Margo Lee Shively
Instructor of Theatre & Director of the Costume Studio

Knox College is sad to announce the passing of Margo Lee Shively, who served as instructor of theatre and director of the Costume Studio at Knox College for 42 years, retiring in 2019. She was born August 11, 1946, in Galesburg, the daughter of Earl John and Margaret Lee Anderson Shay. She married Bruce Allen Shively in 1967, and he preceded her in death in 2016.

Margo attended the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied fashion design. She was selected by renowned American designer Oleg Cassini, known for fashion and film, as an intern, and then spent nearly a decade designing clothing for the fashion industry before coming to Knox College.

Initially hired as a seamstress on a production for which then Professor of Theatre Ivan Davidson was designing costumes, she rapidly proved so talented a designer and so skilled a technician that Davidson happily retreated upstairs, and she took over the show. As the lead designer and costume shop supervisor for over 30 years, Margo designed costumes for many mainstage theatre productions across every period and style imaginable, including nearly all Repertory Theatre Terms until her retirement. Due to her efforts, the curated costume collection numbers over 17,000 pieces, including a vintage collection often used for teaching design and technical artistry. In addition to her work in academia, Margo also designed for the Chicago City Ballet, Black Hills Playhouse (SD), Bonesteel Films, Prairie Players, and Moonofhope Theatre Productions. She was involved with Vitalist Theatre (Chicago) as a designer, consultant, and intern mentor since its inception in 1997, and consulted with designers from the Guthrie Theatre in Utah, American Players Theatre, and Santa Fe Opera.