Ever since the cast list for the Frozen musical was posted on August 16, students have been busy at work preparing for the musical, both on and off stage. Students can be a part of the show’s cast, stage crew, musicians group or costume crew.
Almost all of the costumes displayed in the show are handmade by the costume crew, led by Lisa Voy. They design new costumes while also repurposing and adding on to costumes from previous shows.
“My favorite part of the experience is working on all the different costume components and then later seeing the actors in full costume. It all comes together very nicely,” costume crew member Aida Blakely said.
An average work day for the costume crew includes taking measurements of the cast, reviewing options for costume designs, sewing add ons to costumes and more.
Getting the opportunity to design and create costumes to be displayed in such a large production is an exciting experience for many.
“It is exciting to be able to make costumes for such a well-known show because most people can recognize the characters by their costumes, and we get to be the ones to actually create those costumes,” Blakely said
Members of the ensemble play multiple parts, which means they need multiple costumes. Making sure each ensemble member has all the right costumes for every show and rehearsal can be a challenge for the costume crew to manage.
Official performances start October 27, which does not leave much time for preparation. Cast and crew members maximize this time by rehearsing and working almost every day. The costume crew works on Tuesdays and Thursdays anywhere from 3:30-6:00 p.m., and sometimes on Wednesdays and Fridays as well.
“The environment is fun and inviting, but everyone is disciplined and knows that they need to get their work done on time and be prepared,” Blakely said.
For many students, getting to be a part of the musical is an event they look forward to for the whole year. Some keep coming back because it is a potential career they might want to pursue. Others because they have friends doing it and enjoy the atmosphere.
“I love being involved in such a big production that involves so many awesome people,” Blakely said.
