Koshi

Koshi

by Emmanuel Cyr & company
April 2009
Costume Design & Creation by Erin Whitney


Designed and created 4 costumes for street breakdance troupe.


(Sorry, all I have right now are rehearsal pics!)

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare
McGill English Department
March 2009
Wardrobe Supervisor: Catherine Bradley
Dye mentor and shop assistant: Erin Whitney
(Photo by Owen Egan)

This production of Julius Caesar used recycled clothing and whatever was lying around the shop to create a post-apocalyptic world.
I taught 5 students how to dye and distress fabric and clothing to bring it together into a palette. I also got the lucky task of painting Caesar's bloody mantle!

A closer look at the bloody mantle.

I helped to put together pieces of salvaged sports padding into armour and painted highlights to give them dimension onstage.

Joy

Joy

written and directed by Max Doré
Joy Productions (Concordia short film)
February 2009
Puppets by Erin Whitney

I created these four puppets based on drawings from a comic strip.
They were my first foray into foam "muppet" style hand puppets and were a lot of fun!
Hopefully I'll get the chance to make more someday.
(The shell in the blue puppet's hand is magnetized so he could pick it up)

Budget: $100

Far Away

Far Away

by Caryl Churchill
National Theatre School of Canada
October 2008
Director: Philip McKee
Designer: Julie Fox
Hat design & construction: Erin Whitney

Grace

Grace

Festival Antigonish

Main Stage

September 3 - 12, 2008

Written by Mick Gordon & A.C. Grayling
Directed by Stewart Arnott

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Shelley Thompson as Grace

Anthony Black as Tom

Ed Thomason as Tony

Genevieve Steele as Ruth

In the light of today's tension-laden renewal of religious activism around the world, this is a timely and acclaimed play from London's Soho Theatre, receiving its Canadian premiere here. Grace Friedman is a scientist and a public champion of atheism. To her profound dismay, her son Tom gives up his career as a lawyer to become a Christian and to seek ordination as a priest. Tom's girlfriend Ruth and his secular Jewish father Tony are caught in the middle of the resulting conflict; though not as mere bystanders, for in their different ways they represent possible solutions to the dilemma of how these sharp and painful differences might be managed even as they rage.

4 characters, 6 costumes

Budget: $500

Photos by Paula Brow

Festival Antigonish

Well, there you have it. The summer's almost over, 5 shows have opened, one more to go.

Costume design in a small town is quite a challenge I must say. No fabric stores to speak of (unless you're making a quilt), and not many clothing stores either. This means day trips for shopping, and crossing your fingers that you'll find what you're looking for when you have the opportunity.  Not being at all familiar with the area adds another layer of not necessarily knowing where to go to find something. It means spending money to have things shipped to you sight unseen and hoping for the best. 

All in all, it's been a good experience, mainly because I've been lucky enough to work with a lot of wonderful people. And that's the heart of it all really.

(That being said, I sure am looking forward to getting back to the big city!)

Godspell

Godspell

Festival Antigonish

Family Series

August 8 - 23, 2008

Book by John-Michael Tebelak 
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz 
Directed by Richie Wilcox

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Jonothan Clarke Logan as Jesus

Anthony MacPherson as Judas/John the Baptist

Tricia Brosha as Sonia

and 18 theatre campers between the ages of 10 - 17.

Godspell has remained such an important part of the modern musical theater because of its versatility. The original production made the company a troupe of clowns and flower children who follow Jesus in an abandoned playground; subsequent versions have been set in museums, classrooms, on top of buildings, an apocalyptic world or in an abandoned theater. 

Set in a railway station, each child entered in neutral colours and through the course of the action changed into an item of coloured clothing. In the original production, Jesus paints a symbol on their faces to symbolize their devotion to his teachings. We wanted to use a piece of fabric that could be used by the actors in the telling of the various stories. The first image below shows the neutral costumes, and the second shows the full colour version. Jesus was dressed as a hobo and John the Baptist as the train conductor.

Total costumes: 21+ Most neutrals were pulled from the campers' own clothes with some added jackets etc. 

Coloured garments and Jesus' and Judas' outfits were pulled/bought. Budget: $300. 

