Opening Night Dress 2013: The End

I pretty much beaded on my patio every night for the past 2 weeks. I finished the beading at about 4 o'clock day of the party. I then beaded the belt and finished at 8:30, showered, primped and had a wonderful time! I've never felt prettier and had a glorious night of conversation with everyone at USF, and my friend Trent with whom I went. Night to remember for sure! I can't say I've ever been more satisfied with a project. It was admired by all. It's a good thing I thrive on attention!

I think I'll do a daytime photo shoot at some point so you can get a better idea of the train and everything.

Future future project...

I'm making myself blog before I work on beading today. It's my day off! Hoo-ray!

AND

Cedar is a month away!!! Ug, I'm so excited.

So, I've got my Opening Night Dress planned, and will hopefully make my Striped Dress for the Crossover Party...but what to wear for the Fall Opening?

Maybe this?

Valentino 1969 from the Victoria and Albert,
source here.

You know I'm on my beading kick, and I love velvet. This is black, I'd love a deep green though. We'll see...it'd take a lot of work and I'm going to be working a lot more hours a week than I usually do at USF. But someday, if not for this fall. 

Opening Night Dress 2013: Inspiration and Sketch

 Ah! Where to begin? I guess with the fact that I LOVE dressing up. I've been realizing more and more recently that getting all spiffy is a hobby of mine and I YEARN for occasions to do so. I'm really thinking more and more that I need to marry a man with a career that mandates fancy parties, so politician, philanthropist, actor/director/producer.

The fanciest party I get to attend in the near future will be the USF summer opening night party. Last year I made a dress, then found a vintage beaut and wore that instead. This year I have the intense pleasure of having Jack C. Schmitz as my 24/7 style consultant. I decided on full length this year and Jack suggested late 1930s surrealism as a jumping board. I really have a 40s/30s body, so that's why we're sticking around this era. The silhouette is also not SO formal that it'll be inappropriate for said party. These decisions led to many facebook convos exchanging Pinterest links that eventually got me to this beautiful 1931-32 Schiaparelli from the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

I was attracted to the draped skirt and lost my mind when I read that the train IS the drape. This is perfect bc if I ever have a more formal occasion you better believe that train's coming down! And wouldn't you know? I have 12 yds of a beautiful medium weight knit from Michael Levines in a deep and rich teal. Not the most summery of colors, but I love it and it makes my eyes pop.

So, that's the skirt. Obviously with my modesty standards the top needed to be different. Jack Jack and I started discussing color blocking and I eventually settled on nude on top in some way, then found this Jenny Packham dress on my bridal board:

Super simple, neckline pleats and set in sleeves with sheer and beaded shoulders and sleeves. Mine will be in nude with bugle and seed beads. I'll look for a belt and/or trim in NYC when I go, or I can make one. The train can hook under the belt, or if I line the top (as yet undecided) I can hook it under the waist like the original.

color rendering to come

This is going to take a lot of work, but it won't be all that hard necessarily. I've never done an evening gown in knit. I've been researching online and reading my books and picking Jack's brain (who is currently KILLING it at Parsons Meares in NYC). There will be a mock up and the beading will be done on a hoop before the pieces are actually cut. Like I said, it's going to be a lot of work and is going to take awhile. Add the fact that I don't have access to dress forms or drafting tables. This is going to be an adventure!

Below is a quick sample I did with some silver bugle beads I have. The collar I got from Seoul has silver bugle and champagne seed beads, I want to do something along those lines for when/if I decide to wear my collar with the dress. The back is beaded as you might tell from the sketch. I want the nude to look like shimmering skin. Cross your fingers! I'm anticipating at least 3 leisurely weeks of just beading.

And what height of shoe should I wear with it? I have 4" nude pumps, but to be honest heels that tall at a party where everyone stands makes it pretty awkward to talk to anyone but Jack (when he stands up straight). 3" heels only make me 6'2". I wear heels bc they make my legs and butt look fantastic, but the legs are taken out of the equation in a full length skirt. Decisions decisions!

I can't tell you how great it is to have a project to think about. I want to make at least a couple more items for my NYC trip and other USF events, so it's good that I have 6 1/2 months for this. Hoping I can get it all done except for hems by the time I get back to Cedar. Then Jack can help me :).


Also, I got hired by David's Bridal as a part time sales associate! I start training next week, so I better get some work done this week! I'm excited to have something to do and to be making money and to be in the bridal business as I hope one day to have a custom LDS standards boutique. 

