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labricoleuseThings are crazy busy right now as the costume shop rolls toward tech for our next production, The Importance of Being Earnest, but i scraped together a few spare minutes this morning for a quick post anyhow.
First up, i'm shocked and disappointed to hear that Brandeis University is abandoning all theatre tech/design graduate programs. For now their retaining their Acting MFA program and their undergrad theatre department, but without any design or production faculty, i suppose those students and the entire Brandeis theatregoing community has a lot of "yoga pants on a bare stage by ghostlight" productions to look forward to. I suspected this might be coming for them, when i read how hard the Brandeis endowment ate it with the Bernie Madoff scam, but i guess i held out hope that they'd somehow cling on.
The Brandeis grads and faculty are PO'd (rightfully so, as apparently many of them found out via press release), and have started a Facebook group to mobilize. There's some fascinating discussion going on in there about the projected fallout of this decision, various alternatives being proposed (from selling off university assets to ditching the graduate actors instead, etc etc), heated discussions but largely respectful.
And, i promise once i have a bit more time for writing, i'll follow up on how my willow block turned out, but for now, a few behind-the-scenes pics of the Earnest Frippery Factory! I have to say, i literally couldn't do this show without my cadre of crafts assistants and volunteers--PRC Costume Technician Erin Rodgers and assistant milliners Candy McClernan and Liz Morrison. Thanks, ladies! Everything is going to look beautiful!
Candy McClernan inserts delicate vintage lace into silk taffeta parasol panels.
Candy checks the fit on our new double-faced canopy for Lady Bracknell's parasol.
Close-up of the split stretcher bars on the Bracknell parasol--beautiful frame!
Liz Morrison pulls a double buckram crown for one of Lady Bracknell's hats.
I'd say the willow brim block was a success!
Now just wait til I add the parrot feathers...
First up, i'm shocked and disappointed to hear that Brandeis University is abandoning all theatre tech/design graduate programs. For now their retaining their Acting MFA program and their undergrad theatre department, but without any design or production faculty, i suppose those students and the entire Brandeis theatregoing community has a lot of "yoga pants on a bare stage by ghostlight" productions to look forward to. I suspected this might be coming for them, when i read how hard the Brandeis endowment ate it with the Bernie Madoff scam, but i guess i held out hope that they'd somehow cling on.
The Brandeis grads and faculty are PO'd (rightfully so, as apparently many of them found out via press release), and have started a Facebook group to mobilize. There's some fascinating discussion going on in there about the projected fallout of this decision, various alternatives being proposed (from selling off university assets to ditching the graduate actors instead, etc etc), heated discussions but largely respectful.
And, i promise once i have a bit more time for writing, i'll follow up on how my willow block turned out, but for now, a few behind-the-scenes pics of the Earnest Frippery Factory! I have to say, i literally couldn't do this show without my cadre of crafts assistants and volunteers--PRC Costume Technician Erin Rodgers and assistant milliners Candy McClernan and Liz Morrison. Thanks, ladies! Everything is going to look beautiful!
Candy McClernan inserts delicate vintage lace into silk taffeta parasol panels.
Candy checks the fit on our new double-faced canopy for Lady Bracknell's parasol.
Close-up of the split stretcher bars on the Bracknell parasol--beautiful frame!
Liz Morrison pulls a double buckram crown for one of Lady Bracknell's hats.
I'd say the willow brim block was a success!
Now just wait til I add the parrot feathers...
