Open exhibition with costumes of musical works
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 handmade garments that cannot always be appreciated from a theater mezzanine.
“Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage & Screen ”opened with tickets of $ 29 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 such as “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “The Lion King,” “The Phantom of the Opera.” , “Moulin Rouge! The Musical ”,“ Chicago ”,“ The Cher Show ”,“ Frozen ”and“ Aladdin ”, as well as the 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 coming out, 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 show occupies more than 1,850 square meters and two levels at 234 West 42nd Street in Manhattan, once the New York flagship store of the sports chain Modell’s, which has been transformed into immersive areas with mannequins sporting the garments.
Visitors can see artisans in workspaces embroidering, painting or sewing suits, showing the intense work involved in 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 John’s Service Costume Store. 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,” sent 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,” he added.
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 which 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 clothing.
“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 very exciting to see up close,” said Hennes, who donated the services of his sign.
Take a look
Measures apply
All visitors to the exhibition must wear a mask (vaccinated or not). Organizers hope the show can spread some awareness of the hard work involved in costumes and promote the reopening of some Broadway shows.
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