Backstage Blacks

I've had a rather large dearth, yes dearth of creativity this summer. Recently I've resolved to do something creative/artistic everyday and have been doing ooooooook....I sewed some clothes, wrote some poems, carved some pumpkin, even had a portrait commission (soooo adult it makes me feel). I hope this all picks up when I go home and am not wearing black everydays. I mean when I was in high school I'd shut myself up for entire weekends and come out with a magazine collage of a Winterhalter portrait, or a new portrait of Josh Groban or the like. What happened? Art as homework happened, wah wah. Grad school's not going to help that, but I digress.

I mean to talk ab what I've been wearing for 4 months and why it sucks my soul out. Blacks. Neck to feet black w/ long sleeves and all that jazz. At the beginning I felt cool, hadn't had occasion to wear blacks for awhile...

first dress of Scapin, ready to GO!

During the summer I liked to try and look cute. Never as cute as the hair girls that wear straight up blouses, but I at least tried, for Scapin at least, Les Mis is a monster and I quickly decided it needed the full attention of my black yoga pants every performance. One day this summer my friend Krissa did my hairs for school and I put in my feathers and it was fun....

Then crossover started and we began build for fall and then the summer people left and we just ran Les Mis and I got in a big ol' rut and yay I got to wear black everyday! So, here's a sporadic collection of blacks. I still try to look nice for Stones bc a girl's got to try sometimes. Yoga pants and giant USF shirt for Les Mis...

fun lipstick is the only color we're allowed really, so I try my best for Stones.

 Me "trying" at Les Mis, not very hard though.

 I felt cute this day for sure...

 Then my hair started weighing 500 lbs.

 and I went completely mad....
This is a different day I swear.

Anydoctorwho....There it is. thesoulsuckers. I haven't worn my hair up in like 2 weeks in hopes of shaking off my tension headache, but s'no good. CHOP CHOP!!!

Official ball gown photos

These are the official photos of the ball gown I made for the beautiful and fantastic Elizabeth Telford in Les Mis, designed by Kevin Alberts. Wig styled by Brittany Hartman.

USF Summer Highlights

Sadtimes. The summer season is over and unlike last year I dressed the shows and got very close with the actors and the crew of the company. I saw every show once, most in first dress, Scapin and Les Mis (which hasn't closed) in crew view, and Merry Wives twice come to think of it....so anyway, here's my list. If you're in the company and you're not on it don't worry! I love you too!! I'm including Les Mis highlights even though it hasn't closed because I want to, so there! In no particular order...

Atticus Finch, duh

The Les Mis chorus- The soloists for Les Mis are amazing (Brian, Melinda, J. Michael, Kym, I love you!) but Les Mis is such a chorus heavy show in parts ya gotta have a strong one, and we do! At The End of the Day, One Day More, Red and Black just to name a few are absolutely breathtaking. I have no idea what these numbers look like, but I know they sound like awesome.

The Gloriana Dress from Mary Stuart designed by Bill Black and worn by Monica Bell as Elizabeth I.  Seriously, woof. Monica is close to my height, I'm sure Jeff would let me play dress up...:) Last picture in the first set here.

Matt Zambrano. Seriously talented, seriously funny. I might be a little biased, but the buzz from everyone is that he's hilarious.  Also in this highlight is David Ivers as Scapin. Also in this highlight is Scapin bc that show was a riot and everyone should have seen it!

The closing tableau of Titus Andronicus. I'd had so much of the story told to me before I saw it I wasn't surprised by much, except the last picture of Tamara, Titus, and Saturninus sat down dead at the dining table. It. was. fantastic.

The Cabaret. A little known attraction of the festival is the REACH Cabaret on Thursday nights. Company members perform songs, stand up, poems, and more. It's wonderful and this year was especially so.

Again, might be a tad bias as he's my boy, but Andy Nagraj as the Bishop of Digne. A brief, but very important part. I wait to change Andy every night after he sings "bought your soul fooooor Gooooooood".

Peter Simple in Merry Wives played by Chris Klopatek. Another hilarious man in a scene stealing part. Chris and Matt on stage together killed me, KILLED me.


Now we keep building Hamlet and I get ready to dress Stones in His Pockets with Brian Vaughn and David Ivers. I'm excited, are you?! The season's been extended through October 27th so you have MORE time to see Hamlet, Stones, and Les Mis! Come down, see shows, and see me!

