WHO’S WHO AT IMAGINON
Ever wondered who the lucky people are that get to work at ImaginOn every day? Welcome to our Who’s Who at ImaginOn column, where we’ll feature people who work in all corners of this magical building, from the scene shop and costume shop of the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to the circulation desk, the Spangler Library and Teen Loft of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Say hello next time you see us in the building!
What is your name?
Bina Bieker
What is your position/company/role at ImaginOn?
Costume Shop Manager for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
What does that actually mean you do every day?
Every day is different! I do a lot of administrative stuff like attending meetings, inputting receipts into budgets, making phone calls about orders or staffing, and sending emails to co-workers to keep information flowing and all tasks on schedule. I also get to do a lot of fun stuff like shopping for costume needs, both online and in store, assisting designers with choosing fabrics and design details, attending fittings with actors to make sure everything looks just right, pulling pieces from stock, working with wardrobe on learning quick changes during performances and a myriad of other costume related activities.
If I were walking around the building, how would I recognize you?
I probably have a tape measure around my neck! I also wear glasses, and my hair is almost always braided.
What is the absolute coolest or weirdest or most fun part about your job at ImaginOn working for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte?
The coolest and most fun days are the first school performances of a production after tech. We put a lot of work into making every show the best it can be, and that passion can be stressful when we’re trying to bring all the different components of a show together. But getting to see a show with an audience changes everything! The energy from the students is electric, and seeing how much fun they are having helps us to have fun, too.
You know that game “Two Truths and a Lie,” where you give three facts, and two of them are true and one is false? What are two truths and a lie about you? (*Scroll to the end for the false one!)
1. I have flown in a hot air balloon.
2. I play roller derby.
3. I’m bilingual.
What is your favorite book?
I have a really hard time picking favorite anythings! But I really liked The Tao of Pooh. Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I revisit that book to help me be calm and centered.
What did you do before you came to ImaginOn?
Before working at Imaginon, I lived in Sonora, CA, which is in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Yosemite National Park. I worked as Costume Shop Manager for Sierra Repertory Theatre for 6 years.
If you could live in any imaginary world, what would it be and why?
Because I’ve lived and worked in a variety of places, and I’ve met so many nomads working in theatre, I would like to live in a world with transporters so I could visit friends and family more regularly without all the pesky travel time!
*The falsehood: I’m not bilingual.