Church on new costume designs currently being used in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Married to the former Deanna Conrad, the Scanlons have five children and three granddaughters, with two more grandchildren anxiously on the way.

BA, Brigham Young University, 1972; MFA, University of Illinois, 1984.

Courses Taught