Corset Workshop

This is what we do when we're not in the dark. S'not finished yet, will be soon.

Opening Night Pictures

If you're my facebook friend you've seen these. I didn't take any pictures of myself bc frankly I feel vain when I do and it's such a bother, so poo poo all you want, but this is what you get.

Friend Allison and Jack and I got ready at Jack's and had a blast. I'd put my hair in curlers all day. You can't tell, but my hairs are curly curly heaps of curls. I also have a huge splay of coque feathers in my hairs curtsey of Jack. I look like I'm slouching in the photos because the shoulder pads in the dress tilt forward. I was very conscientious about keeping my shoulders back, so was a little startled to see how much it looks like I'm rolling them forward.

It was a wonderful night and I felt great and I can't wait for the crossover party so I can wear the Balenciaga I'm going to make! I LIVE to dress up and look pretty!

PS I'm labeling this as Sexy Sunday bc the party went into Sunday morning...

New Opening Night Dress

So I had all those blog entries about the leopard print opening night dress that I was making and believe me, I've been excited about it. I bought some nude pumps to wear with it last Saturday as the opening is quickly upon us (this Saturday). But then friend Christina texted me a picture of a beautiful 40s dress at a consignment shop and called me and wouldn't hang up until I'd promised to get in my car and come try it on, so I did, and I bought it, and it's beautiful and it fits me perfectly, I just need to turn up the hem. Christina has a picture of me in it I'll try to post later. You better believe there will be red stain on my lips and gobs of curls on my head. This is going to be a great party bc I'm going to look so good. Ug, can't wait until Saturday!

Also, I think black is a good choice bc I'm not sure the actors would recognize me out of blacks ;). ULTIMATE DRESS BLACKS!

Atticus Finch is THE sexy dad

I have a new movie trailer to talk about at some point, but I just have to GUSH about the Utah Shakespeare Festival's production of To Kill A Mockingbird which I saw the first preview of tonight.

Woof. Seriously, so so good! I love TKAM. I loved it when I read it in eighth grade and I love the Gregory Peck film, both of which I haven't acquainted myself with recently making tonight's performance like remembering a pleasant dream halfway through the day;  recalling bits and pieces of something that makes you smile and that feels familiar. I won't say of course that the play is about anything pleasant, but seeing and feeling the story come to life once more was arresting and wonderful.

The play, starting with Monica Bell as Jean Louise (the grown up Scout and narrator), settled into a natural and comfortable rhythm. The events unfolded as they do in the book, through the memories of a child, although in this case retold by an adult. The child actors were endearing and precious, especially Dill. The ensemble was what an ensemble is, not distracting. Atticus Finch was...wow.

Atticus Finch is the perfect father. I find him absolutely sexy. I find patience, uprightness, courage, love, and affection absolutely sexy and Atticus Finch is the ultimate of all of these. Played by Martin Kildare, Atticus has a softness but strength, all at once gently and deftly guiding his children to right and steadfastly and unflinchingly guiding the jury and courtroom with his undeniable congeniality and strength. I'm trying to be oh so eloquent but I just don't have enough words for Atticus Finch, nor Kildare's portrayal of him.

The story of course gets me, how could it not? My biggest take away however is Atticus' example of fatherhood. I was most touched by his interactions with the children and lost my mind when Atticus starts shouting after Jem is brought home and he can't find Scout. That tore me up like nothing else to that point had. It was all just so so phenomenal, truly.

I've seen all the current season but one (taking into account I've only seen crew views of Scapin and Les Mis as I'm back stage), and can't honestly tell you what the must see of the season is. All of the shows are absolutely phenomenal. If you're in the Southern Utah and/or Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, or Nevada area, or want to be you need to come to the festival this season, it is just the greatest, I'm out of words of praise.

Photos of Mockingbird here



P.S. I will say I didn't think the play was hot enough. The Randall Theatre is always freezing and for a Southern play everyone looked fresh as a daisy. I so wanted the court room scene to swelter and to see giant sweat stains when Atticus takes off his suit coat. If only no one would powder off! Oh well, only nitpicky qualm.

Cumberbatch and Sherlock win awards

Sherlock won best movie or mini-series at the Critics' Choice TV Awards and Benedict Cumberbatch won best actor in a movie or mini-series. I think with all this high praise Ben should film series three then take some down time to lead at a US regional theatre, and I know of just the one (USF, cough cough).

