Costume Concepts

A director's job is visual storytelling.  They have to find ways to tell the story to the actors, staff and audience using pictures.  A director that ignores any of their potential visual palette (Aristotle's spectacle) should be taken out and shot.  The visual palette includes costumes, sets, props, special effects, lighting, etc.

Historically Shakespeare told his story on a blank stage, with little set to distract the audience from the action.  I am doing the same.  But with less set (and no applicable lighting until more than half way through the play), attention must be spent on the other elements, especially costumes.

Costume Plot

Here's the working costume plot for the our production of Merry Wives of Windsor.  This will be updated on an ongoing basis.  Cast members also received additional information with example pictures included.

The important dates for them are:

• July 7:  a check-in/work session of fairies on
• July 12:  Costume parade--this is a chance for me and the costume mistress and tech director to see what everyone looks like together.  Changes/additions may be asked for by me or them.  The actors would have one week to make those changes.
• July 19:  First dress rehearsal.  Last minute changes may still occur this late in the process.

Production Meeting: 6/23



The Logo

 We settled on a show logo with the producers.  I like it.  It doesn't tell the story but is an intriguing image and I really like the palette.  It goes with this particular production well.  We also worked out many logistics on coordination of the two shows Mill Race Players is doing this summer.  A lot of that behind the scenes stuff is integral to the production, but affects the day to day operation little.

We have fleshed out the rest of the production staff.  I hate that we had a lready started rehearsals, but the timeline was compromised.  There are great people working on the technical end of things, and I have no fears that it's all going to be great.

Production Meeting: 6/16

Met with both the producer team and the props person tonight.  I like the direction that the logo is going, but it is too dark.  It needs to brighter and funnier.  Answered some last minute questions about budget and we talked about start times for each production.  Settled on 7:30.  I think that will work out well for us, and should put the final scene (Midnight in the play) in darkness somewhat.

Props are chugging right along.  We answered some critical questions, and should be getting rehearsal props here in the next week.  Buck Basket is of the greatest importance.  We hired a master carpenter and are in the process of getting a costume person, which means I have to settle my mind about costumes.  Ye, gads. 

The most exciting thing was listening to some live music possibilities.  I am very hopeful this will work out.  The music I heard was spot on for the production and the tenor of the group will fit in nicely with what i want to achieve with the production.  Now it's all about making things happen.