Clippings from the Studio Floor...

I feel that I begin many posts with; "It's been a while, but I'm not dead..."  Haha.  Life has been full since graduating.  There was a "Senior Portfolio Zoo" as we affectionately call it, where the year's graduating seniors present their portfolios to the invited public, most of which consists of the local theatre representatives.  I had spent the night with my friend Dani and after we got coffee, set up, and ready, waited nervously for the first people to come look at our work.  It was a good moment for me, personally, because I was stuck in the mindset that I wouldn't be designing any more, I should only amount to a stitcher, and that Neverwhere was a disappointment.  While most of it was, I shouldn't be leaving with that bad of a taste in my mouth, so to speak.  Several dear professors came to look through my work and I was admonished lovingly as to why I wasn't representing myself better.  Jennifer Lupton was the crux of my mind change, she was my scenic paint instructor, and a zany, vivacious, wonderful woman.  She looked through my portfolio, telling me in her lovingly stern way that I was shortchanging myself.  Why wasn't I listed as costume designer?  Why wasn't I giving myself credit for this or that?  It made me ask myself exactly those questions.  Why?  Because I didn't feel worthy of the titles.  I am owning up to them now.  My head is high, and I am aiming for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars.

 I went through Cornish Commencement and I am very glad that I did because it brought the whole process around full circle for me and provided a closing ceremony to the experience.

Tony Kushner, (American playwright who wrote Angels in America) was one of our commencement speakers, along with the incredible Mary Lambert.  I filmed Tony's speech but not Mary's and of course I was more impacted by what Mary Lambert had to say than Tony Kushner.  Go figure.  I've been spoilt listening to Neil Gaiman's HS commencement speech so many times and I badly wish I had Mary's.  So good.

Shortly after commencement I was approached to put together an Amish costume for a one woman show about the shooting at Nickel Mines in 2006.  A beautiful show, poignant and tender, called The Amish Project.  It was written from interviews, news clippings, and youtube clips.  One woman, Terri Weagant performs over 10 characters, distinguishing one from the other by change in physicality, voice, and accent.  It was amazing to be able to be a part of this show, and so much fun to work with Terri. 

6 year old Velda tells about Amish martyrs,

America works as a checker at the Big Foods on Route 33,

Anna realises she is dead,

gazing at the evening through the schoolhouse windows.

Now life is setting back into wedding planning, work, and summer!  Yay Summer!  I adore the Fall the most, but after long, grey Winters I can't wait for the sun-drenched days of Summer.  I have a few posts lined up, so stay tuned!

xoxo,

Anna

Photo an Hour - Costume Load In!

7:30 am. 

8:30- checking email from bed where it is warm.

9:30am - grabbed a 70 full of darling kids headed to the art museum.

10am - reworking some costumes in the dye room.

11am- still dying. Watching water boil since there is a class in costume shop.

12pm - all clean!

1pm - LOADING IN ALL THE COSTUMES! Ack! Exciting!

1:30pm - Emily hugs the "show baby" as my eyes get a touch misty.

2pm - first look at our beautiful set.

3pm - costumes are all settled in to their new home.

4pm - Lunch (finally!) and going over to-do lists with the aid of some cider.

6pm - done with a meeting and time for silly hats. All is quiet in the costume shop.

7pm - finishing up last little bits while Pandora Radio blasts "90's Alternative" music.

8pm - snack and coffee break time! Double Chocolate + Stout Cookies!

9pm - um. Maybe time to go home...

9:30pm - all clean and ready for tomorrow! Good night costumes!

10pm - Lenora st is quiet and sparkly.

10:30pm - bussing home!

11pm - Greeting committee. Time for bed little monsters! 

Hope you have enjoyed a look into a day of a costume design student. We hit Tech this weekend! Whee and uffda! 

Xoxo,

Anna

Neverwhere Design - Part One

I don't think I've written about my senior project for Cornish yet, so here's the beginning!

Cornish is doing a stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, and I have the honor and delight to be designing the costumes for it.  If you didn't know already, I am an enormous fan of Neil Gaiman's works (as well as his wife, Amanda Palmer's music) and was utterly over the moon with delight when Cornish announced what the show would be.
Neverwhere is a story about a Scotsman, Richard Mayhew, just moved to a new job in the big city of London, who ends up on the most peculiar adventure of his life.  He has it all, a beautiful (if controlling and stiff) fiancee named Jessica, a good job at a nice firm, and a smattering of friends.  What more could a chap want?
The more comes in the form of a ragged girl who appears out of nowhere, clothing torn, arm bloody, catalysing Richard to care for her.  She turns out to be from another place, London Below and leads Richard on an amazing adventure that ultimately leaves him asking himself; what does he want from life?  Is going to the pub, and marrying Jessica, and accepting the promotion to Junior Partner really all there is in life?  Is it really all he wants?
I can't tell you that, darlings.  You must read the book.

The world we're creating is based on inspiration of the layers that occur in life.  If you look across a subway platform, you can see several tracks, platforms, lines and layers.  Action could occur on a series of planes, each sitting on top of another.  London Below is a bit like that, it interacts with our world (London Above) but we don't always see it.  It lives in those odd people who live on the street.  The group of urchins who feel like kings and celebrate the little pleasures.  Perhaps in Below they are princes and kings?  You'd never know to look at them in Above.

For now I'll leave you with an idea of our main heroes.  The Lady Door, Richard Mayhew, The Marquis de Carabas, and The Hunter.

Lady Door

Richard Mayhew

The Marquis de Carabas

The Hunter