Also, here's a picture of Cumberbatch and Stevens at Men's Fashion Week looking all sombre and delectable. (source)

Outnumbered and superstition

This is going to be one of those entries where I just start typing about how busy I've been and have been hard up for blog topics and time to write them until a topic comes to me...uh....hmmm....

So yeah, I've been busy. Dress rehearsals started at the Utah Shakespeare Festival this week. I'm dressing Scapin and Les Mis. I'm fairly busy for Scapin, a couple changes before intermission, then three changes in 4 minutes none over 24 seconds during the chase at the end. Les Mis is a little less impossible with 9 changes before intermission, all over 2 minutes 45 seconds which is pretty easy peasy...

aaaaaaaaaand....I should express an opinion about something, that's usually what I do on here....

ok, I'll tell you about Outnumbered and theatre superstitions.

1st: Outnumbered is a BBC sitcom I watched last summer on PBS after work. It's pretty great. The hijinks of two parents and their three children, the children's dialogue being mostly improvised. I haven't watched it since last summer as I haven't really tried to find it anywhere not on southern UT television, but I was reminded of it a couple of weeks ago. Karen's my favorite. She played baby Elizabeth I in The King's Speech.



2nd: That clip is about Friday the 13th, which is lucky in theatre. Theatre people are very superstitious. Also...

NEVER say Macbeth in a theatre except during a performance. I don't even like to say it on Festival grounds.
You ALWAYS have to knock on wood when you say knock on wood.

and that's all I can think of right now, haha. But we are very superstitious. Whatever can go wrong will, so be careful!

Ballgowns, for real this time.

My ballgown had its fitting yesterday and it's the prettiest girl at the ball! Well I think so anyway ;). Poofy sleeves and dupioni and lace and crinolines! It's going to be the purdiest wedding ever. Thanks to first hand Jack for the pictures (whom I will be couturing with all summertimes) and Kevin Alberts for the beauteous design!

Crew view for Les Mis was last night and it's going to be phenomenal. Highlight? Fantine for sure. I wept and wept during the whole time she sang always. I told you I was going to be a mess during the show. Valjean was wonderful, Javert was superb and Enjolras is a dreamboat.

Stitchin' it!

This is what a stitcher does all day. This was the second crinoline petticoat I put a new organza cover on. Needless to say there's a lot of it. Mostly I just laugh and laugh. My friend Valerie sews to my left and sometimes I can feel the petticoat move and I know she's still alive.

Books to re-read in the next 5 months

I've settled into a nice routine for the build at USF and will do so again when I'm just dressing. This is my list of books to re-read in the next 5 months a la my having read the Austens before 16 and one of each Bronte before 18.

:-:To Kill a Mockingbird...bc we're doing the play here and I'm sure I'm going to get so much more out of it than I did in 8th grade.
:-:Pride and Prejudice...bc I've never actually re-read all of an Austen again besides Persuasion.
:-:Persuasion...bc it's my favorite and I love it!
:-:Emma...bc I love Knightley
:-:Northanger Abbey...bc it cracks me up
:-:Sense and Sensibility...bc it's not my favorite, but I want to like it more.
:-:Mansfield Park...bc it's under appreciated.
:-:Little Women...bc I'm craving it recently, just watched the movie last night, and I don't think I fully appreciated Prof. Bhaer in 6th grade.
:-:Vilette...bc I waffle between liking it more than Jane Eyre
:-:Jane Eyre...bc I lurve it
:-:NOT Wuthering Heights...bc that's unnecessary nonsense

Books to read for the first time:

:-:The Professor...lots o' Charlotte's are the same-ish, but s'ok, I love a good age gap ;)
:-:Shirley...to round out my Charlotte anthology
:-:Lady Susan...to round out my Austen anthology
:-:Something totally fluffy that doesn't have vampires, suggestions? I need to read some more Ishiguro, but he might not be fluffy enough for me.

I also want to read a book on the history of Washington, DC and some other nonfictions, suggestions?

You better believe I'll be posting s'more insights on these novels, and maybe doing some renderings of the Austens at least.

Just an update

I've been working full time for the first time in MONTHS! My brain is working so much every day it's hard to come up with blog inspirations, but I'm trying! I don't know that non-sewers understand how much thinking and brain power goes into a stitching job, or any job along the costume construction ladder. There's a lot of thinking. I will say that it's nice to have been doing this enough that I can just have a job handed to me and know what to do.

