Maria V. Bissex is an independent costume designer, educator, musician, and all-around Renaissance woman. Based in McLean, VA, Maria enjoys creating art all over northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC, and her extensive knowledge of local roads and (sigh) traffic patterns has transitioned beautifully into the driving of the legendary Purple Buses. Maria has a background in education, but five years ago decided it would be fun to start a costume design business alongside her piano studio, and the rest is history. She has done costume work for Studio Theatre, Silver Spring Stage, and high schools in Montgomery County, MD, and Fairfax County, VA, and recently received WATCH nominations for her costume designs for Baskerville and The Crucible. Previous directing experience includes an original adaptation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. She is thrilled to have discovered TPE (where have you been all my life?!) and the beautiful community that grows from working together in ensemble. She hopes her amazing middle school students will eventually be able to teach her to pitch a tent. AMDG