Scenic Painting

So I did not have time to commit to designing or being majorly involved in the last show our theatre produced. But somehow they figured out how to get me involved none-the-less. Between one thing and another, I found myself painting the entire back wall for the show. Yep, that's right, they had the costume designer doing scenic painting, go figure. I don't paint, brushes and paint was an art form that I had really  not used all that much before.

The Set designer gave me pictures of what he he was kind of envisioning and all the paint, so I would know what colors he was wishing so stay with. So with a projector, some volunteers, paint and brushes and no clue where to start I dove in.

Eight hours later, this is what the back wall looked like.

A more cleared away picture. Not bad for a costumer.

If you hadn't guessed, they were going The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

With lights and children.

I was satisfied with the results, as was the designer.

I definitely want to continue honing this craft.

Into the Woods Witch quick change

So one of the parts of Into the Woods that is commonly the most challenging to approach it the Witch's transformation at the end of Act I. It was honestly one of the main reasons that I wanted to do the show, because I knew it would be a challenge and I love a good challenge.

So as a part of the design for the Witch Act I costume was a latex half mask that covered the upper half of her face. This allowed for her jaw to be completely free for speaking and singing. 

I did not want to purchase a pre-made mask that might not fit my actresses face correctly. So I did a life cast and built the mask myself. Unfortunately I was not thinking about pictures during this whole process, or else I would have documented the process. Anyhow, here are a few pictures of the witch with the mask.

The Witch's costume itself consisted of a green under dress that had lots of bustling, distressing and general texture added. And the corset/over-skirt piece she wore was a remake of my entwife costume.

In this publicity shot below you can see the line where the mask stops and her face is. This was our first time applying it and with no blending makeup and incorrect lighting. I also connected the wig and mask with several layers of latex to make into one unite for easy removal.

So right before the Transformation scene was to occur we changed her out of the complex dress/corset multi-layer costume into a new dress/cloak that I had made. This was made from the same material as the first costume, bustled, distressed and everything and made to look very similar. Only it was completely closed with magnets up the front and was rather formless especially at the bust and waist.

During the Transformation scene after she had drunk the potion, she climbed up to the top of the set. While the Baker's father was dying and creating a diversion, she fell to a heap and removed her gloves, and wig/mask in one movement. To assist with the change I would army crawl underneath the set and somehow sit/squat over the back floor lights (which thankfully the light designer had shut off for this part.) in a tiny space where I could reach up my hand in the one foot gap between the back wall and the set. This allowed the witch to throw the wig and gloves down so they were not left on the set. I would then grab a corner of the dress that she was wearing. As she stood up and turned around I would pull the entire costume off of her and it would disappear beneath the set. This leaving the now transformed witch in the costume that we had layered underneath.

The witch literally seconds after standing up.

I got one of the crew to video it for me. It was on a cellphone, so it is not the best recording, but it give an idea of what happened. Some night it was better than others, it was all about timing. But overall, I felt if turned out really well.

Post Transformation Witch

Into the Woods

Finally getting around to posting the last of the pictures from last summer season. 

Into the Woods by Sondheim was our final show.

It was a challenge and quite a fun one to tackle. So far, it would have to be one of my favorite shows to be involved in. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it and overcoming every single challenge that we had to tackle.

Entire cast

Opening number

Little Red Riding Hood at the Baker's with his Wife

The Wolf and Little Red

Baker rescuing Little Red and Granny

Jack and Milky White encounter the Baker and his Wife

Cinderella and her Stepmother and wicked Step Sisters.

Cinderella and the Baker's Wife

Cinderella "On the Steps of the Palace"

The Witch climbing Rapunzel's hair

Act II Rapunzel

Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince "Agony"

The Baker and his Wife 

Act I Witch

Jack and Milky meet the Mysterious Old Man

Jack and Act II Little Red Riding Hood

Post Transformation Act II Witch

For more pictures check out the Facebook Into the Woods album.

This show had been on my bucket list of shows that I wanted to be involved in at some point since I first saw it 4 years ago. Being able to have the opportunity to design it was amazing.

Fools

So I had meant to post these a lot quicker. But due to family illness and other life issues it didn't happen obviously.

The second show of the 2013 season was Fools by Neil Simon

Mishkin, Yechna and Slovitch

The show is about the small village of Kulyenchikov. Due to an ancient curse the entire village is stupid and unable to feel emotion. Schoolmaster Leon has come to town as tutor to the Doctor Zubritsky's young daughter Sophia Zubritsky.

Leon and Snetsky

Leon falls in love with Sophia at first sight and finds out that he has only 24 hours to educate her and break the curse or else become stupid himself.

Leon and Count Gregor

His antagonist is the Count Gregor Yousekevitch. There are two ways that the curse may be broken. Either Sophia must be educated, or marry the Count as it was his great grandfather who placed the curse. Thus the way to break it is for a Yousekevitch to marry a Zubritsky.  Out of a desire to break the curse, the Count Gregor proposes to Sophia twice a day.

Leon, the Doctor and his wife

After a long unproductive day spent trying to teach Sophia, Leon resigns himself to his upcoming stupidity. However, the time passes and Leon realizes that he still has his senses about his. He convinces everyone that he is stupid though, so that he can continue working to reverse the curse.

Leon, the doctor and his wife, and Sophia

Leon convinces Count Gregor to adopt him as his son. That way Leon can be a Yousekevitch and marry Sophia to break the curse. 

Leon and Count Gregor

Count Gregor agrees to the adoption and the wedding preparations take place. However, in the last few minutes before the wedding is to take course, the Count declares that he hadn't actually completed the adoption papers and to break the curse he (the count) shall have to marry Sophia instead.

The doctor and his wife

With some quick last minute thinking Leon manages to convince everyone that he actually has long lost relative names Yousekevitch and is capable of breaking the curse himself.

The wedding scene

So the wedding takes place, the curse is broken, and they all lived happily ever after.

The costumes were easy, and it was a simple and fun show to put together.

Preparing for a show

So I am two weeks out from "starting" work on the summer season at our local theatre. We are doing Peter Pan the musical, Fools by Neil Simon, and Into the Woods. So a great season full of fairy tale characters. One of the joys of being a designer, it that your work gets to start way ahead of others. I have been spending the last few months collecting ideas, drawing sketches, ordering materials and supplies, and full of charts and more charts. 

Since the design team is spread out across several states I decided to utilize Pinterest as a way of centralizing my design ideas and making communications easier. So I created a board for each of the three shows. Check them out if you want to get a taste of the pre-show stuff that goes on for a costume designer.

Peter Pan

Fools
Into the Woods

It's a great way to save links to supply sources and pics for ideas all in one location.

Hopefully I shall actually be able to maintain somewhat of a photo log of what we achieve in costume shop this year! They are all some great shows and with some rather great costumes, I think.

Toodles

Prince Charming

So my little brother was asked to prom by a friend as the escort to 7 ladies who were going as Disney princesses. They wanted him to be Prince Charming. So he (of course) asked me for a costume. I am currently designing the summer season for OAT. We are doing Peter Pan, Fools, and Into the Woods. So my mind was on fairy tale characters anyhow, so I told him sure. Since Into the Woods had two princes in it I decided to just kill two birds with one stone and make him the costume that I was going to make for Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods. 

We are going with a bit of a modern steampunky look for the Prince's.

I was really excited about how it turned out with the brocade, and velvet. The Prince in Into the Woods will have a lot more accessories to go with it. 

So tell me, does it make you think Prince Charming?

Toodles