This morning I took in the sides of some pants, which for non-sewers might sound easy peasey, and easy it is, quick it is not. These pants are lined in tricot and the zero point was the knee so I got to take in the fashion fabric and lining and then the waistband. Also these pants were kind of Frankenstein pants to begin with so it's all easier said than done. And joy of joys I have yet to finish the other little notes and  I have to redo the hem which wasn't noticed during the fitting. This is what I use my brain juice for. I have gotten a lot of podcasts listened to, which I might blog about later.

My big accomplishment of the week thus far has been learning how to put a new vest back on a vest. The first one I did took about 2 days, the second took half a day. I'm getting so fast they're solving another vest problem by just putting a new back on bc I can whip that out in about 4 or 5 hours now. It's an exciting new skill and I might draw some visual aids and post the technique because it's a miracle! Easy yes, quick no. That's basically how sewing goes.

Overall the build is going very well (knock wood). In case you didn't know I'm on the Les Mis team at USF and a week in we've fit over half the 30 some odd cast, probably because the day we started work our designer and draper were already in a fitting with Javert. We've also got a 6 stitcher team which is such a luxury, and the other teams don't have enough for their stitchers to do yet so at one point we had 12 stitchers on our team. What joy is ours!

A long wordy post that was mostly for my sanity's sake, but that's my life recently. Envy me? You should, I create everyday and work with fantastic people that bake and bring in candy!

Things that drive me wild...

Russell Crowe
uniforms
men on horses
men with grey hair

I give you Javert from the upcoming Les Mis movie...

ug, yes. Also the distressing on his costume is fantastic!

favorite thing ever? probably, also my desktop wallpaper

 I started on the Les Mis team at USF this week. I've already worked on Eponine, Cosette, Valjean, and Javert. Javert's alteration was my favorite. Ballgowns are on the horizon, and SO MANY ensemble alterations. Good grief! I love my job!

After the Curtain: The Music Man

The Music Man is my favorite musical. I grew up with Shirley Jones and Robert Preston and The Buffalo Bills and Hermione Gingold and Buddy Hackett and Ron Howard (ok, now I'm just seeing how many actors I can name). It's got a hate into love romance which is one of my favorite types, it's set in the 1910s which is one of my favorite decades, it has a marching band which is how I prefer my bands, it has fantastic and catchy music with big dance numbers and beautiful ballads and of course it has Harold Hill! Oh Harold Hill, he swindled his way into my heart long ago. I saw The Music Man  this past fall at USF with Brian Vaughn as Harold and it was fantastic. I even forgot Robert Preston! BUT you can't ignore the fact that the magic would eventually have to run out on this small town toe-tapper bc let's face it, what the heck is Harold going to do in River City?

source

The story of The Music Man:
Prof. Harold Hill, a two bit thimble rigger, comes to River City, IA to set up a boys' band. Thing is, he's a con man and knows nothing about music and the people of Iowa are hard nuts to crack. He gets everyone on board except Mayor Shinn whose business venture he's ruined and the old maid piano teacher and librarian who is skeptical of his musical "think system". His old partner in crime, Marcellus Washburn, helps him out while the local school board tries to smoke him out. Marian the Librarian's Irish mother and stuttering brother Winthrop are both taken with Harold, along with the gossips, including Mrs. Shinn, the local hooligan Tommy Djilas, and all the parents. Harold's scam is revealed when an anvil salesman stops in town to stick it to Hill for soiling the name of traveling salesmen. Harold is captured, but the angry mob is talked down by Marian, who of course has fallen in love with Harold. Miracle of miracles the think system works, sort of, and River City has themselves a boys' band! Ta ta DA!

AND NOW! AFTER THE MUSIC MAN....

Let's face it, the think system doesn't really work. Luckily the boys paid for instruction books as well, which Marian reviews like a mad woman and grills Harold on so he can actually have an occupation in town. It's rough going at first, but the people of River City aren't picky and eventually the band does alright, however most of the older boys are wiped out during WWI. After the war the band really gets going and establishes a legacy of marching band excellence in Iowa.

After realizing the think system won't get him anywhere with the band Harold skips town in a panic and decides to come up with a new scam. Marian hunts him down after a couple of days and proposes the instruction booklet plan. Marian and Harold get married, but Harold, or Gregory as he goes by now, has a hard time settling down. Every so often he pops over to Nebraska (where the real fun is) or even Chicago with a resolve to get his old life back, but he always returns to River City with a guilty conscious. Marian covers for him saying he's gone to musical conferences, but really she's the one keeping them and the band together. Besides Harold's wanderlust their marriage does alright. They have two children, a boy and a girl. The boy stays in River City and takes over the band, taking after Marian's steadiness. The girl, who takes after Harold travels to California and makes it big in talking pictures. Harold and Marian grow old in River City and a statue is erected to Harold after he dies, when we all know it should have been for Marian.

