Biography

Career

Bobby Pearce (born February 15, 1961) was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Costume Design for the 2003 production of Taboo starring Boy George. He also designed; Sign, Sealed, Delivered at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, the award-winning production of The Syringa Tree (New York and London), the National Tour of Tommy, three gowns for Liza Minnelli's appearance in Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, (Halloween 1999-2001) and Broadway's Betrayal starring Juliette Binoche (Associate Costume Designer).  In addition he designed the films Let It Snow starring Bernadette Peters and The Big Gay Musical.  Pearce also designed Chita Rivera's concert tour Chita, And All That Jazz and Off-Broadway's Behind the Beat starring Vicki Sue Robinson.

Bobby designed the wigs and costumes for the long running Off-Broadway Hit The Marvelous Wonderettes which has numerous regional productions.  His work has often received critical acclaim, The Washington Post commented that his costume design for L'incoronazione di Poppea at Wolf Trap Opera "makes references to the Italy of Caesar and the Italy of Versace but keeps them in a state of suspended animation.  Poppea has clearly enjoyed the ministrations of a 20th century couturier."  For Mark Dendy's Altogether Different at the Joyce Theatre in New York his costumes were called "enjoyably splashy and sexy" (The New York Times), "excellent costumes" (The Village Voice) and "a smashing revue parade of 13 separate numbers, all stylishly costumed by Bobby Pearce" (Clive Barnes, The New York Post).  Reviews for Taboo include; "What the show does have and could not exist without - is a great sense of style - on top of this come nonstop outlandish, freaky and beautiful costumes" (New York Newsday), and "flagrantly stylish and outrageously sexy" (Ben Brantley, New York Times).

Bobby  also designs the costumes for world champion American ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani as well as outfits for personal appearances and club acts of numerous celebrities including Bea Arthur, Petula Clark, Bebe Neuwirth, Faith Prince, Larry Gatlin, Martin Short, Madeline Kahn, Elizabeth Ashley, Cyd Charisse, Glenn Close, Sheena Easton, Leslie Uggams, Laurie Beechman and Tracy Ullman. He has designed over 30 gowns for Marla Maples, many of which have been featured in numerous magazines. His favorite "Diva" to date was the late Gwen Verdon for whom he designed over a dozen gowns. Bobby also designs the costume for The Big Gay Sketch Show on The Logo Channel and begins its third season in 2010.

Bobby has a long time association with Rosie O'Donnell. He has been featured in the magazine "Rosie" and has made over a dozen appearances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show doing crafts and singing songs with Rosie.  He appears as a regular on Rosie Radio (O'Donnell's daily morning radio show) on Sirius and XM Radio.

Early Life and Education

Bobby began his career in show business as a performer.  He specialized in musical comedy but is also a classically trained mime and studied with Marcel Marceau.  He has appeared on television, film and the stage; however, he always had a penchant for design and is very happy with his role behind the scenes.  He holds a BA Degree from Barry University in Miami, and after being offered 17 full scholarships to graduate school, earned his MFA in design from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.  He was born and raised in Miami and lives in New York City.

Awards and Nominations

• 2004 Tony Award Nomination for Best Costume Design – Taboo
• 2004 Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Costume Design – Taboo
• 2008 New York Innovative Theatre Award Nomination for Outstanding Costume Design - The Chaos Theories