I know it took me more than a minute to get these up--but here are the costume sketches I wanted to show you from the show I'm doing ("Accent On Youth" at MTC in case you're just dropping in :) And something you should know right off the bat--is that our costume designer Jane Greenwood, is one of the very best in the business. She's costumed so many plays and films and is absolutely revered in the world of both theatre and film. (This is a good article, and here's her resume, in case you're curious.) She and her assistant, Jen, are both so cute and sweet and are people you want to go drink 3 bottles of wine with right when you meet them. They are both awesome people I have the honor/pleasure to work with, as are so many who are involved with this show...so without further ado: my first costume....
So the play takes place in 1934 and stars David Hyde-Pierce as a middle-aged playwright and this is what I start out wearing. I don't know if you can tell a lot of the detail, but it has a really interesting front panel zig-zag detail. My character (Linda Brown) is the secretary to Mr. Pierce and though she is a reserved and mousy secretary and desperately in love with him, he has no idea. And may I just reiterate, that pretending to be in love with David Hyde-Pierce is incredibly easy. Stupid-easy. If every man were as charming, talented and....just....attractive as he is--the human race would never die out. That is my first-hand-experience-opinion.
So the above is her in secretary mode. The wig is a medium-blonde bob with bangs and did I mention all the shoes are being handmade in Italy?? They are :)
So in Act I, my character confesses her love to him (in a scene that I love and think is beautifully written--both heart-breaking and funny) and we move on to Act II where we learn that he has made her his leading lady in his new Broadway play and I get to wear this:
(Just a note: sometimes designers attach swatches to the sketches when they have specific fabric ideas, which is what you see in the upper right corner.)
Please note the matching gloves and clutch. Mouth-watering.
This scene/Act takes place in Spring and the dress/suit jacket are a beautiful royal blue with blue and white silk blousy aspects and a blue structured jacket with some sort of eyelet trim. And the shoes are blue and white spectators made in Italy. And I just found out the hat is a dainty little blue felt beret. So fun!!! And the wig at this point is a little more glam, parted on one side and swept back on the other.
Later in Act II:
It goes glam!! This is a floor-length gold hammered-satin gown with a dramatic black satin bow on one shoulder and very fancy jewelry. I can't wait to wear this (drooling)!!
And my next (in Act III) is this:
I think you can tell this is the back view--its a gorgeous black satin gown with a deep v-neck and a peach satin train, which is pretty enough by itself, but when you pair it with this overcoat:
Which is more of a bright mossy green. And when you combine it with black and peach satin--you get art deco gorgeousness. I just think this particular design is so inspired, both of the time and the moment in the play when I burst in and beg him to take me back--bold colors and yet soft textures; a little vulnerable and soft but ballsy and sexy.
I think it's worth noting that I am NOT accustomed to being in glamourous digs in my career, so this is such a thrill for me. But I really felt like they understood my particular body and designed and cut the clothes to me which I think would be many of our dreams come true. I feel very, very fortunate. And rehearsals are going so wonderfully--it's so hard and challenging (much more than I thought it would be, actually) but still incredibly fulfilling and exciting. I'm incredibly full :) I've left out other gorgeous costume sketches of the other characters--and they are all so beautiful and inspired--because I never asked the other actors and I figured it was really only appropriate to talk about mine. However the story of all the characters is all so hilarious and heart-breaking, and completely reflected in the costumes, though you'll have to take my word for it--unless you come see the show--which would be so lovely :)
And if you like this sort of thing--here's some press shots we did the other day (I'm not thrilled with any of these pictures, but it's still kind of fun to see, I think):
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127305.html
and this:
http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_ACCENT_ON_YOUTH_Meets_the_Press_20000101
**On another note: I am trying to keep up with etsy shop orders so if you are looking for something--it's coming! Days are flying by and my intention is to get orders out in a day or two, but I have been falling a little short lately. I will get there, though! I promise!
**Also: watching this tonight! Apparently our set designer used some of the furniture from this for our actual theatrical set. I love that this is "work" and "research" :)
Oh, you lovely people--please, please have a wonderful, wonderful day/evening wherever you are and thank you so much for stopping by....it really does mean the world and universe and all things lovely to me :)