Marcellus marries Ethel and they have a great Iowan life.

Tommy Djilas and Zaneeta Shinn go steady until he gets drafted. They have a rush wedding and he's sent to France. He survives the war, but looses a leg. With his mechanical mindedness he fashions himself a state of the art prosthetic leg and becomes the leader in prosthetics for the tri-state area. Their children are pleasant but dull and thrive in River City.

Winthrop, after finding his voice, takes after Harold and becomes quite the smooth talker. A product of upright River City however he uses his powers for good and becomes the youngest senator Iowa's ever had. He's a major player in WWII politics and is known fondly in Washington as the Ginger Giant. He retires to River City in the 60s, a time of struggle for the band, and rejuvenates its popularity with his charisma, a la Harold. He doesn't marry Amaryllis bc she's obnoxious. He meets somebody at college and she's a wonderful politician's wife.

Mayor Shinn does not run for re-election after Harold endorses his pool hall. He and the anvil salesman team up and sell other pool hall paraphernalia to neighboring towns including paintings of dogs playing poker, stained glass light fixtures, and personalized cues. Mrs. Shin and the town gossips roll bandages and put up bunting during the war, become suffragettes during the women's vote movement, spearhead prohibition in Iowa and organize relief efforts during the Depression.

The members of the school board go on the road and become the nations most popular barber shop quartet.

Idea behind After the Curtain  and After White Christmas

Project: New Opening Night Dress

I'm SO tired! I've been getting ready for ACTF all week and am exhausted. I'm not really that in the mood to blog, but I remembered I haven't told you about the new dress I'm going to make for opening night! I found this hot little number on Modcloth.

I didn't go to the opening night party for USF last summer seeing as I left the next morning, but now I realize that opening night parties are kind of a big and fun deal and a chance to get spruced up, which is my favorite.

This dress is stretch poly/nylon, but I'm going to make it pretty structured and not like a sausage casing like it's meant to be. I've already draped it, need to make and true the pattern. Of course the neck's going to be a big higher and I'm gonna make it with elbow length sleeves.

Get me my spanks and some pearls and I'm good to go! The goal is to make the actresses look like crap.

Now I just need a dress for the crossover party between summer and fall and the fall opening party.

Why I love working in theatre:

:-:You have new friends the first day you work.
:-:You have life long friends by the last day you work.
:-:There is no schadenfreude in theatre, seeing someone else struggle reminds you of your own struggles and vice versa. Everyone helps out.
:-:Watching an audience watch your work is just as great as watching the production.
:-:Actors, technicians, designers are all so different and speak different languages, but everyone's more than willing to translate and teach you.
:-:Some of the bossest people in the world work in theatre, utilikilts come to mind.
:-:Theatre makes beauty.
:-:Theatre is a world on stage for 2 hours. It isn't stop and go like film, you are taken to a new place by living breathing people (actors and others).
:-:Theatre people are some of the most respectful and understanding people around.
:-:Theatre has lots of meetings! I love meetings and collaboration!
:-:Theatre tuckers you out like nobody's business. It leads to the best nights sleep of your life.
:-:Rehearsals are great. I love every stage of them, first read through, blocking, dress rehearsals. I love watching actors grow and experiment through a character.
:-:Wearing black and going backstage makes me feel so important.
:-:Musicals are extra magical and make me cry.
:-:Theatre produces so many types and styles of stories that film doesn't.
:-:There are always attractive, charming people about because that's what actors are paid to be.
:-:Because everyone depends on everyone else you can feel infinitely helpful.
:-:Theatre makes me laugh, backstage, onstage, building costumes, having pie parties. It's always a riot!
:-:Theatre is full of people that watch the movies I watch, like the shows I like and have the interests I have.

(L to R) hemmed those pants, made that vest, made that skirt, made the trim, nothing (sorry Will!), altered that jacket, hemmed those pants (C) USF

I just got done as first hand for the Utah Shakespeare Festival educational tour, costumes designed by Scott Anderson. I got hired back for the summer and fall seasons at USF as a stitcher and dresser. I get to stay in Cedar City with old and new friends for six months! I'm getting so ready to hunker down and put up curtains!