Costume question for theater buffs

Niiicola · Jan 22, 2012

OK, this is a weird question, but here goes. My MC needs a dress. And her friend finds one for her in the costume room of the school theater. It needs to be a 1960s era long evening dress. Can anybody think of a play that would feature such a costume? I could just leave it generic, but I'd rather say something like "This is the dress from XYZ."

Any ideas?

Alessandra Kelley · Jan 22, 2012

Hello Dolly
My Fair Lady
Funny Girl
Mame

(Mame -- woohoo!)

totopink · Jan 22, 2012

Bye Bye Birdie, perhaps

Shakesbear · Jan 22, 2012

60's production of a Shakespeare play - in modern dress.

mirandashell · Jan 23, 2012

Abigail's Party.

Ah no, hang on. That's early 70s.....

Niiicola · Jan 23, 2012

Shakesbear said:
60's production of a Shakespeare play - in modern dress.

That's an excellent idea. Then I can pick a play that's relevant to my story. Thanks!

Alessandra Kelley · Jan 23, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
Hello Dolly
My Fair Lady
Funny Girl.
Mame

(Mame -- woohoo!)

It's been delicately pointed out that most of these were set in the 1890s or 1920s (actually, Mame spans the 1920s through 1950s).

May I just say in my defense that I didn't realise that for years because the stars were so obviously wearing 1960s fashions and makeup and hairstyles with a little period detail stuck on top. Short hair and a little hat do not the 1920s make.

The dresses in those plays would not have looked out of place at a 1960s party. I think an evening dress from an 1960s production of Mame pulled out today would make modern viewers see the 1960s more than the 1930s.

However, I am rationalizing here. Shakesbear's suggestion of Shakespeare in modern dress is better.

Niiicola · Jan 23, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
It's been delicately pointed out that most of these were set in the 1890s or 1920s (actually, Mame spans the 1920s through 1950s).

May I just say in my defense that I didn't realise that for years because the stars were so obviously wearing 1960s fashions and makeup and hairstyles with a little period detail stuck on top. Short hair and a little hat do not the 1920s make.

The dresses in those plays would not have looked out of place at a 1960s party. I think an evening dress from an 1960s production of Mame pulled out today would make modern viewers see the 1960s more than the 1930s.

However, I am rationalizing here. Shakesbear's suggestion of Shakespeare in modern dress is better.

My first thought was My Fair Lady, as well, because Audrey Hepburn is so quintessentially 60s to me. And I agree that they all have a very 60s flavor. Thanks for your help!

McMich · Jan 23, 2012

our theater costume room always had tons of costumes we didn't even know what they were used for. They just kept everything and would redo stuff to make it work for later productions- so you might not even have to mention a play exactly.

Toothpaste · Jan 23, 2012

I know you've already solved your problem, but Neil Simon is for me one of the first playwrights I think of when I think 1960s.

VictoriaWrites · Jan 23, 2012

McMich said:
our theater costume room always had tons of costumes we didn't even know what they were used for. They just kept everything and would redo stuff to make it work for later productions- so you might not even have to mention a play exactly.

This.

Costume rooms are loads of fun.

I will never know why there was a fake pregnant belly in ours.

Velma deSelby Bowen · Jan 23, 2012

I don't remember whether there's a long gown in Promises Promises, but that's a 1960s musical that might work.

SaronaNalia · Jan 24, 2012

McMich said:
our theater costume room always had tons of costumes we didn't even know what they were used for. They just kept everything and would redo stuff to make it work for later productions- so you might not even have to mention a play exactly.

This.

At my school, it was extremely rare that anything was bought for a specific play, or at least that anyone remembered what play it was bought for. Things were often not purchased at all, but donated by parents and alumni and sometimes never used at all.

Our costume room was also organized by time period to make things easy on us costumers. So a 1960s dress would be easy to find, it would be hanging on the rack with all the other 60s dresses.

Costume question for theater buffs

Niiicola

Twitchy

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

totopink

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

mirandashell

Niiicola

Twitchy

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Niiicola

Twitchy

McMich

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

VictoriaWrites

Typing away...

Velma deSelby Bowen

I miss the mountains....

SaronaNalia