Munsch Ado About Nothing

Munsch Ado About Nothing

Festival Antigonish

Family Series

July 15 - August 1, 2008

By Robert Munsch

Adapted by Debbie Patterson

Directed by Richie Wilcox

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Jonothan Clarke Logan as Shakespeare

Tricia Brosha as Burbage

Anthony MacPherson as Kempe

Photos by Leigh Elliott

For the young at heart of all ages, a new adaptation featuring Murmel, Murmel, Murmel, Class Clown, More Pies, No Clean Clothes and Good Families Don't by Robert Munsch, Canada's most popular writer for kids. 

3 base costumes plus accessories. Budget: $250.

Mostly pulled and rented, some built (Harlequin vest and accessories).

Gaslight

Gaslight

Festival Antigonish

August 7 - 30, 2008

Written by Patrick Hamilton

Directed by Ed Thomason

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Stewart Arnott as Mr. Manningham

Genevieve Steele as Mrs. Manningham

John Fitzgerald Jay as Inspector Rough

Kate Lavender as Nancy

Shelley Thompson as Elizabeth 

Nick Ryan as the police officer

Photos by Leigh Elliott

While Jack Manningham is out on the town every night his wife, Bella, home alone, believes she's losing her mind: she can't explain the disappearance of familiar objects, the mysterious footsteps overhead or the ghostly flickering of the gaslight. Currently enjoying a revival this is a powerful and suspenseful story of psychological domination. Help for Bella arrives in the shape of an unexpected visitor. Inspector Rough from Scotland Yard is intent on solving a hideous crime committed fifteen years ago in this very house.

Set in 1880. 7 costumes in total. Budget: $1150

Ladies' costumes were built, men's rented. 

Mr. Manningham

Mrs. Manningham

Elizabeth

Inspector Rough and Mrs. Manningham

Nancy

I Ought to be in Pictures

I Ought to be in Pictures

Festival Antigonish

July 24 - August 30, 2008

Written by Neil Simon

Directed by Ed Thomason

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Genevieve Steele as Steffy

John Fitzgerald Jay as Herb

Kate Lavender as Libby

Photos by Leigh Elliott

Herb is a struggling screenwriter who abandoned his family sixteen years ago. Now daughter Libby arrives on his West Hollywood doorstep. Dispensing guilt and demanding love, Libby not only forces Herb to face up to his responsibilities but also helps him come to terms with his on-again/off-again relationship with his adoring girlfriend, Steffy. 

Set in 1978. 3 - 4 outfits per character. Budget: $500.

Steffy and Libby

Steffy

Libby

Herb

Herb

Libby and Herb

Libby

Steffy and Herb

Steffy and Herb

Sexy Laundry

Sexy Laundry

Festival Antigonish

July 10 - September 14, 2008

Written by Michelle Riml

Directed by Robert Metcalfe

Costume Design by Erin Whitney

Starring:

Stewart Arnott as Henry

Shelley Thompson as Alice

Photos by Leigh Elliott

Armed with a copy of Sex for Dummies, Alice and Henry check into a trendy hotel with a mission - to jumpstart their 25-year marriage. Time, kids, stress (and gravity) have all taken their toll and something has to give. Can their relationship survive Alice clad completely in leather? Or Henry's constant complaining about the cost of room service? Sexy Laundry is a touching and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy guaranteed to strike a chord.

Set in the present. 2 costumes per character. Budget: $500.

Keeping busy

Since school ended not so long ago, I've been helping out designer Marija Djordjevic with some shows she's working on. Marija is the wonderful and fantastic Costume Shop Manager at Concordia and has taught me ever so much. It's great to be able to continue working with her.

The first show was a workshop of Macbeth, with a Haitian cast. Produced by The Other Theatre at the Studio space at the Segal Centre, April 22 - 25. I helped with sewing and dyeing and made a great bloodstain on Duncan's back! (No pictures on their site, I'll update if I find any online).

The other show is Porte-Parole's Import/Export, which will be presented in the upcoming Festival Transameriques in Montreal. I just spent a few hours helping to put together some rehearsal costumes, but hopefully will be able to help out a bit more when I get back from St. John's. Looks like it will be an interesting show - check it out!

Right now I'm preparing for the first ever Compass Points Symposium for Students and Emerging Artists at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival this June in Vancouver. I've been working on it since September with another Concordia student, and it's really shaping up to be an interesting symposium.

