|
The Tinker of Tivoli by Michael Jacobsen
Directed by Mandy Morrison April 1-2 7:30 pm BPAC |
Cosume REsearch
| the_tinker_of_tivoli_pv_score.pdf |
Cast List
|
|
The build
We were supposed to produce this opera in the Spring of 2020 but the pandemic shut us down. To check out all the original information, click the link above. Additional expenses have been incurred due to recasting. I had to buy 5 new corsets and 3 new pairs of character shoes. Plus, one yard of fabric for an apron for the Butcher's daughter. There are only 3 original cast members in the current version, however none of them are playing the same roles. Almost every skirt had to be resized for the new actors' measurements, and the Pie Seller costume had to be completely remade out of different fabric because it was conscripted for an actress in Merry Wives of Windsor and couldn't be made larger afterwards. Luckily all the blouses were built to be very full and can accommodate a wide range of sizes. I still have to pattern and cut doublets for the male characters as well as fit and finish all the female characters. But we have a really good head start.
The Build
I was able to put a few ruffles on petticoats while working on Little Shop of Horrors, cut out three bodices and a few hats, and resize another three bodices and make another couple of aprons. I didn't get as much done as I had planned because I got covid and had to quarantine for 10 days and once I got back, Little Shop costumes were not only a priority but an emergency.
During spring break, I worked 8 hours on Tuesday, 2 hours on Wednesday, 3 hours on Thursday, 6 hours on Friday, 6 hours on Saturday, and another hour on Sunday. I cut out and quilted four doublets. The doublets for the Cobbler family had subtle floral patterns woven into the fabric but they were mostly invisible from 20 feet away. I used sharpie markers to enhance the colors so that they would show up. Ernesto's fabric also had a diamond quilting pattern already there and I just stitched it in a brighter green thread so that would show up as well. Then I cut another ruffle for a skirt to extend the length. The original actress was very short and the new actress is much taller, so fortunately I had leftover fabric enough to make an 8 inch ruffle to add to the bottom.
We got all the hooks and eyes and snaps on the petticoats so that the actresses were able to rehearse in their shoes, corsets, hip pads, and petticoats this week. While the students did all the handsewing I quilted the doublets and put them together. We had another work call on Saturday from 11-5 where all I did was finish off the pants, taking in the elastic in the waist and hemming them. I also came in and finished up the last doublet on Sunday. We lost one of our male chorus members this week, who was supposed to be the Candlestick Maker, so the director moved the chorus member who was playing the Baker's husband to the Candlestick Maker part. I had already finished putting that costume together and hadn't started the Baker pants or shirt yet, so that worked out in my favor.
This weekend I spent four hours coloring in the bee applique on the Candlestick Maker's daughter's bodice with Sharpie markers. The background was entirely too white and just looked blank, so I colored over the quilting pattern with yellow, then used black and gray to shadow in the bee. I used lavender and purple to dye the white background. I also used purple to "dye" the blue ground behind the sunflowers purple. Then that looked so good I also used the purple to give the sunflowers of the main part of the bodice more depth. I bought a candlestick applique from an Etsy artist and used Sharpie markers to color it in as well. It was only an outline stitched in black. On Sunday I got all the hook and eye tape on all the doublets and the bodices.
During spring break, I worked 8 hours on Tuesday, 2 hours on Wednesday, 3 hours on Thursday, 6 hours on Friday, 6 hours on Saturday, and another hour on Sunday. I cut out and quilted four doublets. The doublets for the Cobbler family had subtle floral patterns woven into the fabric but they were mostly invisible from 20 feet away. I used sharpie markers to enhance the colors so that they would show up. Ernesto's fabric also had a diamond quilting pattern already there and I just stitched it in a brighter green thread so that would show up as well. Then I cut another ruffle for a skirt to extend the length. The original actress was very short and the new actress is much taller, so fortunately I had leftover fabric enough to make an 8 inch ruffle to add to the bottom.
We got all the hooks and eyes and snaps on the petticoats so that the actresses were able to rehearse in their shoes, corsets, hip pads, and petticoats this week. While the students did all the handsewing I quilted the doublets and put them together. We had another work call on Saturday from 11-5 where all I did was finish off the pants, taking in the elastic in the waist and hemming them. I also came in and finished up the last doublet on Sunday. We lost one of our male chorus members this week, who was supposed to be the Candlestick Maker, so the director moved the chorus member who was playing the Baker's husband to the Candlestick Maker part. I had already finished putting that costume together and hadn't started the Baker pants or shirt yet, so that worked out in my favor.
This weekend I spent four hours coloring in the bee applique on the Candlestick Maker's daughter's bodice with Sharpie markers. The background was entirely too white and just looked blank, so I colored over the quilting pattern with yellow, then used black and gray to shadow in the bee. I used lavender and purple to dye the white background. I also used purple to "dye" the blue ground behind the sunflowers purple. Then that looked so good I also used the purple to give the sunflowers of the main part of the bodice more depth. I bought a candlestick applique from an Etsy artist and used Sharpie markers to color it in as well. It was only an outline stitched in black. On Sunday I got all the hook and eye tape on all the doublets and the bodices.
Fittings
The Set
Designed by Kelly Parker.
