NEW YORK (AP) – Most Broadway theaters are still dark, but there’s a place in Times Square where the costumes shine.
More than 100 outfits from musicals such as “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “Wicked” are part of a new exhibition that reveals the beauty of carefully handcrafted garments that cannot always be seen from a theater mezzanine.
“Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage & Screen ”opens Thursday with $ 29 tickets for the general public and $ 24 for seniors and children. All proceeds will go to the Garment Industry Coalition recovery fund.
Includes costumes from Broadway hits like “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”, “The Lion King”, “The Phantom of the Opera” of the opera ”),“ Moulin Rouge! The Musical ”,“ Chicago ”,“ The Cher Show ”,“ Frozen ”and“ Aladdin ”, as well as the television series“ The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ”and“ Saturday Night Live ”.
There are also costumes from the James Bond movie “No Time to Die” and the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect,” both upcoming, as well as from cruise ships, Disney World, the American Ballet. Theater, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the New York City Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet.
The exhibit occupies more than 1,850 square meters (20,000 square feet) and two levels at 234 West 42nd Street in Manhattan, once the New York flagship of the sports chain Modell’s, which has been transformed into immersive areas with mannequins. wearing the clothes. Visitors can see true artisans in workspaces embroidering, painting or sewing suits, showing the intense work that goes into each garment.
“We reached out to all of our partners and asked them to loan us goods, not only to show the product of what we brought to the stage or screen, but also the process,” said Brian Blythe, who co-runs the full-service costume store. John Kristiansen and founded the Apparel Industry Coalition.
Sally Ann Parsons, owner of veteran custom-made house Parsons-Meares that made Nala and Simba’s costumes for “The Lion King,” will be sending a team to demonstrate how they make corsets and bodices.
“One of our jobs is to be storytellers and tell the story of the whole piece. But we also help the actors with their characters, ”he said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to show what we do.”
The coalition was born during the pandemic to defend the survival of New York’s custom apparel industry. It is made up of 56 artisans and small, unique and independent businesses in and around the city, many of whom were dedicated to manufacturing masks and surgical gowns during the health crisis. The members collectively lost more than $ 26.6 million in revenue last year.
“The coalition was formed to really advocate for our collective survival. And although we are friendly competitors, we all know each other and network because we all work together on the same shows, ”said Blythe.
Thinc Design, a global design firm founded by former theatrical set designer Tom Hennes, designed the exhibition space as a journey – complete with videos, photographs and music – through the world of costume making.
“I think this is a fairly invisible industry to the general public, but it is made up of this wide variety of creatives and artisans, artists who do work that is absolutely exciting to see up close,” said Hennes, who donated the services of his sign.
Although the costumes can be magical, there is a nod to the current climate: all guests in the space must wear masks throughout the entire exhibition, regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated, except in designated areas.
Organizers hope the show can spread some awareness of the intense costume work involved, promote the reopening of some Broadway shows, and offer impatient ballet and theater fans something to cheer them up before the reopening of the shows. cultural venues.
“It is a true celebration of the combination of talent, skill and imagination that underpins some of the showmanship and beauty of the entertainment business in general and theater, film, television and ballet in particular,” said Hennes.
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On the Internet: https://www.showstoppersnyc.com
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Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits.
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