After that, I head off to scenic Antigonish to design the costumes for the Main Stage of Festival Antigonish.

Ubu the King: 2008

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Ubu the King
by Alfred Jarry
translated by Steve Friedman
Directed by Mark Sussman
Costume Design by Erin Whitney
Concordia University (Montreal, 2008)
All photos by *safe solvent^TM

29 human costumes
9 "kneelers" (with cardboard heads)
10 - 15 hand puppets
4 hand felted rod puppets
Budget: $250 (not including labour and stock materials)

Titanica: 2007

Titanica
by Sebastien Harrison
Directed by Brendan Healy
Assistant Directed by Erin Whitney
Concordia University (Montreal 2007)

Photos coming soon...

Per/Son/Alia: 2007

Per/Son/Alia
Directed by Sandeep Bhagwati
Costume Design by Azra King-Abadi
Assistant Costume Design by Erin Whitney
Concordia University (Montreal 2007)

Photos coming soon....

How To Hire Your Own Assassin: 2007

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How To Hire Your Own Assassin
by Lindsay Wilson
Directed by Larry Lamont
Set and Costume design by Erin Whitney
Concordia University (Montreal 2006)

This was a student production as part of a short play festival at Concordia. I think my budget was $50. This was before I took a scenic painting class, and what made me realize I needed to take one.

Aquarium: 2003 - 2006

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Aquarium
Written and Performed by Philip Goodridge
Directed and Designed by Erin Whitney
Lighting Design by Diana Daly
Resource Centre for the Arts Festival Five (St. John's 2003)
Theatre Network's NeXtFest (Edmonton 2004)
RCA & Magnetic North Late Night Series (St. John's 2006)

Francophone Association of Newfoundland: 2002 - 2004

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Jean DuBois (2004)
Of this group of prop rabbits, one of them had to be skinned on stage. It was a children's show, so it couldn't be too gory, though. It wasn't my favourite research to have to do, but one of my favourite projects.



La Montagne Noire (2002)
My first foray into mask making! I had no idea what I was doing, but I experimented with materials, and had a great time.

Missing: Of all the photos to go missing...I also created some pretty hilarious codfish headpieces for this group. A tight silver stocking type thing with a hole in the face and silver fins on the top and sides of the head, with a tail on the back. I really hope I find those pictures someday...until then, you can only imagine...

Shakespeare by the Sea Festival: 2001 - 2003

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The Importance of Being Earnest (2003)
While acting as Cecily, I also constructed two dresses. The blue one is from a commercial pattern, and the pink one is drafted for the model (me!).




Romeo and Juliet: 2003 (top)
While acting as the production stage manager, I also designed and constructed the set and costumes. The director's concept was to have the Montagues and Capulets as two sides of a chess game. The outdoor set had to be struck and stored every night, and the budget was tiny!

Two Gentlemen of Verona: 2001 (bottom)
Again, as stage manager, I also designed and realized the set and costumes. This was contemporary, so all of the costumes were pulls, and I spray painted three backdrops to represent three main settings.

Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art & Design: 2000 - 2002

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Clothing Design/Construction
Clockwise from top left:
Belly Rolls Cocktail Dress (inspired by corsets, bustles and other historical body shapers)
Blue shirt and purple pants (patterns drafted for model, fabrics hand-dyed)
Green shirt and brown pants (patterns drafted for model, shirt hand-dyed)
Hand-woven shirt



Pillow Series (top)
Machine embroidery & applique
An assignment to create pillows based on a given subject. Mine was transportation, and I chose to trace the journey that my family made when we moved from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland. The first pillow shows the prairies, my parents and me as a baby. The second is the visit to my Grandmother's in Montreal, and the third is Newfoundland.

Embroidery Series (bottom)
Hand embroidered linen
(L - R) Queen Anne's Lace, Dried Sea Urchin, Dried Timothy Hay



Hand dyed fabric (background)
Layered flour paste crackle dye technique on silk noile

Machine Embroidery (inset)
Machine embroidery and paint on silk

College of the North Atlantic
(At the Anna Templeton Centre)
Diploma in Textile Studies
St. John's, NL
2000 - 2002