Great news – the Props & Costume closet is officially open again! Whether you need costumes or props for your scenes, monologues, or class projects, you now have access to a variety of resources to bring your performances to life!
Prop Shop is open for business!
If you wish to access the costume and prop closet outside of class hours, you can book a 30-minute appointment using this link. Appointments must be scheduled in advance, and a confirmation email is required before arrival.
Regular Prop Shop hours (subject to change):
Tuesdays: 2:00 PM – 5 PM
Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 12 PM
How can I borrow props and costumes?
For one-time use (single rehearsal/class)
Get approval from your instructor.
Use items in class.
Return items to their designated spots at the end of class/rehearsal.
For ongoing projects (multiple rehearsals, performances, etc.)
You will need to fill out a borrowing form.
Please fill out one form per project. If changes are necessary, you can edit the original form you submitted.
Ensure all costume pieces have visible tags with unique IDs. If an item is missing a tag, note it down in the form.
Before borrowing, take one clear photo of all the costumes and props you plan to use.
Fill out the borrowing form.
After submitting, you and your instructor will receive
A copy of your form
A checklist of the designated storage locations for your borrowed items.
Return all items by the deadline, following cleaning and maintenance guidelines.
IMPORTANT: Please review the full list of policies & guidelines found here.
For any questions, please reach out to the Prop Master at artinianhovig@gmail.com.
This resource has been added to your Student Resources on our website.
Password: RMRilke
|
I didn’t come from a theater background, so stepping into this role has been a huge learning experience. It’s taught me to be more resourceful, more organized (still working on it!), and to appreciate the small details that make a story come alive. Props and costumes aren’t just objects on a stage; they help create a world the actors can step into and the audience can believe in. Being part of that collaborative process reminds me why I love this work. In the end, it’s all about building something together.
How did you find AZAA?
I googled “acting classes near me.” AZAA was the first one that popped up, so I figured it was fate… or just really good SEO. Either way, I’m glad I clicked!
What do you love about AZAA?
AZAA has become my creative playground. It’s where I get to shake off my academic brain, let loose, and dive headfirst into storytelling. Honestly, it feels like the adult version of recess. I didn’t realize how much I missed having that in my life until I found it again here.
I signed up for classes at AZAA during a time when I was feeling pretty burnt out. Grad school had taken over most of my life, and I realized I wasn’t making space for creativity anymore. After a trip to visit some close friends in D.C., I came back with this little spark to try something new, just for myself. I took a chance, signed up for an acting class, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. AZAA has become a space where I can show up as my full self.
What excites you most about the work of an actor?
For me, acting is about curiosity and connection. It’s a way to step into someone else’s life for a little while and explore what drives them, what scares them, and what they care about. Along the way, I often end up learning something new about myself. That process feels really grounding. In a way, it’s a practice of self-love. It reminds me to stay open, to listen more closely, and to meet both myself and others with more compassion. Plus, it’s fun! I think we could all use a little more of that.
What’s your story outside of your actor training?
At the risk of sounding a little cringy, I’d like to rephrase this question. If my life were a play and I was the main character, what would be my superobjective? Or, put simply, what drives me?
The short answer is that I am always searching for community, even in moments when I don’t realize it.
Here’s the longer version. I was born and raised in Lebanon, although I’m ethnically Armenian. I say “although” because when people hear I’m from Lebanon, they often assume I’m Arab and speak Arabic. Sometimes they greet me with a cheerful “marhaba” or call me “habibi,” and I usually laugh and go along with it. But the reality is that I grew up in an Armenian household in Bourj Hammoud, one of the most densely populated towns in the Middle East and a major hub for the Lebanese Armenian diaspora community. I went to an Armenian school and spent most of my time in Armenian spaces. So, even though I learned how to read, write, and speak Arabic, Armenian is my native language and the one I grew up speaking most often. Believe it or not, I actually speak English better than Arabic!
I don’t think I’ve ever shared all of that so directly before. Most of the time, I assume it’s just background noise that no one really cares about. But since I’ve been given the space to tell my story, I figured I might as well share it. It’s important to me, and I’ve come to learn that’s reason enough.
In 2021, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in Anthropology at Arizona State University. My research focuses on how people find their sense of belonging and what that belonging means in a broader social world. In other words, I study how we decide who is part of our group, who is not, and how those decisions shape the way we interact, build relationships, and create communities.
A lot of that interest comes from personal experience. Growing up, I was always aware that I was living in a very particular world, inside a much larger one. I didn’t need to speak the majority language fluently or engage much with the wider society around me because my Armenian community gave me everything I needed. It provided language, culture, support, and a strong sense of identity. As I got older and started forming connections beyond that community, I found myself having to navigate different identities, cultures, and expectations. This was a major adjustment that taught me a lot about how people hold onto who they are, and how much that depends on the communities they are part of.
At the same time, being raised in a close-knit, collectivist culture wasn’t always easy. For example, there were moments when I wished I had learned Arabic better. It’s a beautiful language, and it’s something I’m still working on. But those experiences helped me understand something fundamental about myself. Whether I’m in the U.S., in Bourj Hammoud, in other parts of Lebanon, or anywhere else in the world, I am always searching for community in the people who make a place feel like home.
That search is part of what brought me to AZAA. I signed up for an acting class and ended up finding something I didn’t even know I was missing. I found a sense of belonging, and that is what keeps me coming back.
Leave A Comment