How I Became A Wicked Cool Costume Designer... :)

In the past I have been involved with numerous small theatrical productions, mostly assisting in historical research for the director and lending items from my costume stash for the production. Most of my real inspiration to work in the costume area came from my aunt Cari Flynn, who directs the Nashua Christian Academy high school play each spring. Cari is one of the coolest people I know and she always manages to get such energy out of her students that I am absolutely blown away. Her dedication and hard work are incredible and many people have been known to say that NCA's plays are the best high school productions they have ever seen. I believe that they top a lot of more "prestigious" theater groups. :)

Back in the spring of 2004, my sisters and I were involved in helping my aunt during her production of Little Women. We assisted by lending our own costumes and helping backstage with dressing and hairstyles. It was a wonderful experience. I learned just how much fun working behind-the-scenes is, had a grand time with everyone involved and it remained one of the highlights of my year.

The next spring, when our family went up to watch NCA's production of Much Ado About Nothing, I laughed until I cried. It was clearly the best play I had ever been to (with perhaps the exception of Les Miserables, put on by a professional company, in Boston, of course :) and I only wished that I had been involved in all the fun. For the first time, I started to seriously consider designing for the stage. I decided that I would try and get involved again the next year, even if I had to be my aunt's personal slave for a year to get permission. :)

When Cari told me in the summer of 2006 that she was hoping to do Cyrano de Bergerac the next year, I figured that I should probably find out what it was all about. I had heard of the story before, but was pretty clueless. Cari lent me the play and I absolutely fell in love. Never before had a play so completely moved me. It managed to capture everything: adventure, romance, comedy and tragedy into one flawless masterpiece.

Hooked on the story, I determined that, whatever else might happen, the actress who played Roxane must have wonderful costumes. Roxane is a character that the whole play revolves around and to have costumes that failed to capture her personality would have been sacrilegious. :) I felt that such a wonderful character needed costumes that would speak for her.

And so, when I next talked to my aunt Cari on the phone, I humbly begged her to let me design and make Roxane's costumes. She agreed, and the rest is history... ;)

The play was a smashing success and I was finally able to tack the title of actual costume designer onto my resume. Although I do not think (at this stage of my life, anyway) that I will pursue costume design full-time, I don't think I can ever fully get away from it and plan to continue it as a "hobby". Who knows...someday you might just hear of me! :)

Cyrano de Bergerac
A play by Edmond Rostand
NashuaChristianAcademy.org

Costume Designer/Constructor for Roxane's attire
Clothing/Hairstyle Research
Dresser/Hairstylist