Rita Ryack

Rita Ryack is a costume designer who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 73rd Academy Awards for her work in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She was also nominated for a Tony Award at the 37th Tony Awards for My One and Only, and was nominated for the award again in 2014, for Casa Valentina. She received a further nomination at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards for the film You Don't Know Jack.

Career Rita Ryack was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her BFA from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and later her MFA from Yale School of Drama. She began her work in the entertainment industry as a cartoon animator for Lisberger Studios in Boston.

Her first design job was for the Broadway musical My One and Only, for which she earned her first Tony nomination. Throughout the years she has done costume design for a wide range of productions such as films like Hairspray, Casino, and Apollo 13, many on and off Broadway theater productions, as well as the music video for Bad by Michael Jackson.

Notably she has, many times, worked with Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, and Robert De Niro.

While designing for productions such as the Broadway play Casa Valentina she references old advertisements, photographs, and films for inspiration.

Selected works +Hair (musical) (2014)TheaterCasa Valentina (2014TheaterTony Award Nominee Best Costume in a PlayThe Smurfs 2 (2013)FilmRock of Ages (2012)FilmYou Don't Know Jack (2010)FilmEmmy Nominee Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialBedtime Stories (2008)FilmHairspray (2007)FilmCharlotte's Web (2006)FilmThe Cat in the Hat (2003)FilmA Beautiful Mind (2001)FilmRush Hour 2 (2001)FilmHow the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)FilmCostume Designers Guild Award, Golden Satellite Awards 2001, Academy Award Nominee Best Costume Design, Saturn Awards NomineeBringing Out the Dead (1999)FilmMy Giant (1998)FilmWag the Dog (1997)FilmRansom (1996)FilmApollo 13 (1995)FilmCasino (1995)FilmMr. Jones (1993)FilmA Bronx Tale (1993)FilmMad Dog and Glory (1993)FilmCape Fear (1991)FilmClass Action (1991)FilmPenn and Teller Get Killed (1989)FilmCrossing Delancey (1988)FilmAfter Hours (1985)FilmA Lie of the Mind (1985)TheaterMy One and Only (musical)TheaterTony Award Nominee Best Costume in a Musical, Drama Desk Award Nominee.