RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Theater Costumes Results:
Theater Costumes
By:
Published: October 5, 2006
In theater, the clothes make the character.
Theater costumes can transform Cinderella from a servant into a princess, or turn two actors into a horse. They can take an audience back 400 years in history or transport them into the future. With all the possibilities theater costumes can create, it is no wonder their designs have become so diverse and so specialized.
Theater costumes may be purchased, handmade or rented for play productions. Tailor-making theater costumes or purchasing them are expensive ventures generally reserved for long-running shows or theater companies who intend to reuse their wardrobe. Though Broadway shows can afford to make theater costumes by hand, both time-wise and money-wise, most theater companies cannot. Purchased costumes can run thousands of dollars per piece, but hand-making outfits for a cast of 100 or more actors is a massive time investment.
For those productions that can afford to pay, one high-quality theater costume retailer is Atelier Pietro Longhi, a Venetian design studio specializing in Opera costumes and period pieces. Longhi's historical accuracy and quality craftsmanship come at a price, however. Women’s' dresses routinely range from $2,000 and $5,000, with prices capping out at an extravagant $7,500 for a single gown. Men’s' costumes are no less expensive. If purchase is not an option due to budget concerns, Longhi also rents pieces to productions at a rate of ten percent of the purchase price per day.
For productions which do not require the level of detail or authenticity in Longhi's costumes, hand-making costumes may be a less expensive choice. The premier resource for theater costume makers is the National Costumers Association, which enables costumers to recommend design books, tips and techniques to one another.
Designing and hand-making costumes are labor-intensive endeavors requiring significant time investment. However, for productions such as The Lion King on Broadway, costume rental is not an option. Lead designer Julie Taymor created unprecedented monkey and lion costumes to enhance the spectacle the show became known for. Still running after 3,669 performances, the investment seems well worth it.
Perhaps the most popular option for acquiring theater costumes is rental. Theater costume rental companies can be located via the Internet and frequently offer reasonable rates. This is especially true for group costume orders, such as when a production designer orders ten of the same costume to clothe a chorus of performers. The vendor may offer a discount for bulk costuming. Theater costume rental companies unfortunately limit the options of what garments a production may use, and also can become more expensive than hand-making for long-term use.
Costumers must carefully consider the specifics of a given production before selecting to purchase, hand-make or rent theater costumes. It often is possible to reuse and update existing costumes by adding inexpensive trim or ribbons. A costume’s durability also is a concern, especially for long-term productions or for theater companies that tend to "recycle" their costumes.
Shows which are dance-heavy or involve stage combat require flexible fabrics in which the performers are comfortable moving. Because the options for costumes are so significant and numerous, every show truly is tailor-made.
When it comes to good theater costuming, the clothes complete the character. Whether handmade in Venice or rummaged out of the director's closet, the most important aspect of good costuming is its fit with the production.
Sources:
Aanerud, Marcus. "The Lion King Broadway Musical Information" available at http://www.lionking.net/broadwayinfo.shtml, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"About Costume Craze: the Costume Craze Story" available at http://www.costumecraze.com/_about_us.html, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"Atelier Pietro Longhi" available at http://www.pietrolonghi.com/index.htm, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"National Costumers Association Membership Features" available at http://www.costumers.org/Join.htm, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"Top 50 Longest Running Broadway Shows" available at http://www.broadwayworld.com/longrunningshows.cfm, last accessed October 5, 2006
Theater costumes can transform Cinderella from a servant into a princess, or turn two actors into a horse. They can take an audience back 400 years in history or transport them into the future. With all the possibilities theater costumes can create, it is no wonder their designs have become so diverse and so specialized.
Theater costumes may be purchased, handmade or rented for play productions. Tailor-making theater costumes or purchasing them are expensive ventures generally reserved for long-running shows or theater companies who intend to reuse their wardrobe. Though Broadway shows can afford to make theater costumes by hand, both time-wise and money-wise, most theater companies cannot. Purchased costumes can run thousands of dollars per piece, but hand-making outfits for a cast of 100 or more actors is a massive time investment.
For those productions that can afford to pay, one high-quality theater costume retailer is Atelier Pietro Longhi, a Venetian design studio specializing in Opera costumes and period pieces. Longhi's historical accuracy and quality craftsmanship come at a price, however. Women’s' dresses routinely range from $2,000 and $5,000, with prices capping out at an extravagant $7,500 for a single gown. Men’s' costumes are no less expensive. If purchase is not an option due to budget concerns, Longhi also rents pieces to productions at a rate of ten percent of the purchase price per day.
For productions which do not require the level of detail or authenticity in Longhi's costumes, hand-making costumes may be a less expensive choice. The premier resource for theater costume makers is the National Costumers Association, which enables costumers to recommend design books, tips and techniques to one another.
Designing and hand-making costumes are labor-intensive endeavors requiring significant time investment. However, for productions such as The Lion King on Broadway, costume rental is not an option. Lead designer Julie Taymor created unprecedented monkey and lion costumes to enhance the spectacle the show became known for. Still running after 3,669 performances, the investment seems well worth it.
Perhaps the most popular option for acquiring theater costumes is rental. Theater costume rental companies can be located via the Internet and frequently offer reasonable rates. This is especially true for group costume orders, such as when a production designer orders ten of the same costume to clothe a chorus of performers. The vendor may offer a discount for bulk costuming. Theater costume rental companies unfortunately limit the options of what garments a production may use, and also can become more expensive than hand-making for long-term use.
Costumers must carefully consider the specifics of a given production before selecting to purchase, hand-make or rent theater costumes. It often is possible to reuse and update existing costumes by adding inexpensive trim or ribbons. A costume’s durability also is a concern, especially for long-term productions or for theater companies that tend to "recycle" their costumes.
Shows which are dance-heavy or involve stage combat require flexible fabrics in which the performers are comfortable moving. Because the options for costumes are so significant and numerous, every show truly is tailor-made.
When it comes to good theater costuming, the clothes complete the character. Whether handmade in Venice or rummaged out of the director's closet, the most important aspect of good costuming is its fit with the production.
Sources:
Aanerud, Marcus. "The Lion King Broadway Musical Information" available at http://www.lionking.net/broadwayinfo.shtml, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"About Costume Craze: the Costume Craze Story" available at http://www.costumecraze.com/_about_us.html, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"Atelier Pietro Longhi" available at http://www.pietrolonghi.com/index.htm, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"National Costumers Association Membership Features" available at http://www.costumers.org/Join.htm, last accessed October 5, 2006.
"Top 50 Longest Running Broadway Shows" available at http://www.broadwayworld.com/longrunningshows.cfm, last accessed October 5, 2006
Featured Theater Costumes Products:
Recomended Links
