Projects: Crafts Responsibilities for Amadeus, PlayMakers Repertory Company
We're in previews and the press pix have gone out, so i can share some stage shots and do an overview post now for Amadeus!
I should clarify, too, that all of the images and information that i share in this blog is strictly by permission of the artists, artisans, designers, and companies that i work for. I have worked under non-disclosure contracts and the pieces i have produced in those jobs have not appeared on this blog nor been discussed. I wanted to mention that, as i have had some inquiries about the legality of "behind the scenes"-style blogging--when i write about PlayMakers shows and the UNC graduate program, it is with their knowledge and permission.
So without further ado, stage shots of crafts and millinery! Let's start off with...
Dyeing
There was a lot of custom dyeing for this show--in addition to visible projects like "dye this lace to match this brocade" or "dye this trim to match this color swatch," i had a lot of the sort of dye projects that are ostensibly invisible (or, invisible if i've done my job)--linings and bindings and bone tapes and underlinings dyed to match fashion fabrics, ribbons and cords and such, all dyed to match whatever garment they're for. Here are some stage shots of various costumes made from custom-dyed elements.
Heaven Chijirae Stephens as Katerina Cavalieri
Ray Dooley as Salieri
Ms. Stephens' corset and dressing gown contain eight custom dye projects,
from the corset coutil itself to organza underlining to bone channel tape.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mr. Nappo's red coat is trimmed in heavy embroidered lace dyed to match.
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli
These two coats also feature lace embellishments dyed to match a blue figured pattern in their breeches fabric.
These are only a few examples of the forty-five custom dye projects required to produce the costumes for Amadeus.
Footwear
Let's talk shoes, now! I've mentioned in previous posts some of the methods for modifying footwear for period shapes and effects, so let's look at them onstage.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
On Ms. Brookshire, you can see the court shoes i recovered with embroidered silk taffeta, a process that involved removing the sole, stitching on the new cover fabric, then resoling the shoe. The other ladies' shoes in the ensemble were customized as well, though none as extensively as these--the other shoes were purchased in the desired colors/fabrics, and my assistants and i added bows, pleated ruffles, and other trim to the vamp.
On Mr. Nappo, you can see one of the sixteen pairs of mens shoes modified for this show. We began with basic leather slip-on shoes, to which tongues and buckles were added, and the soles of which were rubberized. These shoes of Mr. Nappo's began life as a pair of Italian leather loafers, but as you can see, my assistants and i transformed them.
Jewelry and Masks
I'm grouping these together because the jewelry was, as our designer Bill Black described it, "of the gorpy gold variety," and the masks are pretty much gorpy face decor.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
John Feltch as Emperor Josef
The Emperor's medals were comprised of various elements both cast plastic and metal,
and assembled in-house according to the designer's specifications.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli
There are those foxes! They wore them on their faces for all of two seconds, not captured by the photographer.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Jeffrey Meanza and David Friedlander as the Venticelli
If you look closely, you'll see the gold vizard mask in Mr. Friedlander's hand. Another big stage moment for Ms. Brookshire's shoes. :)
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart appears in the unicorn mask
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gets a spanking from Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Millinery
Some of the hats didn't get captured on film in this first photo call, but i've got a couple of stage shots to share.
Ray Dooley as Salieri with the ensemble
All the ensemble women had simple mobcaps made of cotton batiste and dyed.
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli with the ensemble
The Venticelli began the show in these tall early 19th century top hats. We purchased the hats from Hatcrafters, but i then had to drop the crown of Mr. Friedlander's so it would be proportionally smaller to Mr. Meanza's. In order to maintain the slope of the crown, i dropped it telescopically in two one-inch increments, hidden behind the hatband.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart in the sweet "ice cream bonnet"
A side perspective on the same scene
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart comes to seduce Salieri in a fancy hat...
...but he rebuffs her. She is humiliated, but her hat maintains its composure.
No photos of the plumed Seraglio opera turban or the silly little straw "plate" hat came through in this first photo call. If i get good shots of them in a subsequent photo call, i'll share them in a future post. Otherwise, that's the overview of craftwork. Hope you enjoyed the synopsis!
