Boeing Boeing
The Costume Design Process
Background
The Script
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History and Analysis
Mark Camoletti, a French playwright, wrote the farce Boeing Boeing which premiered on December 10, 1960 in Paris. It was translated to English and premiered in London in 1962, followed by a short Broadway run in 1965.
The Director's Vision
The Map for Design Choices
In theatre, the Director's vision is the inspiration behind all the design choices, the thing that ties all the visual and technical elements together. Ariel Lauryn, the director for the UNA production of Boeing Boeing, had a specific vision from the beginning.
Ariel Lauryn, Director
The Characters
Garments for Real People
No matter how cartoonish characters in a play behave, the designer has to see them as real people with real personality traits and tastes.
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So who exactly are the people who live in this play?
Men's 1960s Fashion
The Swinging 60s in the 2020s
While men's fashion doesn't change as drastically as women's, the 1960s have a decidedly recognizable look. Recreating those looks on stage required background research into what details made them iconically 60s.
Flight Attendants
Women Flying Free
In the 1960s, a woman employed as a flight attendant was seen as glamourous and free-spirited. The changes to their uniforms reflected this change in attitude.
Color Palette
Continuity between Designs
All design elements are related and having a consistent color palette helps tie them together.
Hair & Makeup
Setting the Mood
Creating the reality of a different time period goes beyond just garments. The right hair and makeup complete the look and help tranform a modern actor into someone from a completely different decade.
Costume Designs
From Research to Renderings
After spending time researching the period looks, I got started with my designs. I knew the girls' costumes would have to be constructed, while I hoped to be able to pull most of the guys' pieces from our stock.
Production Photos
The Final Product
After over two months of work, from research to rendering and from mock-up garments to construction and from shopping to buying the perfect accessories, the final design was realized. Click below to see production photos of all the characters!