By Diane Marcukaitis
As a first time costumer I was hesitant about accepting this role, simply because I am not a seamstress and my talent with sewing goes about as far as sewing on a button!
However, I am very blessed with two amazing women on the West Side Story costume team who are amazing seamstresses, Deb Laskey and Renee Dickman!
We also have Kayla Pendleton joining us this year, she has her degree in Fashion Merchandising with an emphasis in Wardrobe Costume.
It’s been a challenging but fun journey so far, getting to know each cast member and seeing them get excited about their costume is what makes this job the best! After all?
We want them to “Feel Pretty” in their costumes!
We’ve even had a few guys getting super excited about their costume and we want them to feel good about what they are wearing! I think it helps them perform better if they feel good about what they are wearing.
The reaction we got from Ashley Sarver, who is playing the role of Anita and is also the Vocal Director of the show, was great!
The smile on her face and excitement she had when she tried on her dress for the first time, makes this job SO worth it!!
She said “I can’t wait to dance in this dress!” Well Ashley, we can’t wait to see you DANCE in this dress!
One of the Jet girls, Brittin Fischer, who plays Minnie is actually wearing a dress her grandmother made for her mother, Jackie!
How COOL that this light blue dress fits into the Dance scene from that time and that it fits Brittin perfectly!
From making a dress from a pattern, or finding one in a re-sale shop or having a cast member bring in a dress her grandmother made, we are finding dresses to make the Dance at the Gym colorful and fun!!
While at first I thought “I can’t do this job” because I don’t sew, I’ve realized there is SO much more that goes into costuming a show than just knowing how to sew! It’s been a fun journey!
We hope you will come out to see West Side Story, July 20, 21, & 22!
I guarantee you will not want to miss it!