I should clarify, too, that all of the images and information that i share in this blog is strictly by permission of the artists, artisans, designers, and companies that i work for. I have worked under non-disclosure contracts and the pieces i have produced in those jobs have not appeared on this blog nor been discussed. I wanted to mention that, as i have had some inquiries about the legality of "behind the scenes"-style blogging--when i write about PlayMakers shows and the UNC graduate program, it is with their knowledge and permission.
So without further ado, stage shots of crafts and millinery! Let's start off with...
Dyeing
There was a lot of custom dyeing for this show--in addition to visible projects like "dye this lace to match this brocade" or "dye this trim to match this color swatch," i had a lot of the sort of dye projects that are ostensibly invisible (or, invisible if i've done my job)--linings and bindings and bone tapes and underlinings dyed to match fashion fabrics, ribbons and cords and such, all dyed to match whatever garment they're for. Here are some stage shots of various costumes made from custom-dyed elements.
Heaven Chijirae Stephens as Katerina Cavalieri
Ray Dooley as Salieri
Ms. Stephens' corset and dressing gown contain eight custom dye projects,
from the corset coutil itself to organza underlining to bone channel tape.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mr. Nappo's red coat is trimmed in heavy embroidered lace dyed to match.
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli
These two coats also feature lace embellishments dyed to match a blue figured pattern in their breeches fabric.
These are only a few examples of the forty-five custom dye projects required to produce the costumes for Amadeus.
Footwear
Let's talk shoes, now! I've mentioned in previous posts some of the methods for modifying footwear for period shapes and effects, so let's look at them onstage.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
On Ms. Brookshire, you can see the court shoes i recovered with embroidered silk taffeta, a process that involved removing the sole, stitching on the new cover fabric, then resoling the shoe. The other ladies' shoes in the ensemble were customized as well, though none as extensively as these--the other shoes were purchased in the desired colors/fabrics, and my assistants and i added bows, pleated ruffles, and other trim to the vamp.
On Mr. Nappo, you can see one of the sixteen pairs of mens shoes modified for this show. We began with basic leather slip-on shoes, to which tongues and buckles were added, and the soles of which were rubberized. These shoes of Mr. Nappo's began life as a pair of Italian leather loafers, but as you can see, my assistants and i transformed them.
Jewelry and Masks
I'm grouping these together because the jewelry was, as our designer Bill Black described it, "of the gorpy gold variety," and the masks are pretty much gorpy face decor.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
John Feltch as Emperor Josef
The Emperor's medals were comprised of various elements both cast plastic and metal,
and assembled in-house according to the designer's specifications.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli
There are those foxes! They wore them on their faces for all of two seconds, not captured by the photographer.
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Jeffrey Meanza and David Friedlander as the Venticelli
If you look closely, you'll see the gold vizard mask in Mr. Friedlander's hand. Another big stage moment for Ms. Brookshire's shoes. :)
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart appears in the unicorn mask
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gets a spanking from Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart
Millinery
Some of the hats didn't get captured on film in this first photo call, but i've got a couple of stage shots to share.
Ray Dooley as Salieri with the ensemble
All the ensemble women had simple mobcaps made of cotton batiste and dyed.
David Friedlander and Jeffrey Meanza as the Venticelli with the ensemble
The Venticelli began the show in these tall early 19th century top hats. We purchased the hats from Hatcrafters, but i then had to drop the crown of Mr. Friedlander's so it would be proportionally smaller to Mr. Meanza's. In order to maintain the slope of the crown, i dropped it telescopically in two one-inch increments, hidden behind the hatband.
Vince Nappo as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart in the sweet "ice cream bonnet"
A side perspective on the same scene
Janie Brookshire as Constanza Mozart comes to seduce Salieri in a fancy hat...
...but he rebuffs her. She is humiliated, but her hat maintains its composure.
No photos of the plumed Seraglio opera turban or the silly little straw "plate" hat came through in this first photo call. If i get good shots of them in a subsequent photo call, i'll share them in a future post. Otherwise, that's the overview of craftwork. Hope you enjoyed the synopsis!