Inside the Shops: Costumes of The Metromaniacs Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of our series inside the costume shop with The Metromaniacs. Sandra Thomas, First Hand in the STC costume shop, documents the process of bringing a costume to life from the designer to the actor. Join us for an inside peek of designer Murell Horton’s luxurious designs for The Metromaniacs.

(See Part 1 here)

 Part 2. Construction Begins

After a fitting of the mock-up with actor Anthony Roach, the team gets to work building the costume for his character, “Dorante.”

Costume Stitcher, Donna Sachs, begins stitching the shirt, putting in a series of pleats that will run down the front.

      

Adjustments are made to the paper pattern from the fitting, and then the pieces are marked out on the real costume fabric. Here, pattern pieces for the breeches are traced, including copying over any sewing marks and guides, and the pieces are cut out.

    

Costume pieces (such as the coat shown here) are then pinned together for sewing.

   

Donna works on Dorante’s coat.

The contrasting waistcoat begins construction, with Costume Intern Stephanie sewing it together.

   

Donna and Draper Randall Exton study the progress of Dorante’s coat.

Dorante’s costume is ready for a real fabric fitting.

Next up: Finishing touches

The Metromaniacs begins February 3 in the Lansburgh Theatre.