Susan O’Neill, instructor of costume design and technology at Seton Hill University, will have her costume work featured in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s upcoming production of “Swing” at the Benedum Center June 19-26.

For the past three seasons, O’Neill has served as the Civic Light Opera costume coordinator.

“ ‘Swing’ is a very exciting musical, for both the audience and backstage crew. It is full of very demanding stylized dance numbers which require specialty costumes, shoes specific to swing dance, and one quick costume change after another,” said O’Neill, of South Park, Pa.

O’Neill noted that in some scenes of “Swing,” the costumes had to be designed so that the performers could wear one costume under another costume.

“As soon as the performer exits the stage, he or she will re-enter in 20 seconds dressed in a new costume. This quick change is done by quick release methods of costume design,” said O’Neill.

For the last 25 years, O’Neill has designed costumes for the New York City Opera, Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, San Francisco Opera, Montreal Opera, Vancouver Opera, Mexico City Opera, Miami Opera, and Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival. In Pittsburgh, Pa., she has designed costumes for the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and City Theatre Company.

“A designer is responsible for the look, style, and fit of the clothing in a production. There are many satisfying aspects of the profession beginning with the creation and drawing a visual concept to finding fabrics or existing garments that complement your research to collaborating with the directors, choreographers and scene, lighting, and sound designers,” said O’Neill.

O’Neill graduated from Seton Hill University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to designing costumes for theatre, dance, and opera, O’Neill is a studio artist and published children’s literature illustrator.