Band Hall Treasures
Reuse/Retool of Existing Assets
As with any large-scale production, the time and money to costume a cast of 47 proved challenging, particularly with regard to group numbers that called for up to 16 “matching” outfits. To get this done, I reached out to our band, choir and drill team sponsors asking them to open their uniform closets. With representatives from all of these groups in the production, we were able to procure base pieces in a variety of sizes in order to create signature looks for our Roxy Boys, Dance Chorus and our leading ladies (First Act Closer and Finale Numbers).
Choir Vests
Black vests were faced with red fabric to quickly “dress-up” our men’s ensemble for the “Roxy” number. This saved us from ordering one-time use vests and was easily completed by parent volunteers using existing red fabric from our costume shop.
Drill Team Costumes
Red sequin fringe from a belly dancing skirt was added to existing sequined drill team tunics for Roxy & Velma’s “Hot Honey Rag” number to emulate a flapper style look to highlight the energetic ending choreography.
While original designs featured shades of red to offset Billy’s black and white pinstripes, we soon realized that we needed to modify our direction to keep costs down when creating the costumes for the “showgirl” numbers. For “All I Care About is Love,” we opted to use existing silver halter top uniforms to complement a stash of white burlesque fans which we bedazzled with sparkles. The look was completed with white plume head pieces.
For “Razzle Dazzle,” existing gold, vested tops were tailed with black tulle bustles harvested from torn petticoats and tutus.
Flag Guard Unitards
My favorite “reuse” of existing uniform stock for this show involved the discovery and transformation of 3 flag guard uniforms into glamorous gowns for Roxy and Velma’s “I am My Own Best Friend” number at the close of act one.
To create this dramatic look, we shortened the legs on two of the uniforms, bustled the skirts and then carefully filled in the front bodices and covered existing gold trim with sequin fabric taken from the third uniform’s skirt.
