Cathy Parrott has been working as a New York City based costume designer, assisting in the creation of costumes for feature films, television, Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatre and other live events. Her assistant design credits for film and television include: The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman, Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer, Spirited starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds and Dr. Death starring Christian Slater. Cathy’s associate costume design credits for Broadway include: Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Berry Gordy’s Motown; the Musical, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, Diana: The Musical, Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway and Porgy and Bess starring Audra McDonald. She has assisted such designers as: two-time Academy Award winner Ruth Carter, Academy Award nominated designers Ellen Mirojnick and Michael Wilkinson, six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, Tony Award winner Dede Ayite, Tony Award nominated Emilio Sosa, Argentinean artist Juan Gatti and fashion designer Isabel Toledo. 

In addition to the University of Iowa, Cathy has guest lectured at Stanford University, Carnegie Melon, Fordham University, University of Georgia, Illinois State University, Cornell College and Simpson College. A Manchester, Iowa native, Cathy received her B.A. from the University of Iowa and her M.F.A. from the University of Georgia. She is a current costume design member of United Scenic Artists Union Local 829.