May Broadway Chorus News feature:
What is involved in creating a magical world for over a thousand Broadway Chous students? It is an important role with some harsh critics which can either make or break a production. We talk to Jennifer McKenzie, Head of Wardrobe at the CPCA, about creating costumes for the Broadway Chorus mid-year performance season A Magic Show?
Jennifer McKenzie has been Head of Wardrobe since 2006 and has created over 20,000 costumes during that time for performance seasons and international tours. It is a challenging job in which deadlines are paramount, but nothing has diminished Jennifer’s excitement when she receives a new brief from Director Robert Coates. “It is often a mixed feeling but excitement always triumphs over nerves,” says Jennifer.
“It is an interesting process creating costumes,” continues Jennifer. “It begins with a concept, and very quickly moves through the design, pattern, fabric, cutting and construction stages until you have a finished product. This can happen in as little time as one day but the more complex costumes can take days or weeks to create.
Broadway Chorus has a history of investing considerable time and effort into their costumes as the program recognises the important role the costume has for students. “Costumes help bring students out of their shells and become their character. Students really do feel special and transformed when they step into a costume,” says Jennifer.
Once Jennifer receives her brief she looks to the design and pattern, surrounding herself with pictures from books and the internet, trims such as lace, cords, and buttons, and fabric swatches. Jennifer has over 15 suppliers of fabric around Melbourne from small boutiques to wholesale fabric shops. Quantities needed and student sizes are also at hand at this stage. “I always work with the largest size first as patterns can be reduced,” she says.
Once the pattern is finalised an exact sample is provided to a manufacturer who is responsible for the cutting and sewing of costume sets.
Finished costumes return to head office where they are carefully labelled and hung in their appropriate area ready for transport to the Union Theatre. Finally hats and accessories are added to perfect the look.
“No one quite understands how much effort goes into a single costume,” says Jennifer. “But it feels especially worthwhile when you see students on stage in the moment and enjoying themselves.”
The Broadway Chorus performance season A Magic Show will be held at the National Theatre, St Kilda, from 9